EL PASO COUNTY — A federal jury trial is underway in the Denver area for a former Air Force Academy international cadet accused in the violent rape of a fellow cadet on campus.
According to a grand jury indictment, Alvaro Pablo Velarde, an international student, is accused of forcing a woman to have sex with him in October of 2018.
Velarde faces 2 counts of Aggravated Sex Abuse, and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact.
The trial started Monday and according to federal representatives is expected to last approximately 5 days including witness testimony and introduction of evidence. The jury is expected to begin deliberating the case Thursday or Friday.
An Air Force Academy spokesperson released the following statement to News5 early Wednesday morning:
“Alvaro Pablo Velarde was an international cadet from Peru attending the
Air Force Academy but was disinrolled on Jan. 14, 2019. Since Mr. Velarde
was arrested under a federal warrant on a sexual assault charge, we are
cooperating fully with federal authorities and allowing their judicial
process to take its course.”
News5 will continue to track this story.
