Utah Father Supplied Alcohol, Marijuana and Vape Pens for Teen Parties, Police Say

PROVIDENCE, Utah – A Utah man was arrested after police said he supplied alcohol, vape pens and marijuana to his child and their friends during parties at his house.

Deputies with the Cache County Sheriff’s Office said what started as some concerning texts, quickly turned into much more when parents of a 13-year-old girl came to authorities after they found texts and snapchats on their daughter’s phone between her and her friend’s father.

Arresting documents say that in one of the conversations, 44-year-old Jason Griffin told the girl he was, “Kinda sad and lonely,” and in a later reply told the teen, “Thanks daughter. I love you.”

As investigators dug further, arresting documents say they found more than concerning text messages.

“They found this individual had provided vape pens, alcohol, marijuana to a group of juvenile females,” said Lieutenant Doyle Peck with the Cache County Sheriff’s Office. “We don’t understand the extent of why he was doing what he was doing.”

A probable cause statement filed in Utah 1st District Court said investigators found several videos showing young girls at Griffin’s home, smoking vape pens and cigars. Documents also said Griffin’s home was a regular spot for sleepovers. At one point, investigators said Griffin gave one of the girls his phone after hers was taken away by her parents, and she was grounded.

“Even though knowing she was grounded, (he) made arrangements to contact her, picked her up without the parents’ consent or knowledge, and transported her to his house where there was a get-together,” Peck said.

Because deputies said Griffin transported the girl against her parents’ wishes, he was being held at the Cache County Jail Monday on suspicion of kidnapping, along with over a dozen other potential charges.

“Parents should be allowed to raise their children,” Peck said. “And to sneak a child out in the middle of the night, not to mention to providing e-cigarettes, vape pens, alcohol, things like that, obviously that’s not what an adult should be doing.”

Luckily, Peck said all of this was discovered, thanks to one thing – involved parenting.

 “A parent was involved, asked questions,” he said.