David Nephi Johnson, a Republican leader in Utah, has been charged with first-degree aggravated child abuse after law enforcement said he waterboarded his 16-year-old daughter as punishment over an untidy bedroom.
The Context
Johnson, who chairs the Wasatch County Republican Party, was arrested on Tuesday and booked into the Wasatch County Jail, the Heber City Police Department said. He has been charged with aggravated child abuse—a first-degree felony.
What To Know
The police said in a statement shared to Facebook that detectives initiated an investigation after “receiving information alleging that a father had subjected his 16-year-old daughter to waterboarding as a form of punishment.”
“During the course of the investigation, detectives also learned that the juvenile had been backhanded on the torso, resulting in visible bruising,” the statement continued.
Johnson was released from jail after posting a $10,000 bail.
A pretrial protective order has been put into place, which prohibits Johnson from contacting his daughter. The teen has been placed outside her family home and in the care of an older sibling as part of a temporary safety plan set by the Utah Division of Child and Family Services and her parents.
Johnson’s daughter disclosed the incidents of the alleged abuse to Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services, local media reported.
In a statement shared to social media, the Wasatch County Republican Party said it was aware of the allegations and arrest.
“We are deeply concerned and troubled by the nature of the allegations brought forward by the Heber City Police Department,” the statement said.
It went on to announce that Vice Chair Patty Sprunt would temporarily assume leadership.
Johnson is set to appear in Fourth District Court for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. on March 11.
In Utah, the maximum sentence for child abuse is up to 30 years when served concurrently. In 2023, Utah mother Ruby Franke, a family vlogger, was arrested and charged with six counts of felony aggravated child abuse of two of her children. She was sentenced to four terms of one to 15 years each.
What People Are Saying
The Heber City Police Department wrote on Facebook: “The Heber City Police Department remains committed to protecting children and holding offenders accountable.”
The Wasatch County Republican Party said in a statement shared to Facebook: “The Republican Party stands for the protection of the vulnerable and the upholding of the law. We trust the Heber City Police Department and the legal system to conduct a thorough investigation.”
What Happens Next
The Heber City Police Department said that because of the nature of the case and the involvement of a minor, no further details were set to be released. Law enforcement officials have encouraged anyone with additional information to contact them.
Read the full article here
