Rape trial of former YPD cop in hands of jury

Inside a San Diego courtroom Wednesday, the five women and nine men that make up the jury were given their next instructions in the felony rape trial against a former Yuma cop.

“Thank you as ever for your continued conscientious attention to this case,” said Judge Charles Rogers. This is something he’s told the jurors every day.

They must consider audio, photo, and video evidence, as well as multiple testimonies from Elkins’ accuser.

Tuesday, we saw 34-year-old Jared Elkins take the stand in his own defense, where he spoke of vivid and graphic details from what he remembers the night of the alleged incident.

“I knew that he knew he was raping me,” Elkins’ accuser testified last week.

Elkins tells a different story.

“Did you believe this to be consensual vaginal sex?” questioned Trip Johnston, the defense attorney.

“Yes,” replied Elkins.

Jurors will also take into consideration another woman, who testified last week.

The two met out at a bar in March 2018.

“She came up to the bar, had ordered a drink, and engaged in small, small talk with me,” Elkins described of that night.

Both the defense and prosecuting attorney asked Elkins what he remembered from that night.

“Was standing close next to me and kinda rubbing my arm and saying ‘I bet you’re a really good kisser’,” Elkins explained.

The woman claimed he was an aggressive lover. Elkins said it was consensual.

“We were having sex for a little while and then I had brought up, you know, I don’t know my exact words, but I believe it was, can I put it in your ***?” he recalled on the witness stand.

Defense attorney Trip Johnston asked how the woman responded. Elkins said she didn’t want it and he had asked if they could try in the morning.

“Did you, uh, apply force on her to keep her down and try to have vaginal sex, I mean, anal sex with her?” Johnston asked.

“No,” Elkins answered.

Another piece of testimony jurors will consider: the Elkins family legacy in Yuma.

“My dad was lieutenant of the Yuma Police Department and my grandpa was the chief of police. It’s been a life-long dream of mine…” Elkins said.

Elkins mentioned when his dad was killed in the line of duty and it affected his life. He was 11-years-old when that happened.

Deliberations will take place Thursday.