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PROVO — Nicholas Rossi, a man extradited to Utah from Scotland to face two allegations of rape, was ordered to stand trial on Tuesday for the second allegation.
Utah's 4th District Judge Derek Pullan decided there is enough evidence against Rossi for him to face trial for rape, a first-degree felony.
He was arrested in Scotland under the name Arthur Knight while receiving treatment for COVID-19, but U.K. courts determined he was Nicholas Rossi. Rossi's attorney, Shawn Howell, said her client's legal name is Arthur Knight.
Orem Police Lt. Karalee Johnson testified at Tuesday's hearing that a DNA sample taken earlier this year matched him to the name Nicholas Rossi and the Utah County rape kit evaluated in 2018. She identified Rossi as the man sitting in the courtroom with an oxygen mask.
Rossi is accused of raping a 21-year-old woman in Orem in 2008, according to charging documents. The woman did not testify at the hearing, instead, Jessica Matthews, who works with victims, testified about helping the woman write a statement that was submitted to the judge.
Both Rossi's attorneys and prosecutors said they did not wish to make arguments before the judge made the decision ordering Rossi to stand trial.
Although Rossi's attorneys did not call any witnesses Tuesday, Howell said she intends to call witnesses at a future bail hearing, where they will ask that Rossi no longer be kept at the Utah County Jail. That hearing is set for Oct. 16.
Rossi was ordered to stand trial in a 3rd District Court case on Aug. 22 for another rape charge, also a first-degree felony. After Rossi's Utah County case received media attention, a second woman reached out, alleging Rossi raped her in Salt Lake County in 2008, which led to the second charge.
He is scheduled for a bail hearing in the Salt Lake County case the day after the hearing in the Utah County case — Oct, 17.
