In a preliminary court hearing yesterday, Albany County Judge Robert Castor found probable cause that UW student, Jordan McGuire, committed sexual assault on the night of November 21.
“The court does find that there is probable cause to believe that the offense of sexual assault in the first degree…was probably committed, and furthermore, the defendant here in charged, Jordan Lee McGuire, is probably the person who committed that offense,” Castor said.
The hearing entailed the prosecution and defense questioning of Frederick O’ Connor, the Laramie Police Department patroller who conducted the McGuire investigation.
Connor stated the alleged sexual assault occurred between 11 p.m. November 21 and 2 or 3 a.m. November 22 at a party McGuire hosted at 2024 Binford 722 Campus Habitat. He added the victim called the police department at 3 p.m. on November 22.
During investigation questioning, the victim said he was drunk prior to attending McGuire’s party and upon arrival he consumed one or two more alcoholic drinks provided by McGuire, Connor said. The victim claimed to not remember much, as he was “blacking in and out” through out the evening, Connor said, describing blacking out as where one “commonly doesn’t remember certain time frames associated with drugs or alcohol,”
The victim told Connor he became ill at the party and passed out in the bathroom, Connor said. Upon waking up, McGuire was lying next to the victim, touching him sexually in the anal area. Connor added that the victim told McGuire to stop.
The victim passed out a second time and awoke to McGuire forcing him into sexual acts.
“McGuire had his right hand on the back of the victim’s head and hair, and his left hand on the back of his neck, forcing his mouth on his penis,” Connor said.
McGuire allegedly suggested the victim accompany him to a bedroom, however, the victim claims he said no and that he needed to throw up.
The victim said McGuire escorted him by the wrists from the bathroom and toward the bedroom, however the door was locked. Connor added that another partygoer has attested to seeing the victim and McGuire near the bedroom and claimed to intervene.
The witness told McGuire the victim was very drunk and that McGuire should not proceed with his actions, Connor said, adding McGuire allegedly replied, “It’s college, people experiment, let it go.” The witness said she directed her questioning to the victim, in which he agreed he did not want to be with McGuire and followed the witness to wait for a ride.
The witness did note she had seen McGuire and the victim kissing consensually earlier in the evening.
The victim’s description of the perpetrator’s penile area matched that of McGuire’s upon investigation, Connor said. He noted mouth swabs, fingernail, hair root, penile and scrotum samples have been taken as well.
During questioning, McGuire admitted to having a party November 21 and seeing the victim highly intoxicated at the party, however, he said they had minimal interaction, Connor said. Connor added in court that McGuire denied all allegations of the victim’s claims of their exchanges.
McGuire was not released on a $100,000 bail yesterday, as no one could consent to being liable for the total amount if McGuire violated any terms of release. Castor said the bond amount is determined upon the alleged perpetrator’s risk of flight and the risk of safety to other persons.
In order for someone to be released on bail, Castor said someone must assure they are willing to take custody, control and responsibility for the alleger’s behavior, in addition to having a net worth in excess of twice the bond, which in McGuire’s case is $200,000.
McGuire will remain in the Albany County Jail until his next court date, which is not yet announced.
