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SALT LAKE CITY — A man accused of befriending a 13-year-old girl at the homeless shelter has been charged with raping her and having her help him sell drugs.
Christopher Jackson, 28, was charged in 3rd District Court Tuesday with rape of a child, a first-degree felony; unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a third-degree felony; and two counts of endangerment of a child, a third-degree felony.
A 13-year-old girl told police that in 2016 she began "dating" Jackson while both were staying at the Salt Lake homeless shelter. Jackson raped her at least twice and the two smoked meth and spice together, according to charging documents.
When she turned 14, the girl also helped Jackson sell drugs, the charges state.
"She would roll spice cigarettes, hold the drugs and collect the money," according to the charges.
Jackson currently has three unrelated cases involving drug possession charges, court records state.
Salt Lake County leaders recently announced plans to have families out of the Rio Grande shelter by July 15 by steering them into rapid rehousing or other homelessness prevention programs.
