Man accused of raping student on Mary Baldwin University campus found not guilty

STAUNTON – A jury deliberated for several hours Thursday evening before acquitting a man on rape charges after he was accused of sexually assaulting a student in her dorm room at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton earlier this year.

The jury delivered its verdict at 1 a.m. on Friday. Alex AJ Paxton, 24, of Shenandoah, was found not guilty on charges of rape, kidnapping and forcible sodomy. The jury found Paxton guilty of felony strangulation.

During opening arguments Wednesday, Staunton Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Cassondra Baber said Paxton and the student knew each other, and that the defendant had gone to her dorm on Feb. 17. During the visit, Baber said Paxton became angry and began physically assaulting the student by choking her before allegedly sexually assaulting her.

Photos showed multiple bruises and scratches on the student’s neck.

The woman went to Augusta Health in Fishersville the next day and was examined for signs of sexual assault.

But DNA evidence was found only on her neck, where defense attorney Louis Nagy said his client gave her “hickies.” No additional DNA evidence was found “where there absolutely should be,” Nagy said during his closing arguments.

A sheet where the alleged assault took place also contained no DNA evidence.

On Thursday in Staunton Circuit Court, Nagy said the woman had lied about the incident and made numerous inconsistent statements. Phone texts also cast doubt on the allegations, he said.

“She is unbelievable,” Nagy told the jury.

Baber claimed the woman was raped and said she repeatedly said “no” to Paxton during the incident. She also reminded the jury that the victim testified that his hands felt like a “death grip” around her throat.

The jury received the case on Thursday at approximately 6.45pm and deliberated until 1am on Friday.

Paxton remains in the Middle River Regional Jail. He will be sentenced on February 10 for strangulation, according to court records.

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Brad Zinn is the police, court and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Do you have a news tip? Or something that needs to be investigated? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at [email protected]. You can also follow him on X (formerly Twitter).

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: The trial ends in Staunton, the suspect is not guilty of rape