Crime

Cell Phone Video Presented At Gopher Rape Trial

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ― On Thursday, jurors in Dominic Jones' sexual assault trial got to see for themselves some cell phone video the prosecution says proves its case.

Jones is charged with felony criminal sexual assault in an incident that happened last April at University Village Apartments.

Thursday's testimony began with University of Minnesota investigators describing what evidence they collected at the apartment.

They said they seized seven cell phones and nine condoms in bedroom and bathroom waste baskets, but far more sensational was the video footage allegedly found on Jones' friend's cell phone.

Jones sat and watched as jurors saw what prosecutors said is cell phone video of him performing a sex act on a visibly unconscious woman.

The footage allegedly shows Jones in his then-Gopher teammates' apartment with the victim lying motionless on the bed, her eyes closed and her shirt partly off.

The presented footage then shows someone the prosecution is identifying as Jones smiling and laughing into the camera, saying "Brown on brown, this is how we get down."

After jurors saw the video in motion, prosecutors then presented 29 still frame close-ups concentrating on Jones' smiling face, the passed-out woman and someone else in the bedroom closet.

Investigators sent Alex Daniels' cell phone to the Minneapolis Police computer forensics investigator, who was then able to retrieve the video, which had been deleted.

Because the retrieved images were choppy, the Secret Service in Washington, D.C. was recruited to enhance the sound and audio quality.

Defense attorney Earl Gray objected to the presentation of the video as evidence, but the judge allowed it.

Testimony is scheduled to continue Friday. Both Jones as well as the victim are expected to take the stand at some point.

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