Utah, USA -- A Ghanaian man charged with attempted rape and forcible sexual abuse was cleared of all charges in 4th District Court on Wednesday after being deported back to his country of origin.
Raphael Bugbade was absent from 4th District Court on Wednesday because he had already been sent back to Ghana in December. However, 4th District Judge James Taylor dismissed all charges against him.
"The case is dead unless he ever comes back from Ghana," said Mariane O'Bryant, Utah County prosecuting attorney.
Bugbade had been living in Utah County and working as night-shift worker at an inpatient rehab program in November when one of his co-workers accused him of trying to have forcible sex with her, said Randy Spencer, Bugbade's attorney.
Bugbade was charged with attempted rape, a first-degree felony, and forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.
In December, Bugbade took a polygraph test and "passed with flying colors," Spencer said. By then, however, Bugbade's work visa had expired and he was deported to Ghana.
O'Bryant added that there is no open case against Bugbade and it is unlikely he would be charged with anything should he legally return to the United States.
