A Salt Lake City man is behind bars without bail after prosecutors say he repeatedly raped a 15-year-old girl during a stint sleeping over at her family’s home and then threatened to kill her if she ever told. The alleged assaults happened in April while the man was temporarily staying with a woman and her teenage daughter, according to recently filed court papers.
Court documents identify the suspect as Joshua Abe Mattinson and state that he sometimes slept on the living room floor next to the teen, covering her mouth so she could not call out to her mother, as reported by ABC4. The filings allege the assaults took place on multiple occasions in April and say Mattinson threatened to kill the girl if she said anything. According to the account summarized in the station’s report, the court papers describe him asking the teen to “cuddle” and claiming he was “scared of the dark” before the alleged attacks.
Mattinson was arrested on May 1 and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. Court records list two counts of rape, two counts of forcible sexual abuse, one count of forcible sodomy, and one count of aggravated sexual assault. The charges span both first-degree and second-degree felonies under Utah law, ABC4 reports, noting that they remain “allegations only” as the case works its way through the courts.
What the charges mean under Utah law
Under Utah law, aggravated sexual assault and forcible sodomy are first-degree felonies that can carry indeterminate prison terms that, in some situations, can extend to life. Forcible sexual abuse is generally charged as a second-degree felony, with its own range of potential prison time. The state’s Utah Code and sentencing guidelines lay out those penalties along with possible enhancements for violent offenses.
Support and next steps
The Rape Recovery Center offers crisis advocacy, hospital accompaniment, and a 24-hour hotline for survivors in Salt Lake County. More information is available on the organization’s website and by calling their crisis line. The Rape Recovery Center encourages anyone affected by sexual violence to seek confidential advocacy and medical care.
Salt Lake City Police Department victim advocates can also be reached at 801-580-7969 to help answer questions about reporting and services. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the case to contact investigators through the police department’s usual channels.
