Jury finds Torrey Green guilty of raping six women while at USU

Torrey Green cries while being consoled by defense attorney Skye Lazaro, left, and private investigator E. Christian Warmsley as a jury finds him guilty of eight charges including five counts of rape and a charge sexual battery in connection to reports from six women accusing him of sexual assault while he was a football player at Utah State University, Friday, Jan.18, 2019 in Brigham City, Utah. (Eli Lucero/Court Pool via AP)

BRIGHAM CITY — After deliberating for 17 hours, a jury found Torrey Green guilty of raping or sexually assaulting six women between November 2013 and August 2015. The five men and three women reached their verdict Friday night just after 6 p.m.

Prosecuting attorney Spencer Walsh looks at Torrey Green while giving his closing arguments during Green’s rape trial, Thursday, Jan.17, 2019 in Brigham City, Utah. Green is accused of raping multiple women while he was a football player at Utah State University. (Eli Lucero/Court Pool via AP)

Green dropped his head and began to cry as 1st District Court Judge Brian Cannell read the decision. The verdict included five counts of rape and one count of object rape, all first-degree felonies; forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony; and, a lesser charge of misdemeanor sexual battery.

Throughout the 10-day trial, prosecutors described the 25-year-old former Utah State football player as a predator, whose charming appearances were deceiving. The six victims testified about being raped and assaulted during their first dates after meeting him on Tinder, a social media dating app, or on campus.

Outside the courtroom, Cache County deputy attorney Spencer Walsh said he was happy with the guilty conviction. He had just shared the news with the six victims, who were all thrilled.

“The anxiety, the stress, in preparing to come into a courtroom and face the person who sexually assaulted you and get peppered with cross-examination is very, very difficult,” explained Walsh. “They were phenomenal. They are incredible women and it’s definitely an honor for our office – meaning the prosecution, victim’s advocates, and law enforcement – to be able to get them justice.”

Green’s defense attorney, Skye Lazaro, had argued that her client hooked up with a lot of women while at USU but it was always consensual. She claimed the six victims reported being raped because they were upset about not getting a second date. As evidence she pointed out how they waited between three-months to more than two-and-a-half years to report their assaults to police. She also noted how prosecutors didn’t file charges until after several victims went to the media.

After speaking to Green privately, Lazaro left the Brigham City courthouse without speaking to the media.

Walsh explained it is a myth that victims of sexual assault immediately report it. He said he hopes this trial is a learning experience for the community.

Defense attorney Skye Lazaro gives her closing arguments in Torrey Green’s rape trial, Thursday, Jan.17, 2019 in Brigham City, Utah. Green is accused of raping multiple women while he was a football player at Utah State University. (Eli Lucero/Court Pool via AP)

“We have got to do a better job taking sexual assault cases very seriously,” he said. “Start by believing and then do a competent, thorough investigation, and if we do that, we are going to make a better state. We are going to have a better, safer place to live.”

Following the verdict, inside the courtroom, Judge Cannell scheduled Green to be sentenced March 27. He ordered the defendant to remain in custody and undergo a pre-sentence report about his criminal history, compiled by probation officers.

Outside the courtroom, Walsh said each of the rape charges carry a potential five-to-life prison sentence. The forcible sex abuse charge is one-to-fifteen-years in prison and the sexual battery is up to one-year in jail.

“The state anticipates making a recommendation that would run consecutive charges for each one of the survivors,” he stated. “It is our position that Mr. Green should not get any credit for concurrent time, for crimes he’s committed against different survivors. That is not fair in our opinion. So, I anticipate that we will seek a 25-years-to-life sentence.”

Green still faces one final case of sexually assaulting a seventh alleged victim. Judge Cannell previously ruled not to combine that case with the six others because of the circumstances about it. That trial could still take place later this year.


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1 Comment

  • Deedee January 25, 2019 at 10:58 pm Reply

    What I read in other articles is the dating site actually wasn’t tinder but a hook-up site for one night stands. Either way if the victim said no, he should have walked away. I think his attorney did all women a disservice by saying the victims were upset not to get a second date. That is victimizing the victim again. I found him to sound like a narcissist. Hope prison humbles him.

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