He told investigators that the woman would have been free to leave when they arrived at the residence, but also said it was possible she thought she was not free to leave because he was a person of authority.
His attorney, Carl Hughes, said he's known Venable for years and his dream was to become a trooper.
“He was one of those guys that had the potential to be a hero every day,” he said.
Hughes said no crime was committed because Venable never arrested the woman or took her into custody. He said Venable will plead not guilty to the charge.
Sex called consensual
After the two arrived at the residence, Venable said they went to her bedroom and had sex. He said the sexual contact was “100 percent consensual,” according to the affidavit.
The woman told investigators she did not remember anything that happened after the two arrived at her residence. She also said she felt she was in custody from the time the trooper told her to get out of the car until he left her residence.
Venable said she was conscious the entire time. He said he didn't force himself on her or rape her.
Investigators said the woman told her sister-in-law that, when she woke up at her house, she didn't remember much of what happened.
The woman's attorney, Irven Box, said she wasn't ever booked into the jail and doesn't foresee any charges being filed against her for driving under the influence of alcohol.
“She's a lady of courage and at a risk of public scrutiny, she's come forward,” he said. “She was really apprehensive against charges being filed against the trooper.”
Patrol Col. Kerry Pettingill said Venable resigned June 29. An unidentified male made an anonymous call to the agency June 26, claiming he knew a trooper with the badge number 730 who stopped an intoxicated female and had sex with her, according to the affidavit.
Venable's next Logan County court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 22.
Next Story
