Jesse Vierstra, a former University of Idaho student, was sentenced Tuesday up to 15 years in prison for raping another student last fall, the Associated Press reported.
According to BoiseWeekly.com, 2nd District Judge Carl B. Kerrick sentenced Vierstra, of Twin Falls, Idaho, to five years minimum in prison, with a maximum of 15 years, without parole and he must also register as a sex offender.
The prosecution said Vierstra, 20, and the woman were both at a party at a Sigma Chi fraternity house last Oct. when the two stepped outside, the AP reported.
She told the police they were kissing and when she tried pulling away, he picked her up and carried her to nearby bushes where he raped her. She testified on Monday that she is constant fear of seeing Vierstra or his family.
The Lewiston Tribune reported Vierstra maintained his innocence before being sentenced for the crime.
He was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,000, court costs and $1,096 to the victim in restitution. A no-contact order with the victim and her family remains in place.
Court records show that Vierstra was a Sigma Chi pledge and was kicked out of the fraternity in 2011.
The jury delivered a guilty verdict after four hours of deliberation on March 22. Upon the announcement, the Tribune reported the victim and her family smiled and hugged each other while Viestra's family sat in shock.
"People like him-those who do not admit to having committed the crime despite being convicted-pose a serious risk to society," Kerrick said prior to the sentencing, reported the Tribune.
Kerrick was also given numerous letters from Viestra's family, friends and former teachers expressing their support for the 20-year-old.
"They have not seen the side of you that I have in this case," Kerrick said. "They have not seen the side of you that (the victim) did."
