By Pat Reavy and Amy Donaldson, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — January 28, 2020. Former Rich County Commissioner Tom Weston has been charged with sexually abusing a child.
Weston, 68, of Laketown, Rich County, who served as a commissioner for 18 years before retiring in 2018, was charged Monday in 1st District Court with sodomy on a child and aggravated sexual abuse of a child, both first-degree felonies.
According to a police affidavit, the investigation began on Jan. 22 when the Rich County Sheriff’s Office received a report that Weston had abused a 14-year-old female relative “numerous times over about a 1 1/2- to 2-year period.”
On Jan. 24, Rich County Sheriff Dale Stacey, who was the arresting officer in the case, said he set up a phone call between the girl and Weston that was monitored and recorded by detectives.
“Mr. Weston admitted to doing inappropriate things to the girl that would ‘probably put me in prison the rest of my life,’” the affidavit states.
Weston was arrested that same day, according to police.
Charging documents state the alleged offenses date back to 2018. The case is being prosecuted by the Cache County Attorney’s Office to avoid a conflict of interest.
During his initial appearance in court on Tuesday via video from the Rich County Jail, bail was increased to $50,000, according to court documents. Additionally, Weston was ordered, should he make bail, “not have any direct or indirect contact with the alleged victim or with the immediate family and no contact with any child under the age of 18 years,” court records state.
Additionally, Cache County Chief Deputy Attorney Tony Baird informed the court that his office is preparing to file additional charges.
Weston’s next court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 12.
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