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Charge dropped in UMKC rape case

Posted at 7:45 PM, Oct 03, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-04 19:37:27-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jackson County prosecutors dropped a rape charge in a case that involved a UMKC student.

Juan Contreras, 23, was accused of raping a female freshman student in her dorm room in February at Johnson Hall. Prosecutors accused him of carrying the unconscious student to her dorm and assaulting her. 

Contreras and the woman, along with friends, allegedly met to go to a Lawrence dance club.

Contreras was not a UMKC student.

Students rallied on the campus for what they claimed was an "incredibly insensitive, offensive and ineffective response,'' after the alleged crime.

UMKC senior Jamie Powell is disappointed by the prosecutor's decision.

"They have video of him carrying her unconscious body. I can't believe nothing is going to happen to him. I feel terrible for the student," said Powell.

According to Mike Mansur, a spokesman for the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office, after discussions with the victim and witnesses they did not believe they could meet the burden of proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Contreras had been set for trial in late November. He was released from custody on Tuesday.