SPRINGFIELD — Clark County prosecutors were direct and brief in their opening statement to the jury on Monday.
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“This was an attempted rape,” Rachael Slagle, Clark Co. assistant prosecutor said.
As his trial started, Adam Humphreys was bouncing his left leg, with a hand to his face, and looking down most of the time.
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“Quite frankly, there is no excuse for the guy that attacked her. He’s the bad guy,” Seth Schertzinger, Humphrey’s defense lawyer said.
Springfield police said Humphreys attacked a woman along a bike path in May.
Prosecutors revealed he approached her on a walk and asked her on a date.
“To which she replied, ‘I’m married. No, thank you.’ The male then asked, ‘Can I at least pay you?’ And begins following her,” Slagle said.
Prosecutors said that man was Humphreys who then ran at the woman, knocked her to the ground, and attacked her.
But that woman fought him off and called 911.
Prosecutors said they found Humpreys’ DNA under the woman’s fingernails and said she picked him out of a lineup.
“Yes, he is guilty of some crimes,” Schertzinger said.
But Humphrey’s lawyer said he is not guilty of the charges he’s facing — attempted rape, kidnapping, and strangulation.
“I really can’t make excuses for Adam that are going to make you like him ...but you don’t have to like him to find him not guilty,” Schertzinger said.
Prosecutors closed their opening statement with a different request.
“I ask that you utilize your reasoning and common sense. And I believe that if you do that, you will find the defendant guilty of all charges,” Slagle said.
As News Center 7 has previously reported, Humphreys is a convicted sex offender.
We will continue to follow this trial and update as new details are released.
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