Indicating he’d “never hurt a woman like that,” the defendant in a Riley County rape case gave his version of events that occurred in August of last year just outside a local movie theatre. Fort Riley soldier Sean Wedgwood recounted three trips to the alleged victim’s car and two trips to his vehicle parked a few rows away in the theatre’s parking lot, following the movie the two had gone to see. He described the woman as “flirty” and “playful,” and referred to an earlier phone conversation when she allegedly indicated she liked the idea of him being dominant. He mentioned talk of a “safe word” to make sex stop.
Wedgwood said both were kissing and touching each other but at one point when he pushed her back and attempted to put his hand in her pants she slapped him. He said he stepped back, got away from her, and she drove away.
During cross-examination by Assistant Riley County Attorney Wes Garrison, Wedgwood admitted to holding her arms down and that she slapped him, was very upset, and began to cry.
Defense Attorney Larry McRell then asked Wedgwood to confirm he didn’t do anything he thought was without the woman’s consent, stopped when she slapped him, and never did penetrate her or tell anyone he did.
The alleged victim was brought back to the stand and indicated her idea of liking it rough perhaps involved pulling hair–but use of a “safe word” was not pleasurable . She also credited her mother for helping her decide to report the incident the next morning.
After nearly four hours of working on jury instructions,Riley County District Court Judge David Stutzman announced the jury would be coming back at 8:30 a.m. Thursday to receive jury instructions and hear closing arguments.
Wedgwood was arrested in early November on the rape warrant.
