Salt Lake man charged with sexual abuse

SALT LAKE CITY — A 34-year-old Salt Lake City man accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl was charged Friday with five counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and two counts of sodomy upon a child.

Jarrod Preston Nichols first abused the girl on Nov. 1, 2009, when he touched her inappropriately with his hands and mouth, court documents said. The victim said Nicholas also tried to pull down her pants on Feb. 7, 2010, but she managed to fight him off. The struggle left her with bruising and scratches on her hip.

Court documents also said Nicholas said in a statement he performed a sex act on the girl, made her touch him and touched her with his hands and mouth more than twice. He also said he finds the girl attractive.

Both charges are first degree felonies.

— Abigail Shaha