By Liz Adkins
InkFreeNews

Preston Michael West

WARSAW — A jury has found a Pierceton man not guilty of three criminal charges after he was accused of entering a home without permission and attempting to engage in non-consensual sexual activity with a woman.

Preston Michael West, 33, 4539 S. 750E, Pierceton, was found not guilty of residential entry and sexual battery, both level 6 felonies; and domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor. West’s residential entry charge was initially filed as burglary, a level 4 felony. This charge was later amended by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office.

West’s case was heard before a six-person jury during a one-day trial on Monday, July 15. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Buehler presented the state’s case, and Defense Attorney Jay Rigdon was West’s counsel.

A judgment of acquittal has been entered for all of West’s charges. A no-contact order between West and the woman involved in this case has also been vacated.

On Oct. 3, 2023, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a domestic complaint and spoke with a woman, who said West entered her residence while she was asleep.

According to court documents, the woman said she woke up to West sitting on her bed and attempting to engage in sexual activity with her. She then began screaming, causing West to leave the home.

West denied being at the woman’s residence and showed the deputy text messages with the woman which indicated the woman was busy. However, the deputy noticed additional text messages from the woman to West, telling West to stay away from her and not do that again.

After several denials, West admitted to being at the woman’s residence but gave different stories on if he actually entered the residence or not.

A neighbor said she heard the woman screaming at someone and saw a man leave the woman’s residence.