Former N.H. prep school student acquitted of felony rape

Tyler Pager | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Ex-prep school senior acquitted of felony rape A former senior at a New Hampshire prep school has been acquitted of felony rape but convicted of misdemeanor sex charges regarding a 15-year-old freshman. (Aug. 28)

A former student at a New Hampshire prep school was acquitted of felony rape charges Friday, but found guilty of lesser sexual assault charges and could face up to 11 years in jail.

A 12-person jury found Owen Labrie, 19, a former student at St. Paul's School, guilty of the felony of using a computer to lure a minor. Labrie was also found guilty of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, and three counts of misdemeanor sexual assault.

A 15-year-old freshman girl accused Labrie, who was 18 at the time, of raping her in a building on campus as part of a tradition called the "senior salute," in which senior boys try to have sexual encounters with underclassmen before graduation.

The trial put a harsh spotlight on the distinguished New Hampshire prep school and its culture of sexual relations.

In a tearful testimony, the girl, now 16, said Labrie, of Tunbridge, Vt., forced himself upon her and repeatedly ignored her when she said she did not want to have sex. Labrie, the only witness the defense called to testify, said the two had a consensual sexual encounter that fell short of sexual intercourse.

Prosecutors had several of Labrie's friends testify that he told them the two had sex after the encounter. Labrie testified he lied to his friends about the encounter.

Labrie was in tears as the guilty verdict was read. He could face as much as seven years in jail for the felony charge and up to a year in jail for each of the misdemeanors. He will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

After the verdict was announced, a statement was released on behalf of the 16-year-old's family that said Labrie was held accountable "in some way" for his actions. The statement said, however, there was no joy in the verdicts because of what the girl has lost and that the family feels betrayed by St. Paul's School for creating a "toxic culture."

Labrie's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 29. His bail was set at $15,000.

St. Paul's School sent a letter to the school community Friday, commending the victim and her family for their perseverance throughout the trial. The letter also said the school has taken steps to improve its policies and programming to prevent bullying, harassment and gender-based violence. The school also said it continues to address students' participation in the "game of sexual conquest," such as the "senior salute."

Contributing: John Bacon