12 more days in jail for ex-prison officer

PROVO — A former Utah State Prison corrections officer charged with assaulting a woman he met online through an LDS dating service was sentenced Tuesday for aggravated assault but will only spend 12 more days in jail.

Sean Register, 34, was sentenced to 60 days in jail and more than $900 in court fees, as well as a to-be-determined amount of restitution to the victim. However, because Register had spent 48 days in jail before he could post the $100,000 bail, those days will be credited to his total incarceration time, thus requiring only 12 days in the Utah County Jail.

Register was first charged with aggravated sexual assault — a first-degree felony — after he assaulted a woman, whom he met online at LDSMingle.com, in September of 2004.

After a few phone calls the two met in Orem and went to Register's Springville home to watch a movie. After the movie, he began assaulting the woman and allegedly raped her.

However, in a plea deal with prosecution, Register pleaded guilty in August to a reduced charge of aggravated assault — a third-degree felony — instead of the more serious, first-degree felony aggravated sexual assault charge.

A first-degree felony conviction can mean five years to life in prison as well as a maximum $10,000 fine. A third-degree felony conviction carries a sentence of zero to five years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.

However, Judge Samuel McVey suspended the prison sentence and instead placed Register on 36 months of court probation, along with the 12 days of jail and some hefty fines.

"We've come along way from where this case started (with) a very, very serious charge," said Greg Skordas, defense counsel for Register. It's still quite a serious charge, (but we are) not where we were before."

As protocol in all sentencings, victims have a chance to address the court. The victim and her parents did submit a letter, which was filed confidentially with the court, so the victim wouldn't have to speak in person. However, Skordas said the victim and her family were more concerned about justice than days in jail.

The victim can also stipulate a desired restitution amount to be paid by Register, but Skordas said he hasn't received any numbers yet.

While acknowledging the pain of the victim, Skordas also pointed out the pain of his client, including the loss of Register's job with the Department of Corrections and the unlikelihood of ever filling a similar role again.

When Register spoke Tuesday morning, he told the judge he was going to school, had sought counseling and was ready to get on with his life.

"Your honor, I will do whatever is asked," Register said. "I am sorry for any hardship, for anything that has transpired because of my actions. I ask forgiveness. . . . I ask for mercy."

---

E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com