From Deseret News archives:
Athletes face sex charges
Tooele High teammates accused of misconduct
The two adults, Matthew Gomez and Shane Leonelli, both 18, were charged in Washington County's 5th District Court. Gomez was also charged with sodomy, a class B misdemeanor. Leonelli is a cousin of former head coach Shanz Leonelli, who resigned June 4 after word of the videotape scandal and subsequent police investigation broke.
The juvenile cases will be handled in Tooele County's juvenile court.
Deputy Tooele County Attorney Gary Searle said according to law, juveniles are charged in the cities where they live, while adults are charged where the alleged crime occurred. If the juvenile cases go to trial, the trials will be held in the jurisdiction where they occurred.
Even though the adult case proceedings will be held in St. George, Searle said he had been deputized by the Washington County Attorney's Office and would be handling the case for the state.
The alleged incident happened March 11, when the Tooele High baseball team went to St. George for a tournament. The team stayed at the Bluffs Inn Motel.
Coach Leonelli made a bed check between 10:30 and 11 p.m., according to court documents.
After bed check, Gomez left his room and joined Shane Leonelli and four other boys between the ages of 15 and 17. Also in the room was a 15-year-old girl who was in St. George attending a softball tournament with her team, according to court documents.
From about midnight until 4 a.m., the girl was involved in sexual contact with several of the boys in the room, starting with Leonelli, court documents state.
While Leonelli was involved with sexual contact with the girl, a 15-year-old baseball team member started videotaping the encounter, court documents say.
The camera recorded "several instances of sexual contact between several of the males and the lone female," according to court documents, including fondling. The girl was partially nude during part of the taping.
All of the sexual conduct was consensual and all parties knew the incidents were being filmed, according to court documents.
Comments
- Tiger opens with a 66 in Australia 1:18 a.m.
- Crash kills Utah County man 1:12 a.m.
- UCAT cheaper education option 1:12 a.m.
- Post office to be named for Rex Lee 1:11 a.m.
- Police probe synagogue vandalism 1:09 a.m.
- New charges added in fraud case 1:09 a.m.
- Mom takes plea deal in girl's beating 1:08 a.m.
- Drug trafficking operation busted 1:07 a.m.
- News yule writing contest starting up 12:59 a.m.
- Alpine District school honored 12:59 a.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Cougars' defensive hoops clinic
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- Civilians help S.L. officer make arrest
- House passes health care bill
287 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
242 - TCU showdown has big implications
193 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
101 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
91
This week, I'm compiling my annual list of restaurants serving...
Was Kanye invited to this event?
It's a lot of hard work but worth it, like anything else, if you're willing...
I have watched the exhibition games and I have noticed a slimmer JT. He looks...
I am a life long BYU fan and I must say ya it's hurt pretty bad this season,...
Upset of the Year! Wasps 42 JD 35
Some of you are crazy - what's this crush with the Mountain West Conference?...
I have been anticipating this game for weeks. This is as good as it...
I have enjoyed these stars in other films and was looking forward to an...
The pressure isn't on Utah, it's on TCU. Tcu has nothing to gain by beating...
Where are you getting your information about the 23 players that played...



You can be the first to comment on this story.