Police announced Thursday that Highway Patrol Troopers in Davis County have arrested a man who was being investigated by Logan police for allegedly sexually abusing a girl younger than 13 in Logan over the past year.
Edgar Mendiola, 37, is in custody at the Davis County Jail and being held on six first-degree felony charges of aggravated sexual abuse of a child.
Logan Police Lt. Rod Peterson said detectives began investigating Mendiola when the alleged victim informed someone who passed the information onto police detectives. Detectives were reluctant to give additional information to protect the identity of any victims. The Herald Journal also withholds information that could likewise identify possible victims of sexual abuse.
Charges against the suspect were filed in 1st District Court on Tuesday. Mendiola is scheduled to appear before Judge Thomas Willmore sometime next week.
Peterson said an arrest warrant was filed into the nationwide National Crime Information Center, operated by the FBI, in conjunction with the case.
“The Utah Highway Patrol made a traffic stop on him and arrested him,” he said. “The detectives that were working the case had probable cause to believe that there were a minimum of six separate incidents.”
Court records show Mendiola has no previous criminal convictions.
This man a been a sexual predator for many years, preying on women with self esteem issues. Many have known this man as a predator - I pray they will come forward to help the children involved in this case - I for one will be there for all involved.
ReplyDeleteThis man helped run groups for children with mental health issues. I refused to allow my daughter [adopted from foster care and previously sexually abused by bio dad] in such a group with him because I had met with him and he gave me an uneasy feeling. My insistence that she have nothing to do with him led to a falling out with her therapist, in fact, who really thought the group would be "great" for her. Our best defense as parents is to trust our instincts even if they don't seem to make sense. Even if he is found not guilty, I now don't have to wrack my mind in worry wondering if I have exposed her to a predator. PARENTS- Give up niceties and trust yourself! You owe it too your kids!
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