Witness: Sex in alleged after-prom incident was consensual

One of the state's star witnesses in last spring's prom after-party rape case in Gilmer County says the sex was consensual.

GILMER COUNTY, Ga. -- One of the state's star witnesses in last spring's prom after-party rape case in Gilmer County says the sex was consensual.

Andrew Haynes, Fields Chapman and Avery Johnson are accused of sexually assaulting a girl who was passed out drunk at a party inside a cabin at the Coosawatee River Resort in May.

Rhett Harper was the class valedictorian at Southeast Whitefield High School and currently plays baseball for Georgia State. He was also present at the Calhoun High School Prom weekend party where the alleged incident took place.

RELATED | 3 teens charged with sexual assault in after-prom incident

Harper testified that a lot of teens were drinking, including the alleged victim.

Harper testified he walked into an upstairs bedroom and observed the accuser and the defendants in various sex acts. He said that he never witnessed any signs of distress from the alleged victim.

But prosecutors say Harper's three interviews with police have inconsistencies about how intoxicated the victim was. Harper's attorney works for the same law firm as Steve Williams, who represents Andrew Haynes. Prosecutors say that's a conflict of interest. They're now waiting on a ruling from the judge.

Haynes attorney denies the conflict and denies his client did anything wrong.

One of the big issues at trial is going be how drunk the alleged victim was.

Prosecutors say Harper began downplaying his account of just how intoxicated she was after he retained an attorney.

Harper, who is not a suspect, says he hired an attorney after rumors spread last spring that he was involved in the incident, sparking threats of physical harm from other teenagers.