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ST. GEORGE — A St. George man accused of forcing a 20-year-old woman with Down syndrome into a trailer and touching her sexually is facing charges.
Rodney Ben Trujillo, 48, was charged Tuesday in 5th District Court with aggravated kidnapping and forcible sodomy, both first-degree felonies, as well as forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.
In court documents, St. George police officer John Manzer said he went to Dixie Regional Medical Center to talk to the woman. She said Trujillo had forced her into a travel trailer and ordered her to perform sexual acts, according to Manzer.
Trujillo knew the woman and the woman's mother, according to St. George Police Sgt. Spencer Holmes.
"The victim's mother allowed (Trujillo) to stay on her property, and that's where the crime occured," Holmes said.
According to court documents, Manzer located Trujillo sleeping in a vehicle in the 1700 East block of 200 North.
Trujillo told Manzer that he went with the woman into his trailer, where they watched pornography and "engaged in sexual touching," the charges state. Trujillo said he knew the victim had Down syndrome, according to Manzer.
Trujillo also told Manzer he hid the woman from family and friends who were searching for her and told her not to tell them about the incident, charges state.
Daphne Chen is a reporter for the Deseret News and KSL.com. Contact her at dchen@deseretnews.com.
