Vancouver man in court after alleged rape

A Vancouver man appeared Tuesday in Clark County Superior Court on accusations that he raped a woman he had met online while on a first date, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Jeremy Lee Word, 27, faces a charge of second-degree rape in connection with the alleged incident on March 4. The woman reported the alleged rape the same day, court records show.

Word and the victim had met on an online dating website. They subsequently met at a local bar, and the victim drove Word to see a movie and then to his home. The two were sitting in the victim’s car when Word allegedly forced himself on her and raped her, according to court documents.

The victim reportedly went straight home afterward and called 911 to report the rape. She also went to Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center to complete a sexual assault evaluation, the affidavit said.

On March 14, police contacted Word, and he initially denied going out or knowing the alleged victim. A week later, police contacted him again to obtain a DNA sample. Word apparently changed his story at that time and said he did know the woman and that they had consensual sex, court records show.

Results of the DNA test came back in August from the Washington State Patrol’s crime laboratory, and confirmed the DNA found on the victim matched Word’s, according to court records.

On Tuesday, Judge Robert Lewis appointed defense attorney Therese Lavallee to represent Word, and Word entered a not guilty plea.

His trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 25.