A West Valley man will serve up to five years in prison for assaulting a prostitute.
Friday, Third District Judge Sheila McCleve ordered Steven Francisco Deahl to a maximum zero-to-five-year term in the Utah State Prison. Deahl, 24, pleaded guilty this summer to aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, in connection with the March 9 sexual assault of a 36-year-old woman near the Rose Park Golf Course, about 1500 West and 1800 North.Deahl was originally charged with aggravated sexual assault, rape and forcible sodomy, all first-degree felonies punishable by up to life in prison. But prosecutors allowed Deahl to plead to reduced charges because of difficulty contacting the victim.
"We haven't been able to locate her for a couple of months," said Salt Lake Deputy District Attorney Susan Hunt.
The woman testified during a preliminary hearing that she had agreed to have sex for money but that Deahl had begun to beat her before they had sex, Hunt said.
According to the charges, the woman told police she was at a 7-Eleven when she accepted a ride from Deahl. Deahl drove her to a deserted area near the golf course where he beat her and sexually assaulted her.
Attempting to get away, the woman kicked and broke the windshield, the charges state. Deahl pushed her out into the snow and mud and raped her again, the charges state. Eventually the woman was able to get away and contact police.
Deahl told police he picked up the woman and drove her to the deserted area where he paid her $20 to have sex, the charges state. However, he said that after he paid her, she started to back out.