Idaho man pleads not guilty to rape charge; incident started at UI frat house

MOSCOW (AP) - A 20-year-old southern Idaho man has pleaded not guilty to a felony rape charge in connection with an assault at the University of Idaho.

Prosecutors say Jesse M. Vierstra, a former UI student, raped an 18-year-old freshman while he was visiting the school for homecoming. Vierstra pleaded not guilty in Latah County's 2nd District Court on Wednesday. He's scheduled to stand trial in January.

Prosecutors say Vierstra was attending a party at the Sigma Chi fraternity house when he and the woman walked outside. The woman told police that they began kissing, and when she tried to end the encounter, he picked her up and carried her to some dark bushes, where she said he raped her.