Investigators are looking into allegations of other instances of abuse by a Davis County school psychologist arraigned Thursday on four counts of sexual abuse involving a young girl who was living with him in his Bountiful home.

Deputy Davis County Attorney Brian Namba confirmed his office is looking into other allegations involving Donald R. Persson, 53, who was arrested this past Friday after Bountiful police obtained a warrant and searched his home.According to court documents, police found photographs of the victim, a 10-year-old girl, in various sexual encounters with a man.

Persson was arraigned Thursday afternoon in 2nd Circuit Court on first-degree felony charges of rape of a child and sodomy upon a child; sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony; and a third-degree felony charge of dealing in harmful material.

A preliminary hearing on the four charges will be held Monday, June 22. Persson is free on $50,000 bail.

Persson, who came to Utah in January to take a job as a school psychologist treating students with behavioral disorders, has been suspended from his school district job.

The girl who was living with Persson is in custody of the state's division of family services and juvenile court.

Her brother, who came from California Thursday morning to try to regain custody of the girl, said he doesn't believe the charges against Persson have any merit.

View Comments

The family has known Persson for about four years, the brother said, describing him as a "very nice and honorable person, a very moral person." The family is of mixed Cambodian and Laotian background and emigrated to the U.S. in 1979, the brother said.

His mother permitted the girl to come to Utah, according to the brother, and signed over temporary custody of her to Persson.

Judge Robert A. Newey denied a request by defense attorney Wally Bugden to reduce Persson's bail from $50,000 to $25,000.

The seriousness of the charges, the fact that Persson has only been in the state for a few months, is a frequent world traveler, and that his family is out of the country weigh against reducing the bail, the judge said.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.