Opening statements in former SPD officer’s rape trial set for Wednesday

August 16, 2022 12:30 PM

Vincent Saglimbeni,

Posted: August 16, 2022 12:30 PM

Updated: August 16, 2022 6:42 PM

by Vincent Saglimbeni

SPOKANE, Wash. — Opening statements for the rape trial of a former Spokane Police Department officer are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Jury selection continues on Tuesday in the trial of Nathan Nash, a former SPD officer accused of rape. The jury will be finalized on Wednesday and opening statements will start at around 10:30 a.m. The trial is expected to last until August 29th.

Nash, 39, is charged with multiple counts of rape, misconduct, and unlawful imprisonment.

He was first charged in 2019 when a woman came forward alleging he raped her while investigating her case. She reported being assaulted by her boyfriend and Nash was one of the responding officers.

She claimed Nash came back another time to “follow up” on her case and that is when the alleged rape happened.

Nash was arrested and booked into jail but was released on his own recognizance. His trial for that case was set to happen in August 2021 but was delayed because of a new rape allegation.

In early August 2021, a woman told police about an experience similar to the first report.

This woman called 911 to report her neighbor had assaulted her and Nash was one of the responding officers. She also said Nash returned to her home to conduct a follow-up and raped her.

Nash was again booked on second-degree rape, but was released after posting bond.

At the time, a judge ruled the two cases would be joined together for trial purposes. They remain two separate case, but will follow the same timeline and go to trial together.

Nash’s trial was supposed to begin in January but was delayed until this week.

On Monday, potential jurors were asked a series of questions.

Questions included asking jurors if they had any personal experiences similar to the case if family or friends had any personal experiences relating to the case, if they had seen any news coverage of the case, and if their career influenced how they felt about the case.

READ: Two rape cases against former Spokane cop to be tried at same time

READ: ‘I was afraid to fight’: Woman details rape allegations against former Spokane cop