Draper man to undergo mental-health screening in prostitution-porn case

The Draper man accused of recruiting teenage girls for prostitution will undergo a mental-health assessment to determine if he will stay in custody pending trial.

U.S. Magistrate David Nuffer ordered the assessment Thursday. Federal prosecutors have asked that Arash Alexander Zarif remain jailed, but defense attorney Colleen Coebergh argued Thursday that he can be safely released from custody.

Zarif, 29, has no prior criminal history, owns a home and has significant ties to the community, Coebergh said.

"I cannot stress enough for the court that those are allegations and he is innocent as he sits here today," Coebergh said.

Zarif pleaded not guilty Thursday to seven federal charges — possession of child pornography, four counts of enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution, possession of a firearm by a restricted person and possession of methamphetamine.

Zarif is accused of hiring teenage girls, most of whom were homeless, runaways or already in precarious situations, and paying them to perform sexual acts on unknown adult males. The alleged operation came to light when two 16-year-old girls, reportedly paid by Zarif to perform sex acts on three men, stepped forward.

He also faces state charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, aggravated exploitation of prostitution and supplying alcohol to a minor.

Nuffer scheduled a March 21 hearing to examine the results of the mental-health assessment and review Zarif's detention status. In the meantime, he will remain in the Salt Lake County Jail.