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OGDEN -- A Washington Terrace man is facing prison when he is sentenced next month following his conviction this week for a violent 2006 rape.
A jury found Cody Richard Cooper, 32, guilty of rape, aggravated sexual assault and sodomy, all first-degree felonies. He was found not guilty of aggravated kidnapping.
Cooper is facing six years to life in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 19. He is being held without bail at Weber County Jail.
Thursday's verdict comes after nearly three years of delays due to extensive evidence-gathering, an earlier mistrial and personal issues with one of Cooper's defense attorneys.
Deputy Weber County Attorney Branden Miles said he is pleased that after years of hard work by an extensive investigative team, Cooper will now face justice in a case that has proved difficult for both prosecutors and the victim.
"We've had this go on for a long time," he said. "(The victim) was very brave for sticking with us the entire time to get this done."
Police say Cooper beat and raped his former girlfriend on Aug. 20, 2006, after the two met to work out details of their breakup. The woman later asked Cooper to take her home, but he instead drove her to his Washington Terrace basement apartment, where he violently forced her out of his truck, said Weber County Sheriff's Capt. Klint Anderson.
Once inside the apartment, Cooper beat and raped the woman throughout the night. He allowed her to leave the next afternoon, and she went to police.
Anderson said deputies obtained a search warrant for Cooper's home and found a considerable amount of evidence to back up the victim's story. Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Cooper, but he managed to evade capture for about a month.
Cooper was originally tried in December 2008, but the proceedings ended in a mistrial following a dispute between prosecutors and the defense over a number of alleged text messages that Cooper received from his accuser.
Cooper's defense attorney claimed the accuser had also beaten Cooper on a number of occasions and that the messages proved the woman pressed charges only to get him to pay for her medical bills.
Miles said the defense failed to disclose the wording of the messages at the start of that trial. Second District Judge Michael Lyon ruled both sides are bound to disclose all evidence in a timely manner and declared a mistrial at the request of prosecutors.
A new trial was scheduled for earlier this year, but was delayed at the request of Cooper's defense attorney for personal matters.
Miles said Cooper's first trial was also delayed because it took nearly a year to analyze forensic evidence and complete DNA testing.
CLEARING UP THE STORY.
Alright. well to start off.. i applaud your peoples effort to lie and deceive. You have done a great job at trying to assemble a pity party on a rapers accord.
The sad truth ladies and gentlemen is who would want to find out that their son is indeed a raper.. and brother is indeed a violent criminal.. all of these people are friends and family of the convicted felon. I myself was unbiased in this case and feel as though the defense held a much greater case. Let me address that the attorney for Cody could have done better. For example i do not think calling Cody with the victims last name will hold you very high in court. It made it seem as though he didn't even know his client.. which in turn is sad.
Now on to the man who wrote this article. I believe you did a fine job. You heard the evidence which was directly portrayed in the trial. As for the people advising you to meet him as well as the family.. Let me tell you this.. I saw the family there and what is being said here are lies. At the end of the verdict i clearly remember Cody's father standing up and asking if the victim (who was crying) if she was happy with her lies. Also while all this was going on Cody was being escorted out and while this was taking place he began to cuss and yell at the officer and lawyer.
From seeing all of these actions being done by the "innocent" man and his family in a matter of seconds I could see why his family wouldn't want to mention that in their comments. Because it's a disgrace when people act like this in an honorary courtroom. He must have had some major effect on his wife considering a number of ex girlfriends stood on the stand and gave testimony to the times Cody had abused them.
This is no innocent man. This is a guilty man serving his time for justice. His family believes he is an angel. because of course all parents would love to believe this. No one wants to believe their son can brutally rape and sodomize a woman while they are in the same household. Another thing I would like to point out.. is where someone addressed the fact that it's not rape because she was "on top". As I heard this part of the mothers' testimony revealed on the last day of trial I must admit I was wearing a face of confusion. Why, when as they said in the trial, that the mother usually knocked before coming in did she just so happen to come barging in to even see the victim on top. And why would the mother be so perverse as to take the time and watch her son engage in sexual intercourse long enough to observe who is on top. Also why would the two engaging in such act not immediately stop their actions once said company was present.
As you can see none of that makes sense. My heart does go out to the family because it is always a burden when a family member has committed a crime you thought they were incapable or unwilling to commit. With this being said these people now know the truth and what really happened at the trial and can now make their own judgements based on evidence rather than the "he said she said babble" going on here..
As for the victim I am sure she still wakes up every morning tormented by what was done to her. No one will ever know how this woman felt unless they are put in this same position and held captive while brutally beaten and raped. You can be sure she still has night terrors about this man and the hate he showed towards her.
These jurors were not worried about dinner being cold.. We have enough technology these days that we are able to re-heat our food. These jurors merely found.. beyond a reasonable doubt that this man was guilty. Some may have gone in thinking otherwise.. i may not know that for sure, but what i do know is that justice has been served and Utah has taken another criminal off of the streets. Thank you.
Clearing up utah citizen fictional story
Here we go.......to me this comment sounds like it has been written by a person that is either a court official or some sort of affiliate of the courts. To me that's sad because indeed you as an employee give an oath of confidentiality in all cases presented in the honorary courtroom. Not in this case obviously. Why did it take you a month to place your comment here? Why is this case so important to you? I have a couple of points to start here that were once again lied about.
Why not use your real name and open yourself up for a slanderous lawsuit for everything that you have said about my parents.
On behalf of our father. Your statement was that our dad stood up in the courtroom and yelled at Pat " asking her if she was happy with her lies". Well, to clear this up. Our dad stood up after court and looked directly at Officer Johansen and said " I hope you are happy Johansen for all the lies you said in the courtroom". My parents did not once look at Pat after the verdict was announced.
As far as my brother yelling after court. Cody just got sentenced for something he DID NOT do. He was being escorted by the officer that lied on the stand. How would you feel? My brother intends to apologize for his behavior leaving the courtroom.
As far as many ex-girlfriend's that testified on the stand. That's funny because not one ex-girlfriend testified. I do know that one ex-girlfriend was summons to appear in the last hearing and in this one but was not used by the prosecutor. So, please let's get your lies right.
I'm completely disgusted about you describing our mom as a pervert. How dare you!!!!! Our mom did not watch my brother having sex with Pat nor do I feel that you trying to slam our mom is necessary. Get the story right before you try to write a article comment about the total opposite. Believe me, our parents will be writing their version of what really happen.
One thing about our parents, they are the most truthful pair that I have ever known. They do not lie for anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We do not need your sympathy or anyone else's. We as family and friends know exactly what happened and we will make sure everyone knows.
As far as Pat. I can definately say that I'm 100% positive that she wakes up every morning with a big smile because she once again got her way. She didn't have Cody, so no one else would have him either. "Held captive"? She was there because she wanted to be. Cody was sentenced not guilty on the supposedly kidnapping charge.
A vendictive female has taken away a son, brother, dad, husband and a friend from everyone that truly knows him and loves him.
Make sure you get your story together when you decide to go on a nationwide website to slander an innocent man's parent's.
Attn Reader's: Why does someone that is not related or friends with Cody think he's important enough to take the time out to write such slanderous accusations about our parent's a month later? How would this person feel if the shoe was on their foot and someone was slandering his or her parent's? Make sure the next time that you are in the courtroom that you pay better attention and get the information right.
Cody is 100% innocent and that will be proven!
We were even in same
We were even in same courtroom? First I would like to say Cody has no hold over me, you don't know me just like you don't know anyone you are commenting about if you really do have a fair and unbaised opinion. I did not slander anyone like you did in your statement.
I would like to now when did all these other ex-girlfriends testifed? I was there everyday and not one expect alleged victim took stand. Next I would like to add not his father nor anyone say anything to alleged victim. It was a comment made to an officer. As for the sodomy his DNA was excluded from profile collected. The only thing cody is guilty of and he has never denied is hitting her after she attacked him busting his teeth out amongst other injuries caused be her.
Your heart doesn't go out to his family, the ones you clearly slandered and made false statements about there actions in courtroom...
My Brother, My Friend
I am Cody's oldest sister. I have known my brother all of his life and I am appauled that a female would ever stoop so low to acuse an incident man of such a crime. My brother is completely innocent and I know this with all of my heart and soul. Cody is a great brother, dad, son and friend to everyone that knows him. Myself, our other siblings, our parents, our friends, other family members, Cody's girlfriend can't believe that Cody was found guilty by a jury. How can the jury say one minute that Cody was innocent 5 - 3 and then changed their minds? The jury didn't believe the prosecution side. So, why was the verdict guilty? How can Cody be in jail and look at spending many years in prison for something that he did not do? Cody has alot of support from family and friends and justice will be proven!!!!!!
I just want to say, Cody we love you very much and we miss you. We will do whatever it takes to prove that you are innocent and bring you home.
I have been reading the other comments to this article and my brother and I want to thank the few that have had the courage to respond to such an article. Thank you for speaking your minds and stand up for what you believe in.
I also would like to stress to the writer of this article to go down to the jail and meet my brother. Go to my parent's house and meet with them. Investigate this trial and the last trial and see the different testimonies. You will see why we have such a problem with this verdict.
Think about this: If my brother was guilty, do you really think that we would still be fighting to prove otherwise?
INNOCENT MAN, SON, BROTHER, DAD, HUSBAND,FRIEND CONVICTED
WOW!!! WHERE DO I START. WHERE'S OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IN UTAH? HOW CAN A INNOCENT MAN BE CONVICTED ON LIES AND MAKE BELIEVE EVIDENCE? WHAT HAPPEN TO OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO HAVE A FAIR TRAIL, TO HAVE ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION, AND TO BE NOT GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY? IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, CODY WAS LISTED AS GUILTY AUTOMATICALLY. THIS WAS BASED ON LIES BY THE "SO CALLED" VICTIM. THIS "SO CALLED" VICTIM LIED BECAUSE CODY DIDN'T WANT TO PURSUE ANY FURTHER BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND RELATIONSHIP WITH HER, SO THE LIES WERE SPREAD AROUND LIKE WILDFIRES. HOW CAN YOU RAPE SOMEONE WHEN THE FEMALE IS SITTING ON TOP OF YOU??????? THAT'S A QUESTION EVERYONE SHOULD THINK ABOUT. HOW CAN YOU BE A "VICTIM" AND BE AT THE BAR WITH FRIENDS AND LAUGHING THAT "SHE REALLY GOT CODY"? IF YOU WERE A "VICTIM", WHY WOULD YOU BE STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE COURTROOM AWAITING VERDICT AND YELLING/CURSING AT CODY'S FAMILY, "WHO'S GOT CODY NOW"? THESE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE THAT READ THIS ARTICLE NEED TO ASK THEMSELVES!!!!!! WE ALL KNOW THE STATE MESSED UP AND INSTEAD OF THEM LOOKING LIKE FOOLS THEY PROSECUTED AN INNOCENT MAN THAT NOW IS LOOKING AT SPENDING THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN PRISON, AWAY FROM HIS FAMILY, HIS KIDS, AND HIS FRIENDS. HOW AS HUMAN BEINGS CAN YOU WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND FEEL LIKE A "HUMAN BEING"? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF YOUR MOM, DAD, BROTHER, SISTER, SON OR DAUGHTER WAS OR IS IN THE SAME BOAT AND YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD A CHANCE TO WIN YOUR CASE? IN WEBER COUNTY COURTS, YOU HAVE NO CHANCE UNLESS YOU HAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIGHT AGAINST LIES. WHAT HAPPENED TO PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE MONEY TO PAY FOR AN ATTORNEY? DO MIDDLE CLASS TO POVERTY INDIVIDUALS HAVE A CHANCE IN THE COURT SYSTEM? THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. NOW, AS FAR AS THE PERSON THAT WROTE THIS ARTICLE. I AM OFFENDED MYSELF BECAUSE THE WRITER COULD HAVE BEEN FAIR AND IMPARTIAL. NOT ONLY THAT, WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR STORY? THERE WAS NO NEWSPAPER PERSONNEL IN THE COURTROOM ALL WEEK. MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE ATTENDED THE HEARING YOURSELF AND SEEN/HEARD THE EVIDENCE YOURSELF BEFORE YOU WRITE AN ARTICLE AS GRAPHIC AND DEMEANING AS THIS ONE.
CODY COOPER IS 100% INNOCENT AND HAS BEEN CONVICTED BY A FEMALE THAT LIED AND COULDN'T DEAL WITH DISMISSAL.
TO: CARLOS MAYORGA (STANDARD EXAMINER STAFF) - WE ALL INVITE YOU TO ACTUALLY INVESTIGATE THE PERSON CODY COOPER REALLY IS, HIS FAMILY, HIS FRIENDS. INVESTIGATE THE TRIAL AND YOU WILL SEE THE OBVIOUS TESTIMONIES THAT WERE LIES AND THAT WERE NOT.
AT CLOSING, CODY, WE LOVE YOU AND WE MISS YOU AND WE WON'T QUIT FIGHTING FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UNTIL WE SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN.
AND TO PAT, WE'LL WHAT CAN WE SAY TO SOMEONE LIKE YOU. LIFE IS MADE OUT OF WHAT YOU MAKE IT AND TO ME, YOUR LIFE IS PRETTY SAD. IT'S A SHAME THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO DO SUCH TERRIBLE THINGS TO PEOPLE.
Justice???
Our justice system is failing. Please do not ever believe that high officials are always honest! They are NOT!! Cody is a wonderful person and he was robbed of his life by a low life woman that lied and got away with it! She will pay whether it is on earth or after. How she lives with herself I will never understand.
As for the jury....how do you go from five of them with a not guilty and allow the others (3) to change thier minds. Were they worried they wouldnt make it home for dinner? They just couldnt give a little more time? And they must have had some doubt even when they said "guilty"!
We that know Cody and the so called victim know the truth! And so does our higher power!!
Pat, we wish you nothing but the worst when you have to answer to him!
OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM FAILED...
A jury found an innocent man guilty. He is a loving father to a beautiful little girl. They heard about a man that doesn't exsit and never did. Everyone who knows Cody knows the truth. His mother lost her son, I lost my husband, but most of all his daughter lost her best friend...