Judge finds probable cause to bind Mendon man over on rape and burglary charges

LOGAN — A judge has found probable cause to bind Michael B. Ibuyan over on charges of raping a woman and burglary. The 37-year-old Mendon man sat next to his public defender and never spoke during Tuesday’s preliminary hearing, in 1st District Court.

As part of their evidence, prosecutors played two recorded conversations between the suspect and the victim. In the first one, you could hear Ibuyan say he was sorry as the woman described how she wanted to forget what he had done to her.

In the second of them, she sobbed while telling Ibuyan she wanted to die, after he had come into her house, took her clothes off and forced himself on her.

Deputies report Ibuyan allegedly was staying at the victim’s home in April, when he entered the woman’s bedroom and raped her.

Ibuyan was later arrested and charged with object rape, a fist-degree felony, and burglary, a second-degree felony. He was released from jail after posting $30,000 bond.

During Tuesday’s hearing, State attorney Jacob Gordon said the conversations along with a written statement from the victim, showed that Ibuyan had sex with victim against her will.

Defense attorney Shannon Demler said he questioned the timeline of the victim’s story, showing that according to her, the rape occurred on April 21 but prosecutors said it was on the 26, after she had already been interviewed by investigators.

Gordon said the date may not be accurate but he could fix that.

Judge Kevin Allen said the evidence still exhibited that there was probable cause to show that the felonies were committed. He ordered Ibuyan to appear again in court for a pretrial conference September 12.

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