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Former student faces rape, kidnapping charges at May 11 trial
Gregory Sako will face charges at trial in case of alleged sexual assault that occurred at fraternity party on Halloween
Kate Welter
Issue date: 5/8/09 Section: News
The former OSU student and Phi Kappa Psi fraternity member who is allegedly responsible for the sexual assault of a 21-year-old woman is scheduled to begin trial on May 11.
Gregory Thomas Sako, 19, was arrested on Nov. 1, 2008 and charged with rape in the first degree, kidnapping in the first and second degree, and sexual abuse in the first degree. The victim is no longer an OSU student and resides in Portland.
The reported assault was said to have taken place at a Halloween costume party at the original Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house, located on 140 N.W. 13th St., which has since been shut down due to a gas explosion last November.
Sako was described as dressed up as a beer bottle at the costume party. Witnesses also reported seeing him being visibly intoxicated that night.
Sako was originally held in the Benton County Correctional Facility until he posted the $250,000 bail on Nov. 5. According to the OSU Registrar's office, Sako also withdrew from his classes and has since returned home to live with his family.
Thursday morning, Corvallis District Attorney Chris Stringer and Sako's defense attorney, Stephen Ensor, convened at the Benton County Courthouse for a pre-trial readiness meeting. Sako was not physically present at the meeting, but instead listened via speaker phone from his home in Menlo Park, Calif.
Stringer explained that this is a big trial and that he expects to see many people present at the courthouse next week, such as Sako's former fraternity brothers, the victim's family and friends, and sexual assault groups such as Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Alliance (SARPA).
"The state is ready for trial," Stringer stated to the court and the presiding Judge Janet S. Holcomb.
"We will have 21 witnesses and seven expert witnesses, two of which are law enforcement agents," Stringer said.
The defense revealed that they have 13 witnesses prepared for trial, two of which are experts, but will try to "whittle down" that number for the sake of the trial's longevity.
Judge Holcomb shared with both parties that due to conflicting scheduling the week after the trial is set to take place, it would be ideal that the trial be complete by next Friday.
"It is in both parties' interest to have [the trial] done in a five-day span," Stringer said.
Ensor added that the defense is trying to be as efficient as possible with its time, but part of its limitation is trying to schedule around its witnesses' availability for testimony, which is significantly comprised of college students.
Sako's trial is scheduled to take place next Monday at the downtown Corvallis Benton County Courthouse at 9 a.m. It will be open for the public to attend.
Kate Welter, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
Gregory Thomas Sako, 19, was arrested on Nov. 1, 2008 and charged with rape in the first degree, kidnapping in the first and second degree, and sexual abuse in the first degree. The victim is no longer an OSU student and resides in Portland.
The reported assault was said to have taken place at a Halloween costume party at the original Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house, located on 140 N.W. 13th St., which has since been shut down due to a gas explosion last November.
Sako was described as dressed up as a beer bottle at the costume party. Witnesses also reported seeing him being visibly intoxicated that night.
Sako was originally held in the Benton County Correctional Facility until he posted the $250,000 bail on Nov. 5. According to the OSU Registrar's office, Sako also withdrew from his classes and has since returned home to live with his family.
Thursday morning, Corvallis District Attorney Chris Stringer and Sako's defense attorney, Stephen Ensor, convened at the Benton County Courthouse for a pre-trial readiness meeting. Sako was not physically present at the meeting, but instead listened via speaker phone from his home in Menlo Park, Calif.
Stringer explained that this is a big trial and that he expects to see many people present at the courthouse next week, such as Sako's former fraternity brothers, the victim's family and friends, and sexual assault groups such as Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Alliance (SARPA).
"The state is ready for trial," Stringer stated to the court and the presiding Judge Janet S. Holcomb.
"We will have 21 witnesses and seven expert witnesses, two of which are law enforcement agents," Stringer said.
The defense revealed that they have 13 witnesses prepared for trial, two of which are experts, but will try to "whittle down" that number for the sake of the trial's longevity.
Judge Holcomb shared with both parties that due to conflicting scheduling the week after the trial is set to take place, it would be ideal that the trial be complete by next Friday.
"It is in both parties' interest to have [the trial] done in a five-day span," Stringer said.
Ensor added that the defense is trying to be as efficient as possible with its time, but part of its limitation is trying to schedule around its witnesses' availability for testimony, which is significantly comprised of college students.
Sako's trial is scheduled to take place next Monday at the downtown Corvallis Benton County Courthouse at 9 a.m. It will be open for the public to attend.
Kate Welter, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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