Sanpete man given 30 years in prison for sexually abusing 3 girls

VERNAL — A Sanpete County man was sentenced to prison Tuesday for years of sexual abuse he inflicted on three girls — abuse his own attorney described as "egregious and honestly obscene."

Scott Allen Gardenheir, 40, of Mt. Pleasant, was ordered to serve 30 years to life in prison for his guilty pleas to nine counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child, a first-degree felony, and one count of forcible sex abuse, a second-degree felony.

Gardenheir had faced more than 60 charges related to sex abuse, lewdness, sodomy and rape involving child victims. Uintah County prosecutors, however, asked a judge to dismiss most of the charges as part of a plea agreement that resolved three cases involving victims who are all related to the former Vernal resident.

Defense attorney Marea Doherty told 8th District Judge Clark McClellan that her client is "profoundly sorry" for what he did and has taken full responsibility for his actions.

"He prays everyday for the healing of (the victims) from these devastating events," Doherty said, adding that Gardenheir had been "living his own tortured existence" before his arrest in June.

But prosecutor Greg Lamb said Gardenheir could have taken responsibility for his crimes two years ago when one of his victims first contacted police. Instead he denied those allegations, Lamb said, and allowed the victim to "be ridiculed and called a liar."

It wasn't until two additional victims came forward earlier this year — one of them confronting Gardenheir in a police-monitored phone call — that Gardenheir decided to confess to the abuse and express remorse, the prosecutor said.

"It's interesting that now that he's locked up in chains he wants what's best for (the victims)," said Lamb, who asked McClellan to impose consecutive prison terms in each case.

Gardenheir's eldest victim asked the court for a lengthy prison sentence for her abuser as well, but added a request that he also receive treatment.

"We just want him to get help so this never happens again," the woman said.

Gardenheir's body shook with sobs throughout the woman's statement to the court. He also cried as he apologized to his victims by name.

"I make no excuses. This is my fault, not anybody else's," he said. "I was following an evil path in my life. I now follow the path of my Heavenly Father."

McClellan told Gardenheir that despite his apologies there was nothing about the case that warranted less than a maximum sentence.

"Remorse after the fact, I don't think, is a mitigating circumstance," McClellan said.

"I wish that this was the end of the suffering for (the victims), but I don't think it is," the judge added. "They will still have the affects of this for the rest of their lives."

e-mail: geoff@ubstandard.com Twitter: GeoffLiesik