Mistrial in rape case declared after not enough jurors show
May 25, 2021
FacebookTwitterEmail
DRIGGS, Idaho (AP) An eastern Idaho judge had to declare a mistrial in a three-year-old rape case after 11 people failed to show up for jury duty.
Seventh District Judge Steven Boyce declared the mistrial on Monday, EastIdahoNews.com reported, after just 38 out of 60 potential jurors called for jury selection showed up for duty. Some were excused by the judge before the selection process began, and several more were dismissed because they knew some of the people involved in the case or felt they couldn t be fair for other reasons.
DRIGGS — District Seven Court Judge Steven Boyce declared a mistrial Monday afternoon for a three year old felony rape case. At the end of the four-hour-long jury selection, there were simply not enough jurors in the pool available to serve after 11 did not show for duty. Of the 60 jurors called to the […]
Teton County rape case gets new charge, heads to trial
Updated at
Share This
Ryan Richard Berry
DRIGGS A rape case that has been working through the Teton County courts for more than three years now has earned a new felony charge as recently elected Teton County Prosecutor Bailey Smith prepares to take the case to a jury trial in May.
Tetonia resident Ryan Richard Berry, 41, was arrested and charged with felony rape in February 2018 along with a handful of other charges including false imprisonment, battery and providing alcohol to a minor.
He pled not guilty to the charges and posted a $50,000 bond in 2018. Berry waived his right to a speedy trial and filed a motion to disqualify former District Court Judge Gregory Moeller in 2018. The case has slowly worked its way through the legal system with former Teton County prosecuting attorney Billie Siddoway trying unsuccessfully to come to several different plea agreements with the defendant.
On April 13, Teton County prosecuting attorney Bailey Smith initiated a new case against Ryan Richard Berry, charging that the Tetonia resident had intentionally destroyed evidence after allegedly committing rape.
In February of 2018, Berry was arrested on charges of felony rape, false imprisonment, misdemeanor battery, and giving alcohol to someone under 21. He was later charged with video voyeurism after images and a video were found on his phone and computer.
The new criminal complaint asserts that on the night or early morning of the alleged rape, Berry knowingly destroyed or tried to destroy evidence of the crime by bathing the victim, laundering her clothes and his bedding, cleaning surfaces touched by the victim, and attempting to prevent the victim from leaving and encouraging her to drink water until chemical substances he had provided her had left her system.