Vernal wrestler admits to sex offense in hazing incident

VERNAL — A Vernal Junior High School wrestler has been ordered to serve at least 22 days in a youth detention center for his role in a sexually-based hazing incident on a school bus.

The teen — one of three wrestlers to face one allegation each of forcible sex abuse and hazing in 8th District Juvenile Court — entered an admission Wednesday to attempted forcible sex abuse. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the hazing allegation.

The two other wrestlers also made court appearances Wednesday and pretrial conferences in their cases were set for March 16.

The allegations against the trio stem from a Dec. 4 incident on a Uintah School District bus as the junior high school's wrestling team returned from a meet in Morgan County. Most of the team members, including the coaches, were at the front of the darkened bus watching a movie.

But the three wrestlers were at the back of the bus, where infrared cameras captured the teens engaging in individual “lewd acts,” according to investigators. When the teens finished, they walked to the front of the bus and wiped bodily fluids on more than one teammate, authorities said.

The juvenile court allegations against the teens are serious. If they were adults, the forcible sex abuse count would be considered a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The hazing count would be a class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail.

The attempted forcible sex abuse count the teen entered an admission to Wednesday would be a third-degree felony, if he were an adult, which would be punishable by up to five years in prison.

In addition to receiving time in detention, the teen was placed on probation until released by the court, ordered to serve 188 hours of community service and complete counseling. He does not have to register as a sex offender.

E-mail: geoff@ubstandard.com

Twitter: GeoffLiesik