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LOGAN — A social worker assigned to work with students in Cache Valley has been arrested for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl.
Donavan D. Faucette, 34, of Hyrum, was arrested about 2 a.m. Monday. Later in the afternoon, he was officially charged in 1st District Court with two counts of forcible sodomy, rape and object rape, all first-degree felonies.
Faucette is a clinical social worker who had worked for Bear River Mental Health for about seven years. On Sunday, Faucette called his boss to resign, said Bear River Mental Health CEO Reed Ernstrom.
"He called in to his clinical supervisor last night … around 9:30 p.m. And he resigned his position at Bear River Mental Health. I think as the supervisor inquired as to what was going on, he revealed something and then the clinical supervisor immediately called the police and Mr. Faucette was arrested," he said.
Ernstrom said Faucette indicated the alleged illegal activity was recent. Charging documents indicate the alleged incident happened Friday. He did not know what prompted Faucette to call his supervisor Sunday and allegedly confess.
Faucette worked in both Cache Valley and Rich County, providing therapy for students. Most of his therapy sessions were at the individual schools, Ernstrom said. It was not immediately known Monday how many students Faucette saw.
The Cache County School District said Monday that Faucette worked in the elementary school level up to fifth grade. The girl in this case did not go to any of the schools to which Faucette was assigned.
The Cache County Sheriff's Office said the girl was a client of Faucette's, but it was unknown Monday whether she met him through the school or elsewhere.
"I'm shocked at hearing the news, and I'm sure the sheriff's department will do a thorough investigation," Ernstrom said. "It's tragic. It's tragic all the way around. It's horrible. And I can't think of anything good that will come of this."
Contributing: Sandra Yi
