A West Valley City man who previously worked as a recess attendant at an elementary school was arrested this week on multiple felony charges after court documents alleged he sexually abused family members and showed pornographic videos to his daughters. The filings describe accusations stretching back years, including a report that a now-adult woman was raped at age 10 and that her younger sister was shown explicit material at age 9. Investigators say school leaders had already fired the man after complaints and later banned him from the campus.
Allegations in court documents
According to ABC4 Utah, court papers state that the 43-year-old faces charges that include rape of a child, a first-degree felony, object rape of a child, also a first-degree felony, and attempted rape of a child, a second-degree felony. The filings say a 21-year-old woman told police her father raped her when she was 10, and that her younger sister reported he exposed himself to her and later showed her pornographic videos when she was 9.
Police records reviewed by ABC4 Utah also say the man told investigators he used to be a meth user and said he could not remember whether the allegations were true.
What the law says
Under Utah law, rape of a child and object rape of a child are first-degree felonies that can bring decades-long prison terms - in many cases, a mandatory minimum of 25 years and up to life in prison - as set out in the Utah Code. Sentencing and how attempted offenses are classified depend on the specific statute and facts of the case, so any eventual penalties will turn on the charges prosecutors pursue and whether there is prior criminal history.
Where the case stands
Investigators say the accused also previously worked at a college and was fired there for alleged sexual misconduct, and that after his dismissal from the elementary school, he returned to the playground and was then trespassed from the campus. He is being held in the Salt Lake County Jail without bail while the investigation continues, according to ABC4 Utah. All charges remain allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
How to report and where to get help
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact West Valley City police or the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children tip line. Suspected abuse can also be reported to the Division of Child and Family Services at its hotline, 1-855-323-3237.
Survivors and families seeking support can reach the National Sexual Assault Hotline operated by RAINN at 1-800-656-HOPE, or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678. The arrest comes amid other locally reported child-sex prosecutions, including a West Valley inmate case previously covered by Hoodline.
