Springville man arrested on sex abuse allegations

SPRINGVILLE — A Springville man was arrested over the weekend after a young boy said the family friend had sexually abused him.

The boy told police at the Children's Justice Center that for the past two years an adult family friend had sexually abused him on at least five occasions, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in 4th District Court.

The man, 19, who had been living with the family in Springville, is being held on $25,000 cash bail for investigation of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and sodomy on a child.

The boy's mother brought him to the hospital on Sunday after the boy complained of some bleeding. There the boy revealed to hospital staff he had been sexually abused.

The boy told police the man had even offered him up to $100 to allow him to perform sex acts on the boy, but he declined each offer. At one point the man asked the boy if he liked the sexual contact, to which the boy answered he did not.

The boy's mother and some friends confronted the man, who has been living and working in the country illegally, at a restaurant where he worked, court documents state. At the time, the man denied the allegations.

Following the confrontation at the restaurant, police located and arrested the man at the home of a co-worker. Police said the man is considered a flight risk due to comments he made to some friends about needing to get out of the country.

— James Davis