Rape Charge Dropped Against Boise Officer
The investigation continues, but official rape charges have been dropped against Boise police officer Eric Simunich.
The 43-year-old allegedly went to dinner with a woman he'd met online the night before. As the story goes, they went back to his house to watch a movie and Ada County deputy prosecutor John Dinger says there was "consensual kissing." The woman claims the Boise police officer later forced himself on her, leaving bruises on her body and tearing her fingernail during the struggle. There are also allegations that he threw her phone out of her grasp and held her down.
According to an article on KTVB which details the case, the woman reported the incident the next day and she underwent a sexual assault exam.
Prosecutors say they need more time to present evidence to the court. The dismissal came yesterday, a day after Twin Falls County prosecutors filed the motion to dismiss after Ada County cited a conflict of interest.
The preliminary hearing was supposed to happen today, but prosecutors simply feel they don't have enough evidence to present the case. Prosecutors can file the charge again.
Simunich had been placed on paid administrative leave by the Boise Police Department.
His defense attorney had this to say,
Eric Simunich is innocent. He didn't commit any crime. We are pleased that an experienced prosecutor has looked at this case and chosen to dismiss this case. That was the responsible thing to do.
Twin Falls prosecutor, Grant Loebs says,
When there is enough evidence to go forward, we'll refile it.