PROVO — Police say allegations that a former Utah County sheriff's deputy sexually abused three children arose out of an unrelated criminal investigation.
Spanish Fork Police Lt. Brad Stone said his officers were investigating an unrelated case earlier this summer when a person tipped them about possible sexual misconduct by a sheriff's deputy involving children.
"This was a case totally unrelated to the other one," Stone said. Stone said he could not say if the unrelated investigation also involved child sex abuse.
Officers found the tipped information disturbing enough to forward it to the sheriff's office for further investigation. Stone emphasized that none of the alleged abuse involving the deputy occurred in Spanish Fork.
Sheriff's officials said Tuesday the deputy resigned after being told he faced termination and possible criminal charges.
"He has served nine years with the sheriff's department, with 16 years in law enforcement," said Utah County sheriff's spokesman Dennis Harris. Harris said the deputy had been working in the patrol division.
Harris said the department received the Spanish Fork information on the allegations of sexual misconduct on July 10 and began an official investigation the following day.
The deputy was on family medical leave when the investigation was initiated, said Sheriff James Tracy in a statement issued Wednesday.
The deputy is being investigated for allegedly molesting three children, with the first incident occurring 15 years ago. All incidents reportedly occurred in Utah County. The deputy has not been arrested or charged with any crime.
Harris said the case has been turned over to the investigation division of the Utah County Attorney's Office.
Utah County Attorney Kay Bryson was out of town Wednesday and could not be reached for comment. Acting county attorney Kent Sundberg confirmed there is an investigation that has not yet been concluded but said he could not comment further. Sundberg said the case has yet to be screened for felony charges.
Although the investigation has not been completed, Harris said the deputy, who had been placed on "suspension without pay pending termination," resigned effective Aug. 12.
Tracy has said the deputy had been disciplined following a departmental investigation. Harris added the deputy resigned without exercising any of his rights to appeal termination that are available to him under Utah County's personnel procedures.
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