A Salt Lake City man was ordered to spend almost 20 years in prison for possessing child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball sentenced William Seth Hooker on Tuesday to 235 months behind bars. Hooker had admitted he possessed depictions of children engaged in sexual activity.
Hooker, 47, has prior convictions for child sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a minor and rape of a child for crimes that occurred in 1997. He currently is serving a 150-month federal sentence for a 2007 armed bank robbery.
Kimball ordered that 120 months of the pornography term run concurrently with the bank robbery sentence and 115 months run consecutively to it. In addition, he placed Hooker on 10 years of supervised release after he gets out of prison.
Showing posts with label Utah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Utah. Show all posts
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Officer Douglas Paulsen Arrested for Trying to Meet Boy for Sex
A West Valley City police officer has been arrested for trying to meet a teenage boy for sex. That "boy" was really an undercover detective.
West Valley Police said there was nothing to indicate one of their own would be accused of a sex crime, but Officer Douglas Paulsen, a 19-year veteran with the West Valley City Police Department, is now on the other side of the law.
Tuesday afternoon, Layton police arrested the 41-year-old police officer at the Layton Hills Mall. Police say Paulsen went there to meet who he thought was a 15-year-old boy.
"Later, they were going to move to another location to engage in a sexual act," said Layton police Sgt. Jason Hinojosa.
The teen was actually an undercover officer assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force. The officer, posing as a teenager, responded to an Internet ad last month and began exchanging e-mails with Paulsen. Investigators said Paulsen sent the detective pornography.
"I'm sure the public would expect officers to be held to a higher standard," Hinojosa said.
Paulsen was a school resource officer at Hunter High School. West Valley Police said they don't think any students there were victimized.
"We don't have any reason to believe that there was any inappropriate activity that took place in relationship to his assignment as a school resource officer," said West Valley Assistant Police Chief Craig Black.
Paulsen is on paid administrative leave during this investigation. KSL News went to Paulsen's home Wednesday evening. A man who answered the door said neither he nor Paulsen had a comment on the investigation.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Elizabeth Smart Testifies How She Was Raped
Taking the stand for the first time since she was snatched from her girlhood bedroom seven years ago, Elizabeth Smart testified Thursday that her captor raped her three or four times a day, kept her tied up with a cable around her leg, and threatened to kill her if she tried to escape.
Asked by a prosecutor to describe Brian David Mitchell, the self-described prophet accused of holding her captive for nine months, Smart replied: "Evil, wicked, manipulative, stinky, slimy, greedy, selfish, not spiritual, not religious, not close to God."
Smart, now a 21-year-old college student, gave her horrifying account in federal court as part of a proceeding over whether Mitchell is mentally competent to stand trial.
The 55-year-old one-time street preacher has been behind bars since 2003 — mostly in a state mental hospital — but has yet to stand trial. Twice he has been ruled mentally incompetent in state court, and he has often demonstrated bizarre behavior, including incessantly singing hymns in the courtroom and once yelling at a judge to repent.
Smart testified that within hours of her 2002 kidnapping at knifepoint, she was led away to a secluded mountain campsite and in a quickie ceremony became the polygamous "wife" of the older man.
"After that he proceeded to rape me," Smart said, sharing for the first time publicly her account of the ordeal.
She said Mitchell showed her pornography and plied her with alcohol and drugs to lower her resistance to his sexual advances. Once, Smart said, she tried to fight Mitchell off by biting him.
On the stand for nearly two hours, Smart was poised, her voice never wavering. She did not come face-to-face with her alleged tormenter. Mitchell was removed from the courtroom for disruptive behavior — singing hymns — before Smart arrived, and watched the proceedings from a holding cell.
A federal judge ruled earlier this week that Smart's testimony is relevant to the question of Mitchell's competency. Mitchell's competency hearing is not set to begin until Nov. 30, but Smart testified early because she is going on a religious mission for the Mormon church in Paris.
Smart was 14 when she was abducted from her bedroom in the middle of the night. In a surprising turn that transfixed the country, she was rescued in March 2003 after a motorist spotted her walking the streets of a Salt Lake City suburb with Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Eileen Barzee.
Smart testified that in the days immediately following the kidnapping, Mitchell held her captive with the help of a 10-foot cable bolted to her leg and tethered to a line stretched between two trees. She said Mitchell threatened to kill her if she yelled or tried to get away.
Smart said Mitchell would rape her three to four times a day. There was some respite — usually when Barzee became upset over Mitchell's relationship with Smart — but it never lasted, Smart said.
Mitchell is charged in state court with kidnapping and sexual assault. Last year, he was indicted on federal charges of kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines. In both the state and federal cases, experts have split over Mitchell's competency.
Mitchell's lawyers maintain he is incompetent and suggested that evidence of his delusions can be found in his religious rambling and writings, including a 27-page manifesto he called "The Book of Emmanuel David Isaiah."
Smart said he read from the book repeatedly during her captivity, often sang hymns and laced his conversations with religious language. Throughout her captivity, Smart was forced to wear a white, ankle-length robe, a head scarf and two veils across her face.
"He told me he was a prophet," Smart said under cross-examination by Mitchell's lawyer. "He said he was the voice of God on Earth and that he would reign over God's children until Jesus came."
But she also said his religious revelations seemed to come only when he wanted something, or when he was trying to calm Barzee. Smart said she believed Mitchell always knew that he could be punished for her kidnapping and understood how the court system worked.
She said he gave her an alias — Augustine Marshall — and told her what to say to police if they were ever questioned. He also bragged about skirting previous accusations of sexual abuse and fooling others, Smart said.
Never in nine months did Mitchell appear confused or out of control, Smart testified: "He was a very capable, intelligent human being."
Asked by a prosecutor to describe Brian David Mitchell, the self-described prophet accused of holding her captive for nine months, Smart replied: "Evil, wicked, manipulative, stinky, slimy, greedy, selfish, not spiritual, not religious, not close to God."
Smart, now a 21-year-old college student, gave her horrifying account in federal court as part of a proceeding over whether Mitchell is mentally competent to stand trial.
The 55-year-old one-time street preacher has been behind bars since 2003 — mostly in a state mental hospital — but has yet to stand trial. Twice he has been ruled mentally incompetent in state court, and he has often demonstrated bizarre behavior, including incessantly singing hymns in the courtroom and once yelling at a judge to repent.
Smart testified that within hours of her 2002 kidnapping at knifepoint, she was led away to a secluded mountain campsite and in a quickie ceremony became the polygamous "wife" of the older man.
"After that he proceeded to rape me," Smart said, sharing for the first time publicly her account of the ordeal.
She said Mitchell showed her pornography and plied her with alcohol and drugs to lower her resistance to his sexual advances. Once, Smart said, she tried to fight Mitchell off by biting him.
On the stand for nearly two hours, Smart was poised, her voice never wavering. She did not come face-to-face with her alleged tormenter. Mitchell was removed from the courtroom for disruptive behavior — singing hymns — before Smart arrived, and watched the proceedings from a holding cell.
A federal judge ruled earlier this week that Smart's testimony is relevant to the question of Mitchell's competency. Mitchell's competency hearing is not set to begin until Nov. 30, but Smart testified early because she is going on a religious mission for the Mormon church in Paris.
Smart was 14 when she was abducted from her bedroom in the middle of the night. In a surprising turn that transfixed the country, she was rescued in March 2003 after a motorist spotted her walking the streets of a Salt Lake City suburb with Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Eileen Barzee.
Smart testified that in the days immediately following the kidnapping, Mitchell held her captive with the help of a 10-foot cable bolted to her leg and tethered to a line stretched between two trees. She said Mitchell threatened to kill her if she yelled or tried to get away.
Smart said Mitchell would rape her three to four times a day. There was some respite — usually when Barzee became upset over Mitchell's relationship with Smart — but it never lasted, Smart said.
Mitchell is charged in state court with kidnapping and sexual assault. Last year, he was indicted on federal charges of kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines. In both the state and federal cases, experts have split over Mitchell's competency.
Mitchell's lawyers maintain he is incompetent and suggested that evidence of his delusions can be found in his religious rambling and writings, including a 27-page manifesto he called "The Book of Emmanuel David Isaiah."
Smart said he read from the book repeatedly during her captivity, often sang hymns and laced his conversations with religious language. Throughout her captivity, Smart was forced to wear a white, ankle-length robe, a head scarf and two veils across her face.
"He told me he was a prophet," Smart said under cross-examination by Mitchell's lawyer. "He said he was the voice of God on Earth and that he would reign over God's children until Jesus came."
But she also said his religious revelations seemed to come only when he wanted something, or when he was trying to calm Barzee. Smart said she believed Mitchell always knew that he could be punished for her kidnapping and understood how the court system worked.
She said he gave her an alias — Augustine Marshall — and told her what to say to police if they were ever questioned. He also bragged about skirting previous accusations of sexual abuse and fooling others, Smart said.
Never in nine months did Mitchell appear confused or out of control, Smart testified: "He was a very capable, intelligent human being."
Monday, August 17, 2009
Gary Wade Brown Sentenced to a Year for Sexual Abuse of Boy Scout
A former Utah County Boy Scout leader narrowly avoided prison Monday and instead was sentenced to a year in jail for sexually abusing a 12-year-old troop member.
Gary Wade Brown, 42, cried in 4th District Judge Christine Johnson's courtroom as he apologized to the Scout, his family and the Boy Scouts of America for exploiting his position to victimize the young boy.
"I can't imagine the amount of pain and anger I have caused [the victim and his family]," Brown said. "No one else is to blame. I take full responsibility."
Brown pleaded guilty in June to four counts of sexual abuse of a child and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, all second-degree felonies, as part of a bargain to avoid serving time in prison, prosecutor Julia Thomas-Fishburn said.
The victim's father, who knew Brown from his Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward, said he believes Brown can turn his life around and wants him to be given the chance to rehabilitate.
"I don't approach this situation with vengeance, but more with sorrow and pity," the victim's father said. "This is not the way I wish to see Wade."
Johnson said she was close to sending Brown to prison but decided to suspend the one- to 15-year prison sentence and give him one year in jail based on a psychologist's report that said he was a low risk for a repeat offense.
Johnson, however, placed Brown on an intensive 36-month probation, during which he must complete rehabilitative therapy and not have contact with minors, including his own children. The probation will begin when Brown, who was credited with eight months of time already served, gets out of jail in four months.
The sexual activity between Brown and his troop member occurred for 18 months in 2005 to 2006, according to police. They said the boy reported that Brown had fondled him at Scout camps and in the ex-Scout leader's car and home.
Gary Wade Brown, 42, cried in 4th District Judge Christine Johnson's courtroom as he apologized to the Scout, his family and the Boy Scouts of America for exploiting his position to victimize the young boy.
"I can't imagine the amount of pain and anger I have caused [the victim and his family]," Brown said. "No one else is to blame. I take full responsibility."
Brown pleaded guilty in June to four counts of sexual abuse of a child and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, all second-degree felonies, as part of a bargain to avoid serving time in prison, prosecutor Julia Thomas-Fishburn said.
The victim's father, who knew Brown from his Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward, said he believes Brown can turn his life around and wants him to be given the chance to rehabilitate.
"I don't approach this situation with vengeance, but more with sorrow and pity," the victim's father said. "This is not the way I wish to see Wade."
Johnson said she was close to sending Brown to prison but decided to suspend the one- to 15-year prison sentence and give him one year in jail based on a psychologist's report that said he was a low risk for a repeat offense.
Johnson, however, placed Brown on an intensive 36-month probation, during which he must complete rehabilitative therapy and not have contact with minors, including his own children. The probation will begin when Brown, who was credited with eight months of time already served, gets out of jail in four months.
The sexual activity between Brown and his troop member occurred for 18 months in 2005 to 2006, according to police. They said the boy reported that Brown had fondled him at Scout camps and in the ex-Scout leader's car and home.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Eric Ison Jones Sentenced for Scalding his 1-year-old Son
A 37-year-old Salt Lake City man has been sent to prison for scalding his 1-year-old son in hot bath water three years ago at the Taylorsville home of the boy's mother.
Eric Ison Jones was charged in 3rd District Court with second-degree felony child abuse for the Nov. 1, 2006, crime. He pleaded guilty to a lesser count of third-degree felony child abuse, and was sentenced to zero to five years in prison.
The case was delayed because Jones disappeared in November 2007. He was arrested in Hawaii in August 2008 and returned to Utah a month later.
Jones --- who had only recently learned he was the boy's father -- burned his son, Malachi Marsalis, while watching him for the boy's mother.
The mother, Genoria Marsalis, has told The Salt Lake Tribune that after she returned and Jones left, she removed the boy's pants and diaper and his skin started peeling off.
The boy was in critical condition for several months with third-degree burns. He was later released from the hospital, but he still faces more surgeries.
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http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=7396005
Eric Ison Jones was charged in 3rd District Court with second-degree felony child abuse for the Nov. 1, 2006, crime. He pleaded guilty to a lesser count of third-degree felony child abuse, and was sentenced to zero to five years in prison.
The case was delayed because Jones disappeared in November 2007. He was arrested in Hawaii in August 2008 and returned to Utah a month later.
Jones --- who had only recently learned he was the boy's father -- burned his son, Malachi Marsalis, while watching him for the boy's mother.
The mother, Genoria Marsalis, has told The Salt Lake Tribune that after she returned and Jones left, she removed the boy's pants and diaper and his skin started peeling off.
The boy was in critical condition for several months with third-degree burns. He was later released from the hospital, but he still faces more surgeries.
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http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=7396005
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Emperatriz Meza-Reyna Arrested for Child Abuse
A 7-year-old girl is in a coma with critical head injuries just months after state foster care workers returned her to her mother, who was convicted last year of child abuse.
Now the 21-year-old mother is once again in jail on suspicion of beating the child, who may not survive.
Emperatriz Meza-Reyna took her daughter to Pioneer Valley Hospital on July 22 with a head injury, bruises on her body and a bite mark, West Valley City police Capt. Tom McLachlan said.
During the examination, the girl went into cardiac arrest and was flown to Primary Children's Medical Center. There, she underwent brain surgery and remains in a coma in critical condition.
Meza-Reyna told police her daughter fell down stairs, but doctors say her injuries are not consistent with a fall.
McLachlan said the girl's injuries appear to be caused by being hit with a hard object or slammed into a floor, wall or another hard surface.
Meza-Reyna has two other children who don't appear to have been abused, police said. But the mother was arrested in January 2008 on suspicion of child abuse involving the same child. She pleaded guilty to two charges of third-degree felony child abuse.
According to those charges, Meza-Reyna admitted to strangling the child and covering her mouth and nose multiple times, beating her with a belt and a cable cord and writing on the child with a black marker, injuring the child's face. A doctor in that case said the child had bruises and marks all over her body. The doctor also said there was evidence of a head injury, including soft-tissue swelling and bleeding on the brain.
Meza-Reyna was sentenced in January; all prison time was suspended. She served 17 days in jail and was given 36 months of probation.
McLachlan said the Division of Child and Family Services had custody of the girl for a period of time before she was returned to her mother several months ago.
Meza-Reyna has an immigration detainer against her, which means she will be deported once the case ends and she is released to federal authorities.
DCFS spokeswoman Liz Sollis would not comment on the case. She said DCFS in general usually works with other health, school and law enforcement professionals to determine the best interest of the child involved in an abusive situation. The parent, if they have been convicted of child abuse, is usually required to complete court imposed programs and classes before a judge determines when the child may return home.
McLachlan said Meza-Reyna and her children recently lived with another adult, but their relationship is unknown. He said the man is not a suspect in the new case.
Meza-Reyna was booked into the Salt Lake County jail Thursday on suspicion of child abuse. She is being held on $50,000 bail.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Pastor Kris Lounsbury Charged with Rape
A lay pastor who ran a failed bid to unseat U.S. House of Representatives incumbent Jim Matheson in 2006 made an initial appearance in 5th District Court on Thursday on charges of rape and sexual abuse of a child.
Kris Lounsbury, age 62, of St. George is charged with two counts of rape, two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and two counts of forcible sexual abuse.
Lounsbury ran for the 2nd Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives but was defeated by State Representative LaVar Christensen for the Republican nomination to oppose Matheson.
Lounsbury was also the founding pastor of Living Word Christian Fellowship in St. George. He resigned his position as pastor about a year and a half ago, said current pastor John Sullivan.
Lounsbury then became an elder of the church, but stepped down from that position about four weeks ago as a consequence of the allegations, Sullivan said.
"It's a situation that he has repented before the congregation about," Sullivan said.
Sullivan also said Lounsbury is engaged in ongoing counseling with Sullivan and the pastor of another fellowship.
St. George Police Department Officer James Schafer said a complaint was submitted to the Washington County Attorney's Office following allegations on June 19 that three girls were abused by Lounsbury.
"It looks like the charges were enhanced because the suspect was in a position of special trust, which means he was either a relative or in (another) position of special trust with the victim," Schafer said.
A woman who identified herself as the mother of the alleged victims said she confronted Lounsbury after her 15-year-old daughter reported numerous cases of abuse.
The woman said her other daughters told her similar stories and that their friends also said Lounsbury had molested them.
"When my daughter first told me I was skeptical, then when I was talking to my other daughters and they were saying the same thing I was just blown away," the woman said. The Spectrum is not identifying the woman because of her relationship to the alleged victims.
"My main concern is that he is prosecuted correctly and that if there are any more victims out there, that they come forward," she said.
Lounsbury's attorney, Larry Meyers, said the case is still in the early stages.
"We haven't got the discovery yet. Once we get that we'll talk to the prosecutor," Meyers said.
Discovery is the process by which attorneys review evidence gathered to back up the charges against a suspect.
Meyers asked Judge G. Rand Beacham on Thursday to recall a warrant issued against Lounsbury and to allow him to remain out of jail on his own recognizance with an order not to contact the alleged victims, in accordance with an agreement between the defense and the prosecutor for the case.
Meyers said Lounsbury is well known in the community and should not be considered a flight risk.
Beacham accepted the arrangement and set a roll call hearing for Aug. 10.
Kris Lounsbury, age 62, of St. George is charged with two counts of rape, two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and two counts of forcible sexual abuse.
Lounsbury ran for the 2nd Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives but was defeated by State Representative LaVar Christensen for the Republican nomination to oppose Matheson.
Lounsbury was also the founding pastor of Living Word Christian Fellowship in St. George. He resigned his position as pastor about a year and a half ago, said current pastor John Sullivan.
Lounsbury then became an elder of the church, but stepped down from that position about four weeks ago as a consequence of the allegations, Sullivan said.
"It's a situation that he has repented before the congregation about," Sullivan said.
Sullivan also said Lounsbury is engaged in ongoing counseling with Sullivan and the pastor of another fellowship.
St. George Police Department Officer James Schafer said a complaint was submitted to the Washington County Attorney's Office following allegations on June 19 that three girls were abused by Lounsbury.
"It looks like the charges were enhanced because the suspect was in a position of special trust, which means he was either a relative or in (another) position of special trust with the victim," Schafer said.
A woman who identified herself as the mother of the alleged victims said she confronted Lounsbury after her 15-year-old daughter reported numerous cases of abuse.
The woman said her other daughters told her similar stories and that their friends also said Lounsbury had molested them.
"When my daughter first told me I was skeptical, then when I was talking to my other daughters and they were saying the same thing I was just blown away," the woman said. The Spectrum is not identifying the woman because of her relationship to the alleged victims.
"My main concern is that he is prosecuted correctly and that if there are any more victims out there, that they come forward," she said.
Lounsbury's attorney, Larry Meyers, said the case is still in the early stages.
"We haven't got the discovery yet. Once we get that we'll talk to the prosecutor," Meyers said.
Discovery is the process by which attorneys review evidence gathered to back up the charges against a suspect.
Meyers asked Judge G. Rand Beacham on Thursday to recall a warrant issued against Lounsbury and to allow him to remain out of jail on his own recognizance with an order not to contact the alleged victims, in accordance with an agreement between the defense and the prosecutor for the case.
Meyers said Lounsbury is well known in the community and should not be considered a flight risk.
Beacham accepted the arrangement and set a roll call hearing for Aug. 10.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Linda Nef Sentenced to 3 Years to Life for Having Sex with Student
Despite requests from Linda Nef's 13-year-old victim and his family, Judge Rodney Page said Tuesday that he had no other choice but to send a former Bountiful Junior High teacher to prison.
The 2nd District judge sentenced Nef to three years to life in prison for having sex with one of her former students, and a flushed and sobbing Nef was immediately handcuffed and led from the courtroom.
In lengthy remarks before he imposed the sentence, Page said he wished the responsibility to sentence her rested with someone else.
"I haven't slept well in thinking about this case and knowing that from the date the defendant entered her plea, it would be my responsibility to impose sentence," Page said.
While he said it was commendable that Nef had come forward and confessed her wrongdoing with the boy, he said there were hundreds if not thousands of victims besides this particular boy who had been hurt by her actions.
"The greater victim in this might be our society as a whole," Page said. "This undermines our faith, beliefs and confidence in institutions that create the foundation of freedoms by which we live — and that is our schools.
"In our society, we esteem our teachers to be among the most honorable people, although sometimes we wouldn't think that by the way we try to pay them and other things. We entrust them with the most important commodity we have in our society, and that is our children," Page said.
Page said he had no doubt Nef was a good teacher and was genuinely repentant for what she has done, but the judge sensed Nef also was motivated by the "a concern this was going to come out anyway" once Nef got word about an alleged sexual relationship between another teacher and the same boy.
A tearful Nef, 46, apologized to her victim, his family and "educators everywhere who have been damaged by my actions," but especially the faculty at Bountiful Junior High, whom she characterized as honorable and hard-working people.
"I loved teaching with all my heart — and yet I committed a crime," she said.
Nef, who is married and the mother of three, began to choke up as she described how sorry she was for any harm she had done to the boy and said she wanted to offer her apologies publicly for "my completely selfish actions."
"I was an adult, I was responsible, and I knew better," she said.
Nef pleaded guilty in June to a reduced charge of attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony, as part of a plea bargain.
She originally faced charges of rape of a child and sodomy on a child, both first-degree felonies that generally carry tough penalties.
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The 2nd District judge sentenced Nef to three years to life in prison for having sex with one of her former students, and a flushed and sobbing Nef was immediately handcuffed and led from the courtroom.
In lengthy remarks before he imposed the sentence, Page said he wished the responsibility to sentence her rested with someone else.
"I haven't slept well in thinking about this case and knowing that from the date the defendant entered her plea, it would be my responsibility to impose sentence," Page said.
While he said it was commendable that Nef had come forward and confessed her wrongdoing with the boy, he said there were hundreds if not thousands of victims besides this particular boy who had been hurt by her actions.
"The greater victim in this might be our society as a whole," Page said. "This undermines our faith, beliefs and confidence in institutions that create the foundation of freedoms by which we live — and that is our schools.
"In our society, we esteem our teachers to be among the most honorable people, although sometimes we wouldn't think that by the way we try to pay them and other things. We entrust them with the most important commodity we have in our society, and that is our children," Page said.
Page said he had no doubt Nef was a good teacher and was genuinely repentant for what she has done, but the judge sensed Nef also was motivated by the "a concern this was going to come out anyway" once Nef got word about an alleged sexual relationship between another teacher and the same boy.
A tearful Nef, 46, apologized to her victim, his family and "educators everywhere who have been damaged by my actions," but especially the faculty at Bountiful Junior High, whom she characterized as honorable and hard-working people.
"I loved teaching with all my heart — and yet I committed a crime," she said.
Nef, who is married and the mother of three, began to choke up as she described how sorry she was for any harm she had done to the boy and said she wanted to offer her apologies publicly for "my completely selfish actions."
"I was an adult, I was responsible, and I knew better," she said.
Nef pleaded guilty in June to a reduced charge of attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony, as part of a plea bargain.
She originally faced charges of rape of a child and sodomy on a child, both first-degree felonies that generally carry tough penalties.
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More of the story: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705318304/Former-teacher-sent-to-prison.html?pg=2
Other Informatuon:
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=7245167
Other Informatuon:
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=7245167
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Justin Patrick Hanson Charged with Child Abuse on 2-year-old
A South Salt Lake man faces up to 60 years in prison after disturbing medical evidence suggested he severely abused a toddler during several episodes of discipline over a two-week period while the child's mother, the man's girlfriend, was out of the house.
Prosecutors charged 20-year-old Justin Patrick Hanson with four counts of second-degree felony child abuse Friday, according to documents filed in 3rd District Court.
The 2-year-old boy and his mother moved in with Hanson and his mother two weeks ago and she would occasionally leave Hanson to babysit her young boy, the document said.
A week into the new living arrangement, scratches and red marks started appearing on the child, the mother told police.
Then this week, she arrived home from a brief visit to the store two days ago to find her two-year-old boy vomiting.
Hanson discouraged his girlfriend from taking the toddler to the hospital, because he said hospital officials "would think he had injured" the child. But she admitted the toddler into Primary Children's Medical Center anyway, the document states.
There, a doctor determined the boy "sustained blunt force trauma to the abdominal area with significant injury to numerous internal organs including the pancreas, liver, gall bladder and lower bowels," the document says.
Due to "severe blows to the lower abdomen" levels of a digestive enzyme in the toddler's pancreas soared from a healthy-high of 130 to 2,038, a 1,468 percent increase, the doctor told investigators.
Elevated enzymes also indicated "traumatic injury" to the child's liver, the doctor reported.
"The gall bladder rests under the liver and could only be damaged by a severe amount of force such as a blow or sequence of blows to the body," the reported said. Several other organs, including the intestines, were determined to be swollen and bleeding.
Child Protective Services called police on Wednesday at 10:40 p.m. after examining the child when he arrived at the hospital, and an hour later South Salt Lake Police officers transported Hanson to their station for questioning.
During Hanson's interview, in which he told police he was the "disciplinarian," he told detectives he "didn't do this on purpose" and said, "If I put these (injuries) on the kid I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it," the document said.
"And last," the statement said, the doctor, "observed bruising on (the child's) eyelids, anterior abdomen, back, sides, both ears, both sides of mouth, face, forehead and temporal area consistent with physical abuse."
Officers booked him into jail in lieu of $75,000 bail according to court documents and South Salt Lake Police Sgt. Matt Budd.
Budd did not know the toddler's current medical condition.
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Prosecutors charged 20-year-old Justin Patrick Hanson with four counts of second-degree felony child abuse Friday, according to documents filed in 3rd District Court.
The 2-year-old boy and his mother moved in with Hanson and his mother two weeks ago and she would occasionally leave Hanson to babysit her young boy, the document said.
A week into the new living arrangement, scratches and red marks started appearing on the child, the mother told police.
Then this week, she arrived home from a brief visit to the store two days ago to find her two-year-old boy vomiting.
Hanson discouraged his girlfriend from taking the toddler to the hospital, because he said hospital officials "would think he had injured" the child. But she admitted the toddler into Primary Children's Medical Center anyway, the document states.
There, a doctor determined the boy "sustained blunt force trauma to the abdominal area with significant injury to numerous internal organs including the pancreas, liver, gall bladder and lower bowels," the document says.
Due to "severe blows to the lower abdomen" levels of a digestive enzyme in the toddler's pancreas soared from a healthy-high of 130 to 2,038, a 1,468 percent increase, the doctor told investigators.
Elevated enzymes also indicated "traumatic injury" to the child's liver, the doctor reported.
"The gall bladder rests under the liver and could only be damaged by a severe amount of force such as a blow or sequence of blows to the body," the reported said. Several other organs, including the intestines, were determined to be swollen and bleeding.
Child Protective Services called police on Wednesday at 10:40 p.m. after examining the child when he arrived at the hospital, and an hour later South Salt Lake Police officers transported Hanson to their station for questioning.
During Hanson's interview, in which he told police he was the "disciplinarian," he told detectives he "didn't do this on purpose" and said, "If I put these (injuries) on the kid I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it," the document said.
"And last," the statement said, the doctor, "observed bruising on (the child's) eyelids, anterior abdomen, back, sides, both ears, both sides of mouth, face, forehead and temporal area consistent with physical abuse."
Officers booked him into jail in lieu of $75,000 bail according to court documents and South Salt Lake Police Sgt. Matt Budd.
Budd did not know the toddler's current medical condition.
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Other Information: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12860997
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Anthony Jiron Charged with Sexual Abuse on 7-year-old
An attorney for Anthony Gene Jiron said Wednesday in 5th District Court that his client is ready to proceed to a trial by jury on charges he sexually abused a child in his care.
Jiron entered not guilty pleas to three charges of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, sodomy on a child and rape of a child on Sept. 16, 2008, and is scheduled for a five-day trial beginning July 27.
Jiron's attorney, Douglas Terry, told Judge James Shumate the case could be given priority for trial but that there is a possibility of negotiating a settlement with the prosecution before the trial date.
Washington County Attorney Brian Filter confirmed that Terry had mentioned the possibility of a resolution but said the case remains on the trial calendar for now.
Shumate gave attorneys until Wednesday to decide if they will be able to resolve the case without a trial.
Jiron is accused of sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl in his care during a week in July 2008.
According to the arrest narrative filed by St. George Police Detective Chris Trani, police were called following an argument between Jiron and another adult about the alleged abuse.
According to the state-ment, Jiron threatened to harm himself with a knife and initially refused police summons to exit the building until he had finished drinking a beer, at which point he allowed himself to be taken into custody.
During an interview with Trani, Jiron admitted sexual behavior with the partially clothed child, the statement said.
However, in an October 2008 letter to the judge, Jiron declared his innocence and said he was intoxicated at the time of his arrest and should not have been questioned in that state and that the alleged victim was already in therapy for sexual abuse at the time of his arrest and that her motives were suspect.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
William Dongwoo Suh Arrested for Sexually Assaulting 13-year-old on MySpace
A man arrested last week for investigation of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl he met on MySpace also threatened to harm the girl and kill her friends, according to court documents.
New details about the case came out Thursday when William Dongwoo Suh, 25, was charged in 3rd District Court with four counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child, one count of sodomy on a child and two counts of making terrorist threats.
Suh, who was previously convicted in California for having sex with a minor, met the Utah girl through MySpace. He traveled to Utah in June with the intent of having sex with the girl, according to police.
When Suh arrived, the girl told him she was just 13, according to court documents. Over the next few weeks, the two engaged in various sexual acts, according to police and court documents.
But when the girl tried to back off from the relationship, Suh sent her text messages threatening to find her friends and "slit their throats," and later sent her a text ordering her to perform a sex act "if you want your dad out of jail," and also texting, "… or I'll hurt you," according to court documents.
While being interviewed by police, Suh told investigators that he had looked up the law on the age of consent in Las Vegas and believed the juvenile could consent to sexual activity, court documents stated.
About five years ago, Suh was convicted in California on a similar offense and spent six months in jail, Cottonwood Heights police detective Beau Babka said. In that case, Suh had also threatened a family member of the victim and had a shotgun. He was waiting for that person when police arrived first and arrested him, he said.
When Suh arrived in Utah he had his laptop computer with him. Babka said investigators were going through the computer to see if Suh had chatted with any other young girls and if there were any other potential victims.
New details about the case came out Thursday when William Dongwoo Suh, 25, was charged in 3rd District Court with four counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child, one count of sodomy on a child and two counts of making terrorist threats.
Suh, who was previously convicted in California for having sex with a minor, met the Utah girl through MySpace. He traveled to Utah in June with the intent of having sex with the girl, according to police.
When Suh arrived, the girl told him she was just 13, according to court documents. Over the next few weeks, the two engaged in various sexual acts, according to police and court documents.
But when the girl tried to back off from the relationship, Suh sent her text messages threatening to find her friends and "slit their throats," and later sent her a text ordering her to perform a sex act "if you want your dad out of jail," and also texting, "… or I'll hurt you," according to court documents.
While being interviewed by police, Suh told investigators that he had looked up the law on the age of consent in Las Vegas and believed the juvenile could consent to sexual activity, court documents stated.
About five years ago, Suh was convicted in California on a similar offense and spent six months in jail, Cottonwood Heights police detective Beau Babka said. In that case, Suh had also threatened a family member of the victim and had a shotgun. He was waiting for that person when police arrived first and arrested him, he said.
When Suh arrived in Utah he had his laptop computer with him. Babka said investigators were going through the computer to see if Suh had chatted with any other young girls and if there were any other potential victims.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Keith Gillins Arrested for Sexual Assault on Minor
The former mayor of Fillmore is facing more sexual assault charges.
61-year-old Keith Gillins was charged in June with two counts of unlawful sex with a 16 or 17 year-old.
Police say the offenses happened last November while he was a teacher at Millard High School.
Those charges are now gone and have been replaced by even more, including four counts of rape and eleven counts of forcible sexual assault.
Prosecutors aren't saying if there are more victims, in addition to the single victim from the original charges.
Jimmie Joe Olson Arrested for Sexual Abuse of two 7-year-old Girls
A West Valley man faces four counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child after prosecutors say he abused two 7-year-old girls.
Jimmie Joe Olson, 20, was charged in 3rd District Court Thursday with the four counts, all first-degree felonies, as well as one count of sodomy upon a child and one count of rape of a child, which are both first-degree felonies as well.
The charges say that the girls said that on or about May 30, Olson pulled down his pants and underwear and made both of them touch his genitals. They both say that on that same day he touched their genitals as well, according to the charges.
Olson told police that he played a "truth or dare game" with the two girls and that they dared him to pull down his pants, the charges said.
Olson was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Wednesday. His bail has been set at $150,000.
Jimmie Joe Olson, 20, was charged in 3rd District Court Thursday with the four counts, all first-degree felonies, as well as one count of sodomy upon a child and one count of rape of a child, which are both first-degree felonies as well.
The charges say that the girls said that on or about May 30, Olson pulled down his pants and underwear and made both of them touch his genitals. They both say that on that same day he touched their genitals as well, according to the charges.
Olson told police that he played a "truth or dare game" with the two girls and that they dared him to pull down his pants, the charges said.
Olson was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Wednesday. His bail has been set at $150,000.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Carol Ricker Arrested for Sexual Abuse to Child
A 46-year-old Logan woman faces 12 first-degree felony counts involving sexual abuse of a child.
Carol Ricker was arrested Thursday and booked into the Cache County Jail on four counts each of rape of a child, sodomy on a child and sexual abuse of a child.
The victim is now in his 20s, but prosecutors allege the abuse happened sometime between 1992 and 1997.
The Cache County prosecutor's office says Ricker was arraigned and charged Monday in 1st District Court.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Edgar Mendiola Arrested for Sexual Abuse
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.
Carol Ricker Arrested for Child Rape
A Logan woman is behind bars and charged with 12 first-degree felony counts of rape, sodomy and aggravated sex abuse of a child.
Police arrested Carol A. Ricker, 46, at her home at 530 West Center St. Thursday after a months-long investigation.
Ricker was booked in the Cache County jail on four counts of rape of a child, four counts of sodomy on a child and four counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child.
Ricker’s bail is set at $240,000.
Police arrested Carol A. Ricker, 46, at her home at 530 West Center St. Thursday after a months-long investigation.
Ricker was booked in the Cache County jail on four counts of rape of a child, four counts of sodomy on a child and four counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child.
Ricker’s bail is set at $240,000.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Edger Mendiola Arrested for Sex Abuse
A Logan man was arrested Tuesday for investigation of six counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child after the man's alleged victim reported her accusation to police.
Logan Police Lt. Rod Peterson said Edger Mendiola, 37, was booked into the Davis County Jail after a girl under the age of 13 called police about him.
Though he is a resident of Cache County, Mendiola was booked into the Davis County Jail because that was where the arrest took place.
Peterson said the investigation was ongoing, and police became concerned Mendiola was made aware of it. When he was arrested, Peterson said, they believed he was attempting to flee, as he was heading south on Interstate 15. That put him in Davis County at the time of the arrest.
Logan Police Lt. Rod Peterson said Edger Mendiola, 37, was booked into the Davis County Jail after a girl under the age of 13 called police about him.
Though he is a resident of Cache County, Mendiola was booked into the Davis County Jail because that was where the arrest took place.
Peterson said the investigation was ongoing, and police became concerned Mendiola was made aware of it. When he was arrested, Peterson said, they believed he was attempting to flee, as he was heading south on Interstate 15. That put him in Davis County at the time of the arrest.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Teacher Linda Nef Pleads Guilty to Sex Abuse
A former Bountiful Jr. High School teacher has taken a plea deal in connection with a controversial sexual abuse case involving a teenage student.
46-year-old Linda Nef pleaded guilty to Attempted Aggravated Sex Abuse of Child, a First Degree Felony.
Nef is scheduled to be sentenced on July 21. She faces three years to life in prison and possible probation.
Valynne Bowers, another teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with the same teen, is expected to be in court later this month.
46-year-old Linda Nef pleaded guilty to Attempted Aggravated Sex Abuse of Child, a First Degree Felony.
Nef is scheduled to be sentenced on July 21. She faces three years to life in prison and possible probation.
Valynne Bowers, another teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with the same teen, is expected to be in court later this month.
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Saturday, June 13, 2009
Michael Ted Staples Charged with Sexually Abusing 9-year-old
A 43-year-old South Salt Lake man was booked into jail Thursday for investigation into charges he sexually abused a 9-year-old girl while swimming in a community pool.
Michael Ted Staples is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and one count of possession of a controlled substance, both first-degree felonies.
According to charging documents, Staples touched the girl inapropriately while she swam May 22 at Holladay Lions Fitness and Recreation Center, 1661 E. Murray-Holladay Road.
Between the alleged incident and the arrest, police also found marijuana in Staples' backpack, the documents say.
Bail has been set at $150,000.
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http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705310370/Man-faces-child-sex-abuse-charges-over-pool-incident.html
Michael Ted Staples is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and one count of possession of a controlled substance, both first-degree felonies.
According to charging documents, Staples touched the girl inapropriately while she swam May 22 at Holladay Lions Fitness and Recreation Center, 1661 E. Murray-Holladay Road.
Between the alleged incident and the arrest, police also found marijuana in Staples' backpack, the documents say.
Bail has been set at $150,000.
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http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705310370/Man-faces-child-sex-abuse-charges-over-pool-incident.html
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