Judge Says Case Against Alleged Fort Bragg Prowler/Rapist Can Proceed to Trial

Defense claims alleged forcible rape was consensual

A security camera caught this image of a prowler on South Sanderson Street near Dana Grey elementary. Very similar images of a person in similar clothing outside the home of the alleged rape victim were shown at the preliminary hearing, which also addressed a prowling incident on South Sanderson Street, but this exact image was not shown. The still is from a video shared on a public Facebook group. The Fort Bragg Police Department did not share videos of the prowler during his period of activity leading up to the rape.

Following a preliminary hearing held Monday and Tuesday, Judge Patrick Pekin ruled there was sufficient evidence for Cayden Paul Craig to stand trial on charges of forcible rape, sexual penetration with a foreign object with force, prowling and petty theft.

Craig, 23, is accused of entering a Fort Bragg home on S. Harrison Street through the bedroom window on June 21, 2025 and raping the woman who lived there. According to testimony by Officers Antoinette Moore and Gadge Farris, the victim at first thought she knew the person tapping at the window. By the time she realized she was mistaken it was too late.

Craig has admitted entering the home through the window and having “rough” sex with the victim. In his defense, Craig has asserted the sex was consensual.

In addition to forcible rape, Craig will stand trial for prowling outside a house on South Sanderson Street and stealing a video camera from the premises.

Some additional charges initially brought by the district attorney were dropped due to the fact that individual victims initially identified a different person.

The alleged rape victim also initially believed her masked assailant was someone she knew, but DNA confirmed that she had had sexual intercourse with Craig.

The defense also raised the question whether it is possible to identify a person based on their eyes alone — videos of the alleged prowler played in court show a masked man in a light-colored sweatshirt outside the home of the alleged rape victim.

The current charges are based on Craig’s admission that he had sexual intercourse with the alleged rape victim — as well as the DNA evidence — and by stolen objects found at his home, as well as by video footage.

Pekin praised Deputy District Attorney Eloise Kelsey and Defense Attorney Justin Pedersen for their lucid and straightforward presentation of a complex case. He noted the purpose of the preliminary hearing is simply to establish if there is sufficient evidence that a crime (or crimes) has been committed.

The next hearing in the case will be held on November 24.