Bethany Bruner

Reporter

NEWARK - The trial of a Pataskala area man who was accused of raping two women came down to whether there was consent.

A jury of six men and six women Thursday evening decided there was not. They convicted Anthony Triona, 23, last known address 22 Bend View Drive, Pataskala, of two counts of rape, both first-degree felonies, and one count of resisting arrest, a second-degree misdemeanor.

Over the course of two days, the jury heard from both victims and Triona, who admitted to engaging in sexual conduct with both women.

On his direct testimony, Triona said he had engaged in "rape role play" with multiple women but he had always talked about it with the women first.

On cross-examination, Triona admitted that when one of the victims confronted him about a lack of communication before the sexual conduct took place, he had not reacted as if he had talked with her first.

During his closing arguments, Reamer said Triona couldn't admit what he did to the victims was rape because in his mind, it isn't rape if the person is your partner.

"The defendant has a fantasy in his own mind that rape role play is something every woman is into," Reamer said.

Triona's attorney, Andrew Sanderson, argued the victims had consented to sexual activity, but ended up being unhappy with how things had gone.

"You can't be convicted of rape if you don't like how somebody does sex," Sanderson said. "It's not about good sex, it's about consensual sex."

The jury deliberated for more than five hours before reaching its decision. Triona will be sentenced at a later date, pending completion of a presentence investigation report.

Triona faces a maximum possible sentence of 22 years in prison.