ST. GEORGE — A Utah man was sentenced to prison Monday for hiding cameras in bathrooms at LDS church meetinghouses and in the homes of his relatives. His crimes were brought to light in February 2017 after his family members found two cameras he concealed in an upstairs bathroom of a luxury villa rental at The Ledges in St. George.
James Steven Larsen, of Magna, Utah | Photo courtesy of Salt Lake County Jail, St. George News
James Steven Larsen, 40, of Magna, was ordered to serve concurrent terms of up to five years in prison for three third-degree felony counts of voyeurism involving a minor victim.
Larsen pleaded guilty to the charges last month. As part of his plea agreement, 13 additional class A misdemeanor voyeurism charges were dismissed.
Larsen’s prison sentence will run concurrently to a year in jail ordered in a separate case in St. George, where Larsen pleaded guilty in November 2017 to one third-degree felony and one class A misdemeanor for voyeurism after he was caught hiding cameras in a rental property.
In that case, one camera was hidden behind a toilet and pointed toward the shower, according to charging documents. The other camera was hidden behind a trash can and pointed toward the area a person would have to walk to access the shower.
During an interview with police, Larsen admitted to buying the cameras and placing them with the intent to obtain nude video of his sister-in-law in the home, charges state. As St. George police investigated, Larsen told them of the recordings he had on SD cards stored in his vehicle in Magna.
Unified Police obtained a search warrant for Larsen’s vehicle, where they recovered three SD cards, two cameras and keys to three different LDS meetinghouses in the Magna area, according to court documents. Larsen said he used the keys to sneak into the meetinghouses early on Sundays to hide cameras in the restrooms and then return to retrieve the cameras the next day.
Upon searching the memory cards and two cameras found in Larsen’s vehicles, investigators found 16 images of adults and children, court documents state. Larsen told police his sister-in-law was his “target,” and in addition he would “just catch whomever.”
Larsen had also placed cameras in bathrooms while visiting in multiple relatives’ homes, according to charging documents.
Ed. note: The content of this article pertains to violence involving children. Some may consider the details contained in this report to be graphic in nature. Reader discretion is advised.
ST. GEORGE — A St. George man was arrested Wednesday after authorities discovered hundreds of images and videos of child pornography on his hard drive, including a video of a 6-month to one-year-old child being brutally tortured, beaten and object raped.
While the Utah Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was conducting an online child pornography investigation on the BitTorrent Network in December 2017, an agent located a child pornography file shared by a Southern Utah IP address, according to a probable cause statement filed by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in support of the arrest.
James Robert Richey, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Jan. 31, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
When it was confirmed the IP address was in the St. George area, the case was forwarded to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Jan. 10 for further investigation, the report states.
Detectives began working the case and were able to identify a St. George home where the internet transactions were taking place, Washington County Sheriff’s Office Lt. David Crouse said in a statement Thursday.
The primary suspect in the investigation was identified as 28-year-old James Robert Richey, who had recently moved to St. George from Las Vegas, officials said.
Detectives executed a search warrant at Richey’s home Wednesday as part of the ongoing child pornography investigation, Crouse said. During their search, detectives conducted a preliminary scan of computers and hard drives from the residence.
In Richey’s room, detectives located external hard drives containing hundreds of images and videos depicting child pornography, Crouse said, adding:
Detectives were able to confirm the hard drive contained at least one video described in the ICAC tip, which depicted an approximately 6-month to one-year old child being brutally tortured, beaten and object raped.
Authorities located numerous videos and picture files containing names associated with raping, beating and wanting to murder children specifically between the ages of 3 and 10 years old, charging documents state.
Detectives are continuing to process the evidence collected to determine if the videos are of previously identified victims or potentially unidentified victims, Crouse said.
During the execution of the search warrant, Richey was already incarcerated at the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility after being arrested Monday on a class B misdemeanor criminal mischief charge in an unrelated case in which he allegedly caused at least $500 in damage to a cohabitant’s property.
When detectives questioned Richey about the child pornography files, Richey “became visibly upset and began shaking,” charging documents state. When asked about the videos, Richey “kept putting his head down, becoming more upset and changing the subject” before requesting an attorney.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office filed an information in 5th District Court Thursday accusing Richey of 10 second-degree felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
Officials said Thursday that additional charges may be forthcoming.
Richey is being held on $200,000 cash-only bail pending trial.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — The owner of a Southern Utah shuttle service, who was charged last month with unlawful sexual contact with a teen, is now facing 21 additional felony charges after police allegedly found more than 700 images of child pornography on his computer.
Sean Timothy O’Neill, 48, of Hurricane, was charged Friday in 5th District Court with 21 second-degree felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. He was charged last month with five third-degree felony offenses, including witness tampering, two counts of failing to register as a sex offender and two counts of unlawful sexual contact with a 17-year-old.
Sean Timothy O’Neill, of Hurricane, Utah, booking photo posted Feb. 1, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
O’Neill, who has lived in Utah since November 2016 and owns and operates Hurrikin Express, began communicating through social media with a 17-year-old girl from Hildale, according to a recently unsealed search warrant affidavit.
At one point, O’Neill told the girl “he would move out to Utah and would prove himself to her and marry her,” the report states. In December 2017, O’Neill brought the girl to his Hurricane residence where the girl told police she did not want to have sex but felt she couldn’t tell O’Neill no.
“(She said) she felt like a rag doll,” the warrant filed in 5th District Court states. “He would want her to participate and when she wouldn’t he would get upset and throw her around.”
As the investigation into the incident with the girl unfolded, police learned O’Neill had asked his business partner to lie in court in another case involving a juvenile, the report states.
Following O’Neill’s arrest on Jan. 2, police executed a search warrant on his residence and seized several electronic devices.
On his laptop, investigators found more than 700 images of child pornography involving nude girls between the ages of 5 and 13 in explicit poses and acts, according to charging documents, leading to the 21 new felony charges.
O’Neill, who was released from custody Jan. 11 on $25,000 bail pending trial, was arrested on the new charges Thursday and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility where he is being held on $150,000 cash-only bail.
He is scheduled to appear before Judge Jeffrey Wilcox for a preliminary hearing in both cases March 5.
According to court documents, O’Neill is a registered sex offender out of Michigan for enticing a minor over the internet.
Prior to his 2018 arrests, O’Neill was charged in 5th District Court in May 2017 with failing to register as a sex offender and disorderly conduct.
In that case, a 14-year-old girl LaVerkin girl called police to report O’Neill had been following her while asking her what she was doing, according to court documents. A woman told police she had witnessed O’Neill yell at the girl and then pull into a parking lot as if he was waiting for her.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — A St. George school teacher, who was arrested last week on three first-degree felony charges for allegedly molesting a former elementary student, is now facing 12 additional felony charges as more people have come forward with sex abuse accusations.
Curtis William Payne, of Santa Clara, Utah, booking photo posted Feb. 6, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Curtis William Payne, 59, of Santa Clara, who was out of jail on $75,000 bail pending trial following his Jan. 30 arrest, was arrested again Tuesday and charged with 12 new counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child.
“The new charges are based upon information obtained through follow-up investigations which have identified several additional victims,” St. George Police officer Lona Trombley said in a statement. “The incidents span the length of Mr. Payne’s career and those interviewed now range in ages from 14 to 30 years old.”
As of Tuesday, police said detectives had interviewed 32 individuals as part of the ongoing sex abuse investigation involving Payne, who has been employed by the Washington County School District for 32 years.
“Many of the interviews resulted in disclosures that described similar patterns of conduct which involved touching and other behavior by Mr. Payne,” police said Tuesday, adding:
Many of the incidents had not progressed to the point where criminal violations occurred. Other disclosures did provide sufficient evidence that crimes were committed and charges have been filed as a result.
Complainant one
Detectives began investigating Payne in December 2017 when a woman came forward with allegations of Payne’s inappropriate conduct with her while she was in his fourth-grade class at Sunset Elementary School in St. George in the ‘90s, according to a probable cause statement filed by St. George Police in support of the arrest.
The woman told police that Payne would allow her to sit on his lap behind his desk and that he groped her vagina on three or four separate occasions, the report states. She also disclosed details about how Payne would put movies on for her class, turn out the lights and sit by her at which point he would place his hand under her clothing to grope her chest and rub her vagina.
The woman further told police about a pool party where Payne grabbed her while she was in the pool and rubbed her genitals over and under her swimsuit, according to the statement.
Payne, who was teaching at Sunrise Ridge Intermediate School in St. George, was arrested Jan. 30 on three first-degree felony counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child.
Upon his initial arrest, the St. George Police Department urged anyone who may have been a victim of Payne to come forward. New sex abuse allegations have since emerged.
Complainant two
On Feb. 1, a woman, who described herself as a longtime friend of Payne and his family, contacted St. George Police to report being sexually abused by Payne.
During her interview at the police department, she disclosed details of the sexual abuse, which she said occurred while she was visiting Payne’s Santa Clara residence over the course of three summers when she was approximately 10-12 years old, charging documents state.
While watching movies in the basement of Payne’s home, the woman said Payne would sit next to her on a couch and place a blanket over them, according to court documents. The woman told police Payne would put his hands under her clothes to touch her private areas, noting that these incidents of abuse had occurred more than 20 separate times.
Complainantthree
Another woman contacted St. George police Feb. 1 to report being sexually abused by Payne when she was a student in his fourth-grade class at Sunset Elementary School during the 2000-01 school year, according to a probable cause statement filed in the case.
The woman told police she had danced with Payne at a school function and that “while dancing with him, she stated he would move his hand down and grab her buttocks area” approximately 10 times, the report states.
Complainantfour
On Feb. 2, a mother contacted police to report that her 14-year-old daughter had confided that she had also been sexually abused by Payne during her fourth- and fifth-grade years at Sunset Elementary School, according to court documents.
The girl was interviewed at the St. George Children’s Justice Center Feb. 6 where she disclosed that when she had gone to Payne’s desk to ask him for assistance during her fourth-grade year, Payne gave her a hug and then squeezed her buttocks, the report states.
She detailed another incident outside her St. George residence when Payne was visiting one of her neighbors and let her know he would be next door if she wanted to come over, charges state. While in front of the houses, Payne allegedly gave her a hug and grabbed her buttocks area.
During her fifth-grade year, the girl said she stayed after class to receive assistance with an assignment, the arresting officer wrote, noting:
Curtis (Payne) had the female sit on his lap where he then pulled her close to him. Curtis put his arm around the juvenile and placed his hand on her breast. She described his hand as massaging her breast area.
Complainantfive
On Feb. 5, another woman contacted police to report being sexually abused by Payne approximately eight to 10 times when she was a student in his fourth-grade class at Sunset Elementary School during the 1999-2000 school year, charges state.
During her interview, the woman told police the abuse would occur during movie time when Payne would turn the lights off in the classroom and then sit next to her on the classroom countertop, the officer wrote. The woman said Payne would then begin rubbing her shoulder and back area before reaching his hand down and touching her breasts over her clothing.
Payne was arrested on the new charges Tuesday evening and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility. Upon his arrest, Payne invoked his right to remain silent by refusing to answer questions, police said.
Judge Jeffrey Wilcox, of the 5th District Court, ordered $200,000 cash-only bail for Payne’s release pending trial. He is scheduled to appear before Wilcox Thursday afternoon for his initial appearance on the new charges.
As the St. George Police Department continues its investigation, police are asking anyone with additional information about the sexual abuse allegations to call 435-627-4338.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — Authorities in Washington County intercepted approximately 25 pounds of methamphetamine and 4 pounds of heroin with a combined estimated street value of more than $2 million during a traffic stop Sunday on Interstate 15.
Arturo De Paz, of Riverside, California, booking photo posted Feb. 4, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
At 10:09 a.m. Sunday, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper stopped a vehicle for illegal window tint on northbound I-15 near milepost 1, just past the Utah-Arizona border, according to a probable cause statement filed by UHP officials in support of the arrest.
The trooper spoke with the driver identified as Arturo De Paz, of Riverside, California, the trooper wrote in the sworn statement, noting:
Neither the driver or passenger could provide registration or insurance documents for the car. Instead, they provided a receipt from a dealership.
After authorities found discrepancies in De Paz’s and the passenger’s story regarding their travel plans, they asked for and received consent to search the vehicle, the report states.
“I located 28 bundles of suspected narcotics hidden throughout the vehicle,” the trooper wrote. “The bundles were in many different factory voids.”
After weighing and testing the bundles, authorities recorded 25 pounds of meth and 4 pounds of heroin, according to the statement.
De Paz claimed ownership of the drugs and told officials the passenger had no knowledge of the drugs, the report states.
De Paz also told officials he had meth in his sock, the report states, and that he had instructed the passenger to break his pipe as they were being pulled over, leading officials to believe he had recently used drugs.
In addition to being issued a warning for his window tint, De Paz was arrested and transported to the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office filed an information in 5th District Court accusing De Paz of two second-degree felony counts of drug possession with the intent to distribute, along with two class B misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a measurable controlled substance.
Officials said they expect the incident will become a federal case.
De Paz appeared before 5th District Judge Jeffrey Wilcox for his initial appearance Monday. Wilcox ordered $10,000 bail for his release pending trial.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — A former Southern Utah police evidence technician has entered a guilty plea in relation to allegations that he sold police evidence through his daughter’s online store.
Kurt Tanner, 55, of St. George, who worked as an evidence technician for the Hurricane City Police Department, pleaded guilty before Judge Eric Ludlow in 5th District Court Tuesday to third-degree felony misuse of public money.
Tanner’s plea was held in abeyance and his case will be dismissed if Tanner does not commit any new crimes, completes 100 hours of community service and pays more than $1,200 in restitution, according to court documents.
The charge against Tanner was filed in August 2017 following an investigation by Barry Golding of the Washington County Attorney’s Office.
In February 2017, Golding met with Hurricane City Police Chief Lynn Excell concerning the Police Department’s evidence technician, Tanner, selling department evidence – public property – without authorization, court documents state.
Tanner, who had handled evidence for the department for the past 10 years, had given the public property, which was several years old and was not contraband, to a company owned by his daughter to be sold on eBay, charges state.
Because the majority of the proceeds from the sales of the property went to the company and was not returned to the public, officials said, Tanner was found in violation of Utah Code 76-8-402 – misuse of public money.
The property that was sold was related to a case that had been closed and was no longer active, Deputy Washington County Attorney Jerry Jaeger said, adding that Tanner did not follow proper procedure in disposing of evidence.
According to the Police Department’s website, once a criminal case has ended, evidence is released to the owner, who has 90 days to claim it. If the evidence isn’t picked up, it is auctioned or given to an approved company to sell, and the money goes into the city coffers.
ST. GEORGE — A multiagency law enforcement operation in Southern Utah netted the arrest of six men, including a St. George Army recruiter, for alleged conspiracy to commit child rape, among other charges, after the men allegedly arranged to have sex with young girls.
The joint criminal operation was conducted by the Parowan Police Department, Iron County Sheriff’s Office, Iron County Attorney’s Office, Iron-Garfield-Beaver Narcotics Task Force, Homeland Security Investigation, Utah Highway Patrol and Veterans for Child Rescue.
As part of the child sex sting, investigations into several additional suspects are ongoing, authorities said Sunday.
Jason Livermore, 30, and Floyd Jennings, 71, both of St. George; James Garrelts, 53, of Cedar City; Trevor Bodily, 31, of Clearfield; Carlos Valenzuela Nunez, 30, of Enterprise; and Phillip Gerstner, 30, of Jerome, Idaho, were each arrested after arriving at an undisclosed location in northern Iron County to meet 13-year-old girls with whom they had allegedly arranged to have sex.
The men traveled to the area after separately responding to an ad placed on “websites known to produce child trafficking activities and child predators,” authorities said Sunday.
“In a joint operation using a confidential informant an ad was placed on various social media websites. The ad had a picture of two young females with a phone number and a link to other sites,” Parowan Police Chief Ken Carpenter said in a statement, adding:
The suspects contacted the number and exchanged several phone conversations or text messages with the CI. In the conversations the CI made it clear they would be having sex with one or more 13-year-old children. The suspects agreed to the terms for location, time and payment and requested one or both 13-year-old girls.
Conversations with each suspect included ground rules and confirmation of the sex acts to be performed, police said. The suspects would call the specified number to say when they were en route from different locations to the house in Paragonah.
“When they arrived at the off ramp, the suspects called the CI and she stayed on the phone to guide them to the residence,” Carpenter said in the statement. “The suspects had already negotiated to pay for sex with one or both 13-year-old girls.”
Once money was exchanged at the home and elements of the crimes were confirmed, law enforcement officers moved in and made the arrest.
Jason Everette Livermore, a full-time Army recruiter in St. George, was arrested Thursday and charged with two first-degree felony counts of criminal solicitation involving conspiracy to commit child rape and forcible sodomy and a second-degree felony count of enticing a minor by internet.
Livermore allegedly admitted to police that he had driven to Paragonah from St. George to have vaginal and anal sex with a 39-year-old woman and her 12-year-old daughter, the arresting officer wrote in a probable cause statement, adding:
(Livermore) stated that he knew what he was doing was wrong. He claims he has never done this in the past but did have full intentions for completing the sex acts today with the child.
Jennings, Garrelts and Bodily were arrested and booked into jail on two first-degree felony counts each of conspiracy to commit child rape, according to police. Bodily also was booked on a misdemeanor count of failing to stop at the command of a peace officer.
Nunez and Gerstner were arrested and booked on one first-degree felony count each of conspiracy to commit child rape, according to police.
Formal charges had not been filed for Jennings, Garrelts, Bodily, Nunez nor Gerstner on Utah Court Xchange Monday.
According to Utah Court documents, the six men have no other criminal history in Utah.
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Jason Everette Livermore, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Feb. 15, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Floyd Jennings, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Feb. 15, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
James Garrelts, of Cedar City, Utah, booking photo posted Feb. 15, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Carlos Valenzuela Nunez, of Enterprise, Utah, booking photo posted Feb. 15, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Trevor Bodily, Clearfield, Utah, booking photo posted Feb. 15, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Phillip Gerstner, of Jerome, Idaho, booking photo posted Feb. 15, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — Two men allegedly went on a retail shoplifting spree, stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from three Walmart stores, after reportedly losing their money in Las Vegas.
Christian Ryan Johnson, 28, of Hemet, California, booking photo posted Feb. 14, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Christian Ryan Johnson, 28, and Michael Graham Johnson, 30, both of Hemet, California, allegedly hit Walmart stores in Mesquite, Nevada, Bloomington and Washington City where they were subsequently caught and detained Wednesday, according to a probable cause statement filed by Washington City Police in support of the arrests.
The men were both charged in 5th District Court with two third-degree felony counts of retail theft, three class A misdemeanor counts for possession of drugs and theft detection shielding devices, along with a class B misdemeanor count of drug paraphernalia possession. Christian Johnson faces an additional third-degree felony charge of possession of another’s identification.
The alleged shoplifting spree came to an end Wednesday after Washington City Walmart security observed the men in the store removing security wrap from merchandise and called police, according to the statement.
Police located the men attempting to exit the store through an emergency exit in the Garden Center with more than $500 in stolen merchandise and a magnetic device used to deactivate security devices, police said.
Michael Graham Johnson, of Hemet, California, booking photo posted Feb. 14, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Christian Johnson admitted that he had intended to steal four Apple TVs from the store, the report states.
Police learned that the two men had hit Bloomington Walmart at 6 a.m. that same day and had left the store with $2,351 in stolen merchandise, according to a probable cause statement filed by St. George Police in support of the arrests.
Michael Johnson admitted to stealing various items with his friend Christian Johnson, the arresting officer wrote in the statement, adding:
Michael said he was low on money after losing in Las Vegas.
Upon searching their vehicle, police located numerous stolen items from Walmart in Mesquite and Bloomington, a glass pipe, a digital scale, spoons and syringes with brown residue, a black tar substance consistent with heroin and a white crystalline rock consistent with methamphetamine, along with a driver’s license and two Social Security cards not belonging to either of the two men, the report states.
The two men were arrested and transported to the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
Both men made their initial appearance in court Thursday before 5th District Judge Eric A. Ludlow. They are both scheduled to make their next court appearance Tuesday afternoon.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — A seventh man has been arrested in connection with a multiagency law enforcement operation in Southern Utah involving men allegedly conspiring to commit child rape.
Eugene Alvarado Jr., of Sunnyvale, California, booking photo posted Feb. 19, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
In addition to the arrest of six other men, 46-year-old Eugene Alvarado Jr., of Sunnyvale, California, was arrested Monday afternoon on two first-degree felony counts of attempted child rape, two second-degree felony counts of attempted aggravated kidnapping and two third-degree felony counts of dealing harmful materials to minor.
Alvarado traveled from California to Southern Utah Monday to meet two 13-year-old girls, Parowan Police Chief Ken Carpenter said in an updated statement, adding:
He convinced them to run away from their home and he was going to take them back to California.
Alvarado also allegedly talked about having sexual intercourse with the 13-year-old girls and used the internet to send the confidential informants pornographic images, police said.
Alvarado was taken in to custody without incident and was booked in to the Iron County jail.
Six other men were arrested as part of the child sex sting, including St. George Army recruiter Jason Livermore, 30, and Floyd Jennings, 71, both of St. George; James Garrelts, 53, of Cedar City; Trevor Bodily, 31, of Clearfield; Carlos Valenzuela Nunez, 30, of Enterprise; and Phillip Gerstner, 30, of Jerome, Idaho.
The men traveled to the area after separately responding to an ad placed on “websites known to produce child trafficking activities and child predators,” authorities said Sunday. The men were each arrested after arriving at an undisclosed location in northern Iron County to meet 13-year-old girls with whom they had allegedly arranged to have sex.
“In a joint operation using a confidential informant an ad was placed on various social media websites. The ad had a picture of two young females with a phone number and a link to other sites,” Carpenter said in a statement, noting:
The suspects contacted the number and exchanged several phone conversations or text messages with the CI. In the conversations the CI made it clear they would be having sex with one or more 13-year-old children. The suspects agreed to the terms for location, time and payment and requested one or both 13-year-old girls.
Livermore was arrested Thursday and charged with two first-degree felony counts of criminal solicitation involving conspiracy to commit child rape and forcible sodomy and a second-degree felony count of enticing a minor by internet.
Jennings, Garrelts and Bodily were arrested and booked into jail on two first-degree felony counts each of conspiracy to commit child rape, according to police. Bodily also was booked on a misdemeanor count of failing to stop at the command of a peace officer.
Nunez and Gerstner were arrested and booked on one first-degree felony count each of conspiracy to commit child rape, according to police.
The joint criminal operation was conducted by the Parowan Police Department, Iron County Sheriff’s Office, Iron County Attorney’s Office, Iron-Garfield-Beaver Narcotics Task Force, Homeland Security Investigation, Utah Highway Patrol and Veterans for Child Rescue.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — A Southern Utah man was arrested Tuesday after he was allegedly caught in possession of a stolen vehicle.
Jason William Dittmer, of Ivins, Utah, booking photo posted Feb. 22, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
At approximately 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, officers responded to Economy Inn and Suites, 525 E. St. George Blvd., on a report of a recovered stolen vehicle, according to a probable cause statement filed by St. George Police in support of the arrest.
The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Ivins City and was found sitting in the motel parking lot, the report states.
Police were advised that Jason William Dittmer, 32, of Ivins, was suspected of stealing the vehicle and that he was in motel room 216, the arresting officer wrote in the sworn statement.
Officers knocked on the motel room door and Dittmer emerged, the report states. He initially told police he didn’t want to talk and requested a lawyer.
However, as officers placed him under arrest, Dittmer reportedly told them the keys to the stolen truck were in his front pocket, according to the statement.
Dittmer was transported and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office filed an information in 5th District Court accusing Dittmer of second-degree felony receive or transfer a stolen vehicle.
Dittmer appeared before 5th District Judge John Walton Thursday for his initial appearance. As this report publishes, Dittmer remains in police custody on $10,000 bail pending trial.
According to court documents, Dittmer was arrested in Utah several times in 2017 on drug-related charges.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — A 24-year-old man was arrested in St. George Friday on human trafficking charges.
Jerome Devon McFadden, of Las Vegas, Nevada, booking photo posted Feb. 23, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Authorities responded to Summit Pointe Apartments, 1710 W. 360 North, on a report of prostitution activity late Thursday night, according to a probable cause statement filed by St. George Police in support of the arrest.
An individual reported that Jerome Devon McFadden, of Las Vegas, Nevada, had coerced her to perform prostitution services, the arresting officer wrote in the sworn statement.
After traveling to St. George from Las Vegas, McFadden allegedly met with the reporting individual, whose name is not being released, and created an online ad on a website known for advertising prostitution services, the report states.
McFadden allegedly used the individual’s phone to talk to people responding to the sex advertisement and to schedule appointments between the individual and the clients, according to the statement. The individual subsequently performed the sex acts in exchange for money, which McFadden allegedly kept.
“The (individual) had no money on her person or in her residence,” the officer wrote in the statement. “The (individual’s) financial card was also found in Jerome’s possession. Jerome was also found to be carrying a large amount of cash.”
When officers confronted McFadden about the allegations, he “resisted and was given several commands to cooperate, which he refused,” the officer wrote, adding:
It was determined that Jerome (McFadden) had recruited the (individual) into prostitution by use of fraud and coercion. By Jerome creating an online ad, he encouraged, induced or otherwise purposely caused the (individual) to remain a prostitute.
Upon McFadden’s arrest Friday, he was transported to the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office filed an information in 5th District Court accusing McFadden of second-degree felony human trafficking, third-degree felony exploiting a prostitute and class B misdemeanor interference with an arresting officer.
McFadden is scheduled to appear before 5th District Judge Eric A. Ludlow Friday afternoon for his initial appearance.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — Authorities apprehended a robbery suspect who was reportedly in possession of 61 stolen lottery tickets and bundles of stolen cash during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 15 in Washington County.
Antonio James Urtiaga, of Barstow, Calif., booking photo posted Feb. 22, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
After observing a car with dark window tint traveling north on I-15, a trooper initiated a traffic stop near milepost 2 at approximately 11:55 a.m. Thursday, according to a probable cause statement filed by Utah Highway Patrol in support of the arrest.
Before speaking with the driver – identified as Antonio Urtiaga, 19, of Barstow, California – and his passenger, a 19-year-old female, the trooper noticed empty beer cans in the back of the car, the report states.
During the traffic stop, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity and radioed for backup, according to the statement. When backup arrived, a UHP K-9 was deployed around the vehicle and gave a positive indication to the presence of contraband, giving authorities probable cause to search the vehicle.
Urtiaga allegedly told the trooper that he had robbed a gas station in Barstow, California, and that he would find cash, lottery tickets, cigarettes and alcohol, the report states.
As authorities searched the trunk of the vehicle, they allegedly located a bag containing bundles of cash, 61 lottery tickets, 28 cartons of cigarettes and seven cans of beer, according to the statement.
Utah Highway Patrol contacted the Barstow Police Department about the discovery and learned $4,287.70 in cash had been reported stolen from the gas station and that the 61 stolen lottery tickets had a value of $1,290, the trooper wrote in the statement.
“I mirandized Urtiaga and he stated that he works in the gas station and stole all the contraband before locking the store and fleeing the area,” the trooper stated.
Urtiaga was arrested and transported to the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office filed an information in 5th District Court accusing Urtiaga of second-degree felony theft by receiving stolen property; class B misdemeanor unlawful for minor to possess alcohol; and two infractions for obstructing visibility of windshield and failure to register vehicle.
Urtiaga has been released from police custody and is scheduled to appear before Judge Jeffrey Wilcox in 5th District Court on March 5.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — A St. George pawn shop is out thousands of dollars after getting caught in a fraud scheme, which led to the arrest of two Indiana men.
The owner of Discount Pawn called police Friday to report suspicious men in his store. One of the men had attempted to purchase several pieces of jewelry valued at $4,100, according to a probable cause statement filed by St. George Police in support of the arrest.
Verquell Lee Williams, of South Bend, Indiana, booking photo posted Feb. 23, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
The man – identified as Verquell Lee Williams, 31, of South Bend, Indiana – had the owner run his debit card several times to complete the purchase but the card was declined each time, the report states.
Williams then called someone on the phone and told the owner it was a customer service representative from the 1-800 number on the back of the card, the arresting officer wrote in the sworn statement, adding:
Verquell (Williams) then handed the phone to the pawn shop owner and the person on the other line began telling the owner how to enter some sort of transaction or authorization code. The owner stated the male on the other line was telling him things about his register system that even he didn’t know was possible.
Essentially, the person on the phone was telling the owner how to force the financial transaction through and override the system, the report states.
“The owner, however, was aware of ‘scams’ such as this, as he has had someone do this exact same thing previously,” the officer wrote in the statement.
Lamont Steve Jamerson Jr., of South Bend, Indiana, booking photo posted Feb. 23, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
The owner of the shop reportedly stalled the men and called police as well as a friend who owns Family Pawn Shop on 700 South in St. George, according to the statement.
When the owner of Family Pawn arrived at Discount Pawn during the investigation, he told police that one of the men – identified as Lamont Steve Jamerson Jr., 31, of South Bend, Indiana – had just pulled the same scheme at his business in which the debit card had been declined and a person on the phone walked the owner through the process of overriding the system, so the transaction would go through, the report states.
“(Williams) was successful and walked out with approximately $7,000 in jewelry,” the officer wrote, noting that the jewelry box was later found in the suspects’ vehicle but the jewelry was never recovered.
St. George police located information regarding the scam, known as “declined debit card override scam.” The information details how an initially declined debit card can be overridden by entering an authorization code given by the bank, the report states, adding:
However, the problem with this system is that any set of digits entered, regardless of their validity, will override the system and force the transaction through, leaving the store owner responsible for the loss of product fraudulently purchased.
Williams and Jamerson were both arrested and transported to the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office filed an information in 5th District Court accusing both men of second-degree felony communications fraud, second-degree felony theft by deception and class A misdemeanor theft by deception.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ALERT: This report includes details that may not be appropriate for all readers. Discretion is advised.
ST. GEORGE — A Southern Utah man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly arranging to have sex with a “mother and her 12-year-old daughter” on an online website known for advertising sex.
Alexander Jay Ryan, of Enoch, Utah, booking photo posted Feb. 27, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Alexander Jay Ryan, 20, of Enoch, was charged with first-degree felony criminal solicitation and second-degree felony enticing a minor over the internet, according to information filed in 5th District Court by the Iron County Attorney’s Office.
On Jan. 26, Ryan responded to a decoy ad placed on Craigslist titled, “Seeking someone to participate in an incest lifestyle,” according to a probable cause statement filed by the Iron County Sheriff’s Office in support of the arrest.
Ryan engaged in online correspondence with a confidential informant, who wrote in an email sent to Ryan, “Im looking for someone to have sex with me and my 12yo daughter,” the report states, to which Ryan allegedly replied: “I can do that if you want me to.”
Ryan eventually requested pictures and asked specific illicit questions regarding the potential sexual encounter, the arresting officer wrote in the sworn statement. He then made arrangements to meet at a house in Paragonah, but did not keep the appointment.
Ryan later told the informant he had been called to work, and arranged to meet the following day, the report states. Again, he did not show up.
During the investigation, officials traced the phone number used to Ryan, and subsequently interviewed him about the sexual solicitation correspondence, according to the statement.
Ryan allegedly admitted he did communicate with the informant and initially said he “was just playing along to get with the mom,” the officer wrote. Ryan later reportedly told officials he had intended to have sex with the woman and 12-year-old girl but saw a news report about Craigslist stings and “had a sudden change of heart.”
Ryan was arrested and booked into the Iron County Jail.
According to court documents, Ryan has no prior criminal history in Utah.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — A 35-year-old man with a felony warrant out for his arrest in a Wyoming child sex abuse case was found living in St. George and working at a hospital construction site.
Luis Antonio Flores Gomez, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Feb. 26, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Luis Antonio Flores Gomez was taken into police custody Monday on a first-degree felony sexual abuse of a minor warrant with full extradition issued Feb. 21 by the Circuit Court of the 6th Judicial District in Campbell County, Wyoming.
St. George police were first contacted Feb. 12 by detectives with the Gillette Police Department in Wyoming regarding a fugitive – identified as Gomez – wanted in a sex offense case that was under investigation, according to a probable cause statement filed by St. George Police in support of the arrest.
Wyoming detectives said they had reason to believe Gomez was living at Oasis Palms Apartments located at 260 N. Dixie Dr. and requested the assistance of St. George police in locating him, the report states.
Detectives spoke with a woman at the address who confirmed Gomez was living at the address and said Gomez was working on a construction site at Dixie Regional Medical Center near 1380 S. Medical Center Dr., according to the statement.
Police located Gomez at the construction site where he was placed under arrest and subsequently transported to the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
Gomez is expected to be extradited back to Wyoming.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — The mother of a 3-day-old baby has been arrested after allegedly breast feeding her baby while on heroin. The newborn subsequently stopped breathing and was transported to the emergency room before being placed in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Elizabeth Ola Canon, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted March 7, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
At approximately 11:18 a.m. Wednesday, a call was made to 911 from the Chevron gas station located at 927 W. Sunset Blvd. in St. George, regarding a 3-day-old baby who was struggling to breathe and had eventually stopped breathing, according to a probable cause statement filed by St. George Police in support of the arrest.
The newborn was placed on the gas station checkout counter and CPR was in progress when medical personnel arrived at the gas station to transport the baby boy to the emergency room at Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, police said.
When officers arrived at the emergency room, they learned the baby, who was born March 4, had a broken clavicle and a hematoma on the back of his head, leading officials to suspect possible child abuse, according to the statement.
After speaking with the baby’s grandmother, officers learned that the baby’s mother, identified as Elizabeth Ola Canon, 29, of St. George, had a difficult time delivering the baby and that the injuries had occurred during the delivery, the report states. Medical records confirmed the grandmother’s account.
Medical records also showed that the baby’s umbilical cord tissue had tested positive for drugs, indicating that Canon had done drugs during her pregnancy, the arresting officer wrote in the sworn statement, adding:
(Records indicate there was) drug use that complicated the pregnancy during the third trimester. A toxicology was conducted on the child, which tested positive for codeine and morphine.
Canon reportedly told police she had suffered a rib injury and had taken Lortab just before the baby was born, the report states.
The baby’s grandmother, who had driven the mother and baby to the gas station, gave consent for officers to look in her vehicle for anything suspicious or something the baby may have choked on when he stopped breathing, police said.
During the search, police allegedly found a syringe containing heroin inside the baby’s diaper bag located in the back seat of the car, according to the statement, and confronted Canon about what they had found.
Canon allegedly admitted to police that she had checked out of the hospital at approximately 11:30 p.m. Tuesday – after the baby was released following a two-day stay in the NICU for opioid dependency – she went to her mother’s residence, police said.
“(Canon) stated that she found an old needle that was loaded with heroin and used the heroin at 12:30 a.m.,” the officer wrote. “… Elizabeth stated she woke up at 3:30 a.m. and breast fed (sic) the baby and he went back to sleep.”
Canon reportedly woke up and breastfed the baby again at 5:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. Wednesday, the report states. A few hours later, the baby began having trouble breathing.
Canon was subsequently arrested and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office filed an information in 5th District Court accusing Canon of third-degree felony drug possession, second-degree felony endangerment of a child and class B misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
As this report publishes, Canon remains in police custody. She is scheduled to appear before Judge Eric A. Ludlow in 5th District Court Monday.
According to Utah Court documents, Canon has an extensive history of drug-related arrests.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — Authorities in Washington County helped seize approximately 25 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $1,250,000 during a traffic stop Saturday on Interstate 15.
Ronald L. Slate, of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, booking photo posted March 10, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
A Utah Highway Patrol trooper was staged near northbound I-15 milepost 4 when an Arizona Highway Patrol trooper advised that he was in pursuit of a vehicle that was about to cross the Utah-Arizona border into Washington County, according to a probable cause statement filed by UHP in support of the arrest.
The Arizona trooper continued the pursuit into Utah as the driver of the vehicle – later identified as Ronald L. Slate, 42, of Plattsmouth, Nebraska – exited the interstate at milepost 2 and headed east on to state Route 7, the report states.
“The vehicle crossed over into the opposing lane of travel and came to a stop,” the trooper wrote in the statement.
After placing Slate under arrest, authorities searched his vehicle and allegedly located 25 pounds of meth on the front seat, the report states.
Slate was transported and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office filed an information in 5th District Court accusing Slate of second-degree felony drug possession with the intent to distribute, third-degree felony failure to stop at the command of police, and class C misdemeanor driving on a denied license.
As this report publishes, Slate remains in police custody on $25,000 bail pending trial.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — A St. George man is facing a first-degree felony drug distribution charge after police allegedly found him in possession of of heroin in a Washington County park. A woman who was with the man is also facing drug-related charges.
Just before 7 p.m. Monday, officers spoke with four individuals seen smoking at the Santa Clara City Park located at 1400 N. Canyon View Dr., according to a probable cause statement filed by Santa Clara Ivins Public Safety in support of the arrest.
While informing the group that they weren’t allowed to smoke in the park, officers learned one of the individuals – identified as Jason Lennon Webb, 36, of St. George – had two active cash-only warrants for his arrest on charges of retail theft and theft by receiving stolen property, the report states.
After Webb was placed under arrest for the outstanding warrants, officers made three unsuccessful attempts to contact someone to pick up Webb’s vehicle from the park before ultimately inventorying the vehicle to hold it, the arresting officer wrote in the sworn statement.
During the inventory, police allegedly located a black pouch under the driver’s seat containing three syringes with heroin residue, a cooker, scale and blue glass bottle containing heroin, according to the statement.
A second individual – identified as Sara Autumn Dickinson, 27, of Ivins – was also found to have a cash-only warrant for her arrest issued by the Washington County Justice Court, the report states.
Sara Autumn Dickinson, of Ivins, Utah, booking photo posted March 12, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
Upon being placed under arrest, officers learned Dickinson had a glass pipe in her back pocket and a small plastic baggie containing methamphetamine in her bra, the officer wrote in the statement.
Webb and Dickinson were transported and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office filed an information in 5th District Court accusing Webb of first-degree felony drug distribution in a Drug-Free Zone and class B misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
In Utah, possible penalties for a first-degree felony conviction include a minimum of five years in prison with a maximum sentence of life and up to $10,000 in fines.
Judge Eric Ludlow, of the 5th District Court, ordered $25,000 bail for Webb’s release pending trial. He was found indigent by the court during his initial appearance Tuesday and will be represented by court-appointed attorney Douglas Terry. He is scheduled to make his next court appearance March 19.
Dickinson was charged with class A misdemeanor drug possession and class B misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — A 23-year-old man was arrested Sunday after authorities allegedly located more than 40 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle during a routine traffic stop in St. George.
Mario Ocampo, of Santa Ana, California, booking photo posted March 11, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
The driver of an SUV was traveling on northbound Interstate 15 when he reportedly left the freeway at Exit 8 and made an illegal turn onto St. George Boulevard, according to a probable cause statement filed by Utah Highway Patrol in support of the arrest.
The driver – identified as Mario Ocampo, of Santa Ana, California – was subsequently pulled over by law enforcement in the Wendy’s fast food restaurant parking lot.
“I immediately smelled raw marijuana coming from the vehicle,” the arresting trooper wrote in the sworn statement. “The driver said it was because of his vape smoking device, which he handed to me.”
Authorities had Ocampo exit the SUV while they searched the vehicle for illegal substances, the report states. During the search, authorities allegedly located Percocet and Xanax pills which Ocampo admitted he did not have a prescription for.
In the back of the vehicle, authorities located two large black duffel bags that “took up the entire rear hatch/seat area of the vehicle,” the trooper wrote in the statement, adding:
The bags contained approximately 35 pounds of marijuana. In the middle row of seats, I located about 6.5 pounds of marijuana THC/wax packaged in bulk and in hundreds of individual gram packages.
Ocampo allegedly told authorities he was transporting the marijuana to a dispensary in Colorado, the report states. He was arrested and transported to the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office filed an information in 5th District Court accusing Ocampo of second-degree felony drug possession with intent to distribute, third-degree felony drug possession with intent to distribute, class A misdemeanor drug possession, class B misdemeanor drug possession, and class B misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Ocampo was subsequently released from police custody Monday on $12,210 bail pending trial. He is scheduled to appear before 5th District Judge John Walton March 19 for his initial appearance.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
ST. GEORGE — A Southern Utah man was arrested on a variety of charges Saturday after allegedly fleeing from law enforcement on a motorcycle while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The man reportedly gave himself up to authorities as a sheriff’s deputy K-9 neared the area the man had fled to.
Levi Grant Keitz, of Veyo, Utah, booking photo posted March 10, 2018 | Photo courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News
At approximately 4:20 p.m. Saturday, a deputy was patrolling in Brookside when he spotted a man on motorcycle run a stop sign on state Route 18, according to a probable cause statement filed by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in support of the arrest.
When the deputy turned his patrol vehicle around, activating his lights and sirens to pull the motorcycle over, the man – later identified as Levi Grant Keitz, of Veyo – turned up Canal Street, heading east at a high rate of speed, according to the statement.
As the sheriff’s deputy pursued Keitz, who was traveling 50 mph on a 25-mph road, the deputy observed Keitz nearly wreck the motorcycle twice while taking corners on the dirt road, the report states.
At 34 Canal Street, Keitz left the roadway and went into a field before lying the motorcycle down as if he were “trying to hide” from the deputy, the arresting officer wrote in the sworn statement, adding:
The driver left the motorcycle and jumped over a fence, coming down on his head on the other side. The driver got up and fled on foot.
The deputy called for backup and secured the motorcycle, which had no license plate or any other identifying information on it, according to the statement.
When Washington County Sheriff’s K-9 Vinny and his handler arrived on scene, the K-9 began tracking Keitz, locating two clear plastic baggies containing suspected methamphetamine along the way, the deputy wrote, noting that one of the plastic baggies had wet blood on it.
As K-9 Vinny approached an area near the bottom of a hill, Keitz began to call back to the deputies who were able to take Keitz into custody without further incident, the report states.
During questioning, “Levi (Keitz) admitted he ran from officers because he was drunk” and further admitted to using meth sometime within 24 hours of his arrest, according to charging documents. Keitz stated he had borrowed the motorcycle from a friend.
Keitz was transported and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office filed an information in 5th District Court accusing Keitz of two third-degree felony counts of drug possession and failing to stop at the command of police; three class B misdemeanor counts of reckless driving, DUI and possession of drug paraphernalia; a class C misdemeanor count of operating a vehicle without insurance; and an infraction for failing to register a vehicle.
Keitz was subsequently released from police custody on $13,710 bail pending trial. He is scheduled to appear before 5th District Judge Eric A. Ludlow Friday for his initial appearance.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
