A Utah man with a prior history of child abuse charges has been arrested after he allegedly assaulted a child at a church volleyball tournament in Lehi. Nathan Jack Speaker, 42, faces accusations of choking a juvenile and is now facing charges of second-degree felony intentional aggravated child abuse and third-degree felony tampering with a witness, according to court documents reported by KUTV.
During the alleged incident, Speaker is accused of not just choking but throwing the child across the room, an act that culminated in the child colliding with one of Speaker’s own. Witnesses at the scene reported that they heard the victim crying and holding his throat immediately after the supposed incident. An adult at the scene intervened when Speaker "began to reapproach the juvenile victim," as detailed by KSL NewsRadio.
After the incident and before his arrest, Speaker reportedly made attempts to reconcile his actions by leaving a handwritten apology for the victim and their family. He also sent a message to the victim's mother imploring her "not to report the incident to the police," as reported by KSL NewsRadio.
Speaker has a documented history of domestic abuse cases, some of which were dismissed after a plea in abeyance, which required that he seek counseling, refrain from committing additional crimes, and settle a fine. His access to the victim, combined with plans for upcoming out-of-state travel, heightened concerns about potential flight risks, KUTV reports. He was subsequently booked into the Utah County Jail early Tuesday morning.
According to FOX 13, Lehi police have confirmed Speaker's arrest, which adds to a troubling portrait of a man seemingly mired in cycles of violence, even within the bounds of presumed safe havens such as a church event.
