A man who reportedly faked his own death then fled to Europe to avoid rape charges was convicted of sexually assaulting his former girlfriend in Utah.

It’s the first of two Utah trials for 38-year-old Nicholas Rossi of Rhode Island. A jury in Salt Lake County found him guilty Wednesday of a 2008 rape after a three-day trial. He’s set to stand trial again in September on another rape charge in Utah County.

"We are grateful to the survivor in this case for her willingness to come forward, years after this attack took place," Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said in a statement. "It took courage and bravery to take the stand and confront her attacker to hold him accountable."

Nicholas Rossie rape charges

What they're saying:

Prosecutors painted a picture of an intelligent man

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