Soldier linked to sex assaults can blame identical twin, judge rules

[jimmy olsen]

Blaming your twin brother? How cliche can you get?

usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/17/21507000-soldier-linked-to-sex-assaults-can-blame-identical-twin-judge-rules?lite

Soldier linked to sex assaults can blame identical twin, judge rules
By Simon Moya-Smith, Staff Writer, NBC News

A Fort Carson, Colo., officer suspected of sexually assaulting three young females and luring a total of 11 into his car can blame his twin brother at trial, a judge in Colorado Springs ruled Friday.

First Lieutenant Aaron Lucas, 32, is linked by DNA to a string of sexual assaults that occurred in Colorado, Alabama and Texas, the Colorado Spring Gazette reported.

Fourth Judicial District Judge David Shakes said it would be "inappropriate" to prohibit Lucas' attorneys from presenting his identical twin, Brian Frederick Lucas, as an alternate suspect since the pair share DNA.

Shakes also referred to evidence that both Aaron Lucas and Brian Lucas drive a black Acura sedan, similar to the one described by a young girl who was sexually assaulted in Madison, Ala., in 2007 — a crime that Aaron is suspected of committing.

A DNA test also linked Lucas to an 8-year-old girl's abduction in Colorado Springs. His DNA also matched biological material recovered from an unsolved Alabama case and another attack on a young girl in Texarkana, Tex., in 2009, the Gazette reported.

The judge also said Lucas' attorneys can suggest a third man from Colorado Springs as the possible suspect in some of the local crimes, reported the Gazette.

Lucas' trial is slated to begin in January, 2014.

[Neil]

Why does pedophilia run rampant in the US Army?  Any ideas?

[Tonitrus]

Why does pedophilia run rampant in the US Army?  Any ideas?

Maybe it's the decade long exposure to Afghan culture.

[Barrister]

The "evil twin defence" can actually work quite well, assuming you do in fact have an identical twin.  I remember we had quite a bit of trouble with a pair of twin young offenders at one point.

In this case though I am going to assume that the twin is not interested in being labelled as a sex offender in court, and would co-operate with establishing his alibis for all of the offences in question.

[jimmy olsen]

The "evil twin defence" can actually work quite well, assuming you do in fact have an identical twin.  I remember we had quite a bit of trouble with a pair of twin young offenders at one point.

In this case though I am going to assume that the twin is not interested in being labelled as a sex offender in court, and would co-operate with establishing his alibis for all of the offences in question.

I know it's juvenile, but I can't find that not funny.

[Valmy]

The "evil twin defence" can actually work quite well, assuming you do in fact have an identical twin.

Damn it!  Foiled again.

[Eddie Teach]

Would a clone work?

[Syt]

And if you have a twin to blame, make sure you don't leave finger prints. While the DNA will be the same, finger prints are not the same among identical twins.

[Zanza]

In this case though I am going to assume that the twin is not interested in being labelled as a sex offender in court, and would co-operate with establishing his alibis for all of the offences in question.

People are willing to do a lot of stuff to keep family out of prison. Neither of them will be labeled sex offender if the trial can't establish who did it, right?

[Barrister]

In this case though I am going to assume that the twin is not interested in being labelled as a sex offender in court, and would co-operate with establishing his alibis for all of the offences in question.

People are willing to do a lot of stuff to keep family out of prison. Neither of them will be labeled sex offender if the trial can't establish who did it, right?

I meant more "publically" labelled.  You're right that if acquitted, neither would be subject to any legal sanction.

But come on - the "evil twin" defence is going to be all over the news.  The twin will have to be called as a witness to be asked "so did you rape these women"?  I can't imagine anyone wanting to go along with that, even for a twin brother.

[Eddie Teach]

Why would the brother need to cop to it for the defense to work?

[Barrister]

Why would the brother need to cop to it for the defense to work?

Because as soon as the defence says that want the jury to consider whether or not the brother did it, the prosecution would call the brother in rebuttal.

[Eddie Teach]

But unless the brother can prove it wasn't him, the dna evidence remains suspect.

[garbon]

Why would the brother need to cop to it for the defense to work?

Because as soon as the defence says that want the jury to consider whether or not the brother did it, the prosecution would call the brother in rebuttal.

Well couldn't he here just invoke his 5th amendment rights if put on the stand?

[Zanza]

The twin will have to be called as a witness to be asked "so did you rape these women"?

"No."

I can't imagine anyone wanting to go along with that, even for a twin brother.

I predict that's what will happen in this case.