Man arrested for raping Hurricane teen

HURRICANE — Police here said they have arrested a man in connection with the rape of a 17-year-old girl earlier this month.

Police said the young woman had briefly come acquainted with the suspect before the alleged assault took place on July 7. On Saturday, investigators said the suspect tried to contact the victim and she called police. Investigators tracked him down at a St. George bar. In a statement, the Hurricane Police Department said the suspect provided a false name under questioning, but was ultimately arrested.

Jaime Ovido Avila, 27, was booked into the Purgatory Jail on Sunday. Washington County prosecutors charged him Monday in 5th District Court with aggravated sexual assault and forcible sodomy, both first-degree felonies; second-degree felony forcible sex abuse; and false information to a police officer, a class A misdemeanor. Bail was set at $250,000.