Victor man faces rape charges after 2-year investigation

A Victor man has been arrested for rape and battery after a two-year Teton County Sheriff’s Office investigation.

Chet K. Nielson, 31, was charged with raping and battering a 26-year-old woman in the Victor City Park on August 4, 2017.

Teton County Prosecutor Billie Siddoway said the woman was attending a Music on Main event. When she returned to the park to retrieve her bicycle, she was attacked from behind, forced to the ground, and raped by an unknown assailant.

In early August, Detective Sgt. Andrew Foster developed a lead pointing to Nielson. With help from Idaho State Police and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Foster obtained a discarded DNA sample from Nielson. That DNA matched the profile of a DNA sample obtained at the time of the rape.

Siddoway alleges the victim resisted the attack, but was overcome by force or violence. The rape charge carries a potential penalty of life in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. The felony battery charge carries a potential penalty of 20 years in prison with a fine of up to $50,000.

Anyone with further information about the crime is encouraged to contact the Teton County Sheriff’s Office at 208-354-2323.