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PROVO -- Prosecutors have filed charges against the man accused of trying to rape a woman at the Branbury apartments in Provo last week.
Geoffrey Mapother faces one first-degree felony count of attempted rape.
The 18-year-old woman was attacked when she returned home to her apartment on Feb. 19. Police say the woman, a college student, was just about to walk in the door when Mapother, who was naked, attempted to rape her.
She began to scream. Her two roommates ran to her rescue and the attacker fled.
Deputy Utah County Attorney Craig Johnson said the victim is doing much better now, but the incident traumatized her roommates as well because they are all sisters.
"They've since moved, obviously to get out of the situation," he said. "They're trying to progress, but certainly with a court case they are going to have to relive some of it, unfortunately, until we can get some closure for them. This is the first step in getting that closure and hopefully it will happen soon."
It was the latest sexual assault at Branbury in less than a year. A student who lived at Branbury was brutally attacked just after leaving the property last summer. Shawn Leonard faces trial in that case.
Mapother was apparently homeless when the crime he is accused of happened. He remains in custody on $10,000 bail. Prosecutors doubt he will be able to post that bail while the case is prosecuted.
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Story written with contributions from Sam Penrod
