SEMO student appears in court for the first time following rape charge

A SEMO student who has accused another student of rape testified in court on Oct. 9 that she talked to her alleged assailant after the alleged assault and coached him on what to tell police.

SEMO student Sacorie Burgess had a preliminary hearing in Jackson County Court with Judge Frank Miller after being arrested on charges of first-degree rape.

Burgess was arrested on Sept. 11 after allegedly engaging in nonconsensual intercourse in his dorm room on Aug. 18.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, a preliminary hearing is similar to a “mini-trial.” During this hearing, the prosecution calls witnesses and presents evidence to establish probable cause to take a case to trial. The defense can cross-examine witnesses, but there is no jury, and objections or sentencing do not occur at this stage.

Sacorie Burgess' mug shotPhoto from Cape Girardeau Sheriff's Office

The accuser was the second witness called by the prosecution.

She testified about the events of Aug. 18 in Burgess’s dorm room.

She also stated that after the alleged assault, she showered for two hours and reported the incident to the SEMO Department of Public Safety later that evening. She visited the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence (SEMO NASV) the following Monday during business hours.

During cross-examination, Burgess’s defense attorney asked the accuser about her relationship with Burgess.

She confirmed they had met through mutual friends and frequently spent time together, calling and texting regularly. However, she emphasized that their relationship was platonic, and she had no romantic interest in him.

Later in the trial, Burgess’ defense attorney also questioned the accuser about her contact with Burgess after the alleged assault. She admitted to texting and calling him to instruct him on what to say to law enforcement.

She said she told Burgess to act remorseful. When asked if she remembered telling Burgess, “Follow my words step by step,” she replied, “Perhaps,” but said she couldn’t recall her exact words.

After the accuser reported the incident, a no-contact order was issued, and Burgess was ordered to stay 500 feet from the SEMO campus. However, a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity claimed they saw Burgess two days before his arrest.

The prosecution called Lt. Matthew Kight from SEMO’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) as the first witness.

Kight, assigned to investigate the case, testified that he interviewed Burgess on Aug. 27.

During the cross-examination, the defense questioned whether Burgess agreed with Kight’s statements simply to avoid facing consequences, but Kight disagreed with this suggestion.

The defense claimed the accuser was initially unsure whether to press charges because Burgess had shown remorse.

The court found probable cause to proceed and ordered Burgess’s next court date to be scheduled for Oct. 21 with Judge Scott Lipke.