Kansas college student faces rape, kidnapping charges
A Haskell Indian Nations University student is accused of kidnapping and raping a fellow student, then leading police on a chase that ended in a crash, according to court documents.
The Douglas County District Attorney charged Tristan A. James in November with one count each of rape, kidnapping and fleeing from police in connection with a series of events that allegedly took place early Nov. 2.
A preliminary hearing was held this week in Douglas County District Court. The second part of the hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. April 18.
“The defense team is vigorously fighting this case and asserting our client’s innocence of the charges brought by the complaining witness,” said Angela Keck, the attorney for James. “Based on defense investigation, review of surveillance video and other scientific testing done in the case, we assert that our client is falsely accused.”
James was being held in Douglas County jail on $100,000 bond.
According to court documents, the 20-year-old is between his sophomore and junior year at Haskell University, where he previously played basketball.
Court documents reveal details of charges
According to court documents, the woman and her friends went out on the night of Nov. 1. They had drinks and looked for parties to attend before returning to the university’s campus in Lawrence.
As the woman, who was 18 years old at the time, and a friend walked to their dorm, James called out to them using the woman’s name, she told police.
The woman didn’t know James and told police she was curious how he knew her name, so she and her friend walked over to him and got into his white Hyundai in the parking lot. The woman was in the front seat, and her friend sat in the back.
The woman told police they hung out and chatted, but she grew uncomfortable because James was trying to flirt with her. About 15 minutes later, her friend left the car, and a second friend escorted her into the dorm.
The woman told police that after her friend left, James allegedly began to try to have physical contact with her. She said to police she told him several times she was not interested and that she wanted to get out of the car. According to court documents, James allegedly persistently told her he didn’t want her to leave.
The second friend returned to check on the woman and called her through Snapchat, a popular messaging app. The woman told her, “He won’t let me leave. I’m scared. Please help me,” according to court documents.
The friend then saw the Hyundai speed away from the parking lot.
James drove to a nearby street where he allegedly continued to try to initiate physical contact, and she allegedly continued to tell him no. James tried to pull her into the back seat, but she was able to fight him off. According to court documents, James then allegedly climbed on top of her while she was still in the front seat and allegedly raped her.
She told police that she struggled with him and was telling him no. According to court documents, James allegedly said he knew she wanted this, despite her telling him to stop.
Eventually, she escaped the vehicle and returned to her dorm room, according to court documents.
Friends use Snapchat to find Hyundai.
Meanwhile, the friend who saw the car drive off recruited others nearby, and they got into a Nissan. They searched the campus looking for James’ car. According to court documents, the friend still had an open line and heard the woman say, “Please get off me. Please stop. Let me go.”
They tracked the woman’s location using Snapchat and found the Hyundai near the campus. As the friend walked up and attempted to open the passenger’s side door, the car sped off, according to court documents. The friend then called 911, saying someone had her friend and “won’t let her go,” according to court documents.
Believing the woman was still in the car, the Nissan chased after the Hyundai.
A police officer responding to the reported kidnapping and rape spotted the two cars traveling at high speeds westbound on East 19th Street near Barker Avenue.
The officer attempted to stop the Hyundai as it passed through the East 19th and Massachusetts streets intersection. According to court documents, the Hyundai’s driver refused to stop and reached speeds over 70 mph. Eventually, James lost control at West 27th and Louisiana streets and crashed into a pedestrian underpass, and police arrested him.
Meanwhile, the Nissan, chasing the Hyundai, had wrecked near West 23rd Street and Naismith Drive.
