Is it a case of rape as the state suggest or sexual favors for drugs as the defense suggest? That’s what the jury will have to decide from a case that goes back to May of last year.

27-year-old Craig Lee Gooch is charged with rape, aggravated kidnapping, two alternate theories or counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated sexual battery, aggravated burglary, aggravated intimidation of victim or witness, criminal threat, interference with law enforcement and auto burglary.

It was early in the day back on Friday May 11, 2012 when officers of the Hutchinson Police Department were dispatched to the 300 block of East 6th for a report of a possible abduction of a Hutchinson woman. The initial investigation revealed that Gooch allegedly kidnapped the woman, then sexually assaulted her. The state suggests the he watched her walk back into Dillon’s on 4th, after she had bought groceries/ She apparently didn’t lock the doors and it was during that time he crawled into her van. As she was headed home, he then popped up and informed her that he was going to rape her.

He wanted her to drive into the county where no one was around according to Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Maxwell, but she didn’t want that. They ended up at the victims home because she was hoping that a neighbor would see her with this man. But, that didn’t happen. He then forced her into her home where he sexually assaulted her, then made her drive him back to Dillon’s. The neighbor did see her with a strange man as they were leaving to go back to Dillon’s and called police knowing something was wrong.

They found Gooch after looking over Dillon’s surveillance video. He was located at a residence in the 700 block of East 3rd.

But, the defense argued a whole different scenario. They argued that the alleged victim had contacted Gooch to buy drugs, but when he arrived at Dillon’s, she didn’t have enough money, saying she spent to much in the store on groceries. He claims they made an arrangement and had sex in exchange for the drugs. Defense Attorney Alice Osburn argued to the jury that the sex was consensual.

Both sides gave their opening statements Tuesday and the state is now presenting their side of case which continued Wednesday.