Former assistant coach arrested after confessing to sexual encounters with minor

PAYSON — A former assistant softball coach for Payson High School has been arrested after confessing to sexual actions with a member of her team, police said.

The 23-year-old woman was arrested after a now 16-year-old girl came forward Friday wanting to discuss encounters from the previous spring, said Payson Police Sgt. Lance Smith.

The girl told police that she and her coach had developed a friendship and that in March 2008, when she was 15, her coach touched her genital area while they were at the coach's sister's house, according to a police affidavit filed in 4th District Court.

The girl said such touching happened about four more times, and there was a situation in a parked car where they both touched each other's genitals, according to the report.

Rumors of this activity came to police in November, but the victim didn't want to talk about it, and the coach didn't admit to any actions, which halted the investigation, Smith said.

However, on Friday, the victim came forward again wanting to talk, Smith said.

After her interview, police interviewed the coach, who confessed to the sexual relations, added more details and said she did it because she loved the teen, according to the affidavit. Police do not believe there are any other victims.

Smith said alcohol and drugs were not involved, and no force was used. The victim is currently receiving counseling, he said.

The coach was released immediately from her coaching position when the initial rumors surfaced in November, said Nebo School District spokeswoman Lana Hiskey.

The coach was never an employee at the school, but as an assistant coach, she received a small, one-time stipend, Hiskey said.

McKell Shurtliff was arrested Friday and booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of unlawful sexual activity with a minor on $15,000 cash-only bail. She has since bailed out of jail and will appear in court May 11.

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