Testimony to continue in former Oklahoma State standout Perrish Cox's trial
BY P. SOLOMON BANDA Associated Press
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — A woman who said she was sexually assaulted by former Oklahoma State standout and former Denver Broncos cornerback Perrish Cox is expected to continue her testimony in a trial that could send the former player to prison for life.
The woman, whose name is not being published by The Associated Press because she's an alleged victim of a sexual crime, is expected back on the stand Wednesday in Castle Rock.
She took the stand on Tuesday shortly after a jury was seated and testified that details about the night of the alleged assault over the 2010 Labor Day weekend were unclear. She reported the crime to police after she learned she was pregnant.
Cox has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault while the victim was physically helpless and one count of sexual assault while the victim was incapable of determining the nature of the conduct. He faces two years to life in prison if convicted.
Douglas County District Court Judge Paul King told the potential jurors during jury selection Tuesday that witnesses may also include Broncos players Demaryius Thomas, special teams specialist Cassius Vaughn and linebacker Wesley Woodyard, as well as several doctors. A witness list of those who are expected to testify remains sealed. Thomas caught an 80-yard touchdown to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs last month.
Cox defense attorney Harvey Steinberg, in his opening statement, disputed prosecutors' version of events, which includes allegations that Cox impregnated her. Police arrested Cox after his DNA matched a sample taken from the woman.
Steinberg said Cox was out with his girlfriend that night, and that the victim was interested in Thomas. "At no time did Mr. Cox show any interest in her romantically.
"The DNA is not the entire picture," Steinberg said.
The woman testified that she had no recollection that she had been sexually assaulted in Cox's apartment. She told jurors that she suspected she had been drugged because she has a high tolerance for alcohol, did not drink that much that night and doesn't recall many details of the evening, including walking up the stairs to Cox's apartment.
The Post reported that she testified remembering "fooling around" with Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who was at a nightclub with Cox and his girlfriend and went to Cox's apartment that night.
"When I woke up, I felt funny," she told jurors assembled in Douglas County District Court Tuesday afternoon.
She contacted authorities on Oct. 28, 2010, after she learned she was pregnant. Thomas, Cassius Vaughn, Cox's roommate at the time who said he was asleep in the apartment that night, and Cox all submitted DNA samples.
Thomas and Vaughn were cleared.
