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WEST JORDAN — A man convicted of forcible sexual abuse while working as an unlicensed marriage counselor will wait for his sentence after prosecutors decided to retry one of the charges in the case.
Arturo Tenorio, 59, was convicted on one second-degree felony forcible sex abuse charge in connection with allegations that he inappropriately touched a woman he was counseling, but a mistrial was declared on a second, identical count following a jury trial in 3rd District Court. The jury deadlocked on that count and could not reach a verdict.
Tuesday, prosecutors told Judge Bruce Lubeck that they intend to retry that count. The woman who claimed she was abused is apparently willing to testify again and a two-day trial was set to begin Jan. 23.
"What the jury does on the count would inform me on what the correct sentence is," the judge said in deciding to wait on sentencing Tenorio. "That may alter what I do in this case."
Related:
Marriage counselor convicted on 1 count of sex abuse
A jury Friday found a marriage counselor guilty of inappropriately touching a woman he was counseling but could not reach a decision on his actions in relation to a second woman who leveled similar accusations.During Tenorio's August trial, two women took the stand and each said they were referred to Tenorio by their LDS bishop. They said Tenorio presented himself as a marriage counselor who could be trusted, though he was not licensed.
They testified that during one-on-one counseling sessions, Tenorio focused on the sexual relationships of the women with their spouses and eventually touched them inappropriately.
Defense attorneys contended that it was an issue of consent and that while Tenorio's actions may have been morally questionable, they weren't criminal. A jury disagreed in the case of one of the women and now a new jury will hear allegations in the case that was not resolved.
Brandon Simmons, an attorney with the Utah Crime Victim's Legal Clinic, said Tuesday two additional women have come forward alleging "similar crimes" against Tenorio. He said those cases are currently under investigation by the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office. No additional charges have been filed.
