A Sandy man has been arrested and charged with rape and child sexual abuse in connection with alleged attacks on fellow campers at Defa's Dude Ranch in Hanna, Duchesne County.
According to investigating Duchesne County deputy sheriff Joe Summerell, the crimes allegedly occurred in the early morning hours of July 5 when a 28-year-old woman and 12-year-old girl in different campsites were accosted by a man.Nicholas R. Parsons, 24, who was also camping in the area, was arrested.
Parsons was arraigned in 8th District Court on a first-degree felony count of rape involving the adult victim and with a second-degree felony count of child sexual abuse involving the female juvenile.
Parsons apparently became acquainted with both victims, who are not related, while camping at the dude ranch over the holiday weekend, said Summerell.
Prosecutors believe Parsons was to spend the night in a trailer occupied by friends of the juvenile when he allegedly molested her. They say that shortly thereafter, he entered the nearby tent of the woman and raped her. The incidents were reported to the Duchesne County sheriff's office a few hours after they occurred.
Summerell said the juvenile identified Parsons as her attacker, while the woman found Parsons' wallet in her tent following the rape. Bail for Parsons is set at $30,000.