The accuser said she feels the court system failed her, but the defense claims the involvement of a municipal judge chilled the investigation to the point that police didn't report evidence that proved Alec Smith's innocence.
Cass County prosecutors first charged Alec J. Smith on Dec. 23, 2020, with gross sexual imposition, a felony that carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison. The charge was reduced to a misdemeanor.
When The Forum sought interviews with NDSU police leadership about training officers to handle rape investigations, a university spokeswoman said officers are trained to minimize trauma, “persistently investigate sexual assaults" and pursue perpetrators.
When The Forum sought interviews with NDSU police leadership about training officers to handle rape investigations, a university spokeswoman said officers are trained to minimize trauma, “persistently investigate sexual assaults" and pursue perpetrators.