A Panguitch man isn't facing a criminal rape charge anymore. That and one other sex charge were dropped against John Graf, 45, but he will be sentenced on one count of forcible sexual abuse.
Charges were withdrawn following two hours of court testimony by a 17-year-old victim, negotiations between Garfield County Attorney Wallace Lee and defense attorney Marcus Taylor, and a guilty plea by Graf to one charge of forcible sexual abuse. He will be sentenced June 7 in 6th District Court for the lesser charge.Graf faced one first degree felony count of rape and two second degree felony charges of forcible sexual abuse after his Jan. 20 arrest, which followed a joint investigation by the Panguitch city police and the Garfield County sheriff's department. He was released on a $50,000 property bond.