Former UFC fighter Gerald Strebendt asks for new trial in sex assault case

[CW: The following story includes reference to a sexual assault of an underage victim]

In March Gerald Strebendt, a 40-year-old former U.S. Marine and UFC fighter, was convicted of second-degree sexual assault in Lane County, OR. Strebendt was arrested in 2017 after accusations of sexually abusing a teenager he was coaching at a 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu gym in Eugene, OR.

Strebendt’s arrest came less than a year after he was released from prison for a negligent homicide conviction. That conviction was in relation to a deadly road rage incident in 2014; where Strebendt shot an unarmed motorist to death after a vehicle collision. Strebendt called 911 before the shooting and told police that he shot the victim out of a fear for his life.

Strebendt was scheduled to be sentenced for his sexual assault conviction last week. However, according to The Register-Guard, the sentencing has been delayed after Strebendt requested a new trial.

The Register-Guard reported that Strebendt was convicted with a jury verdict of 10-2 and that those two dissenting jury members approached Strebendt's legal team after the trial. Those jurors reportedly claimed that the jury was not “fair and impartial”.

In their report The Register-Guard also revealed that the victim in Strebendt's case was a 14-year-old at the time of the abuse.

That outlet also reported that a second alleged victim of Strebendt testified during the trial. That individual claimed they were sexually abused by Strebendt when they were 15-years-old.

Before Strebendt's defense filed a motion for a new trial, authorities were seeking a four year prison sentence and a year of supervised probation.

A hearing on Strebendt's motion for a new trial is currently scheduled for April 14th.

Survivors of sexual assault can find support via the following organizations:

US - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)’s National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). RAINN also has an online chat service.

Love is Respect, 1-866-331-9474. They can also be reached via online chat or by texting LOVEIS to 22522.

End Rape on Campus (EROC), 1-424-777-EROC (3762).

Canada - Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime, 1-877-232-2610.

UK - UK Says No More.

Rest of the World - International Rape Crisis Hotlines.