Teen boy arrested in Utah County after alleged sexual assault of 12-year-old girl

SPANISH FORK, Utah — A 17-year-old boy was arrested early Tuesday morning after authorities say he allegedly stole a car, kidnapped a 12-year-old girl in Utah County, and sexually assaulted her.

The investigation began around 5:15 a.m. when a lieutenant with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office spotted a car while traveling north on Main Street in Spanish Fork.

“As (the lieutenant) passed a local business, he saw a car in the parking lot that had the lights on and was parked askew to any parking stall,” read a press release Tuesday from the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.

A @UCSO Lieutenant working early this morning stopped a car in Spanish Fork and discovered the 17 year old driver had kidnapped and sexually assaulted the 12 year old passenger. The passenger was picked by her parents. https://t.co/lmM1DcjiUv pic.twitter.com/mH70eGEG6S

— Spencer Cannon (@SGTCannonPIO) April 26, 2022

Authorities say the lieutenant turned around to check on the car and any occupants, when the car began traveling northbound at 60 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour zone. The lieutenant then initiated a traffic stop in which the driver pulled to the side of the road near the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds.

“The Lieutenant spoke to the driver, who said he was 16 years old, and the passenger, who said she was 14. After getting conflicting stories from each of them, the Lieutenant learned that the boy is 17 years old, from Salt Lake County, and the girl is 12 years old, from Utah County,” stated the release.

The release went on to say that investigators learned the two had met through social media and “have interacted there for the past couple of months.”

The boy arrived at the girl’s home sometime before 5 a.m. Tuesday, according to the release, and took her with him. They drove around and stopped at several different locations until they came to the location of the business on the south end of Spanish Fork Main Street — the place where the UCSO lieutenant spotted the car.

“At this last location the 17-year-old suspect sexually assaulted the girl. She tried to resist, and the boy told her that before they left, she was going to have sex with him. It was about this time that they left the parking lot and were stopped by the Lieutenant,” stated the release.

Authorities say the car the teen was driving was stolen earlier that morning from a home in Salt Lake County.

The 17-year-old was booked into the Slate Canyon Youth Detention Center for investigation of child kidnapping, a first-degree felony, vehicle theft and obstruction of justice, both second-degree felonies, false personal information, no driver license and no insurance.

“Spanish Fork Police responded and are investigating the sex offenses committed against this juvenile,” concluded the release.