A 26-year-old former Washington State University student, Erick Leal, has received a one-year jail sentence after being convicted of third-degree rape. The conviction was determined by a jury in Whitman County Superior Court during a trial held in June.

The incident occurred in April of the previous year when Leal allegedly assaulted a female student in his campus apartment after she had passed out due to alcohol consumption.

Despite the standard sentencing range for this offense being between six to twelve months, Judge Roger Sandberg imposed the maximum penalty of one year in jail. Additionally, Leal is required to register as a sex offender for a duration of ten years.

Whitman County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Tessa Scholl acknowledged the victim’s impactful statement, which influenced the judge’s decision regarding the sentence. The case was investigated by the Washington State University Police Department, and charges were filed against Leal approximately a year ago.