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SALT LAKE CITY — A former Wasatch County jailer faces federal charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a female inmate.
Christopher Stein Epperson, 33, is charged with three counts of deprivation of rights under color of law. Color of law means that the person is using lawful authority bestowed by a local, state, or federal government agency.
Epperson, of Heber City, was a deputy sheriff assigned to the Utah Department of Corrections as a jail guard when the alleged incidents occurred.
According to the indictment issued Wednesday, Epperson attempted to commit or committed aggravated sexual assault twice and touched her through her clothing another time in December 2009.
Epperson was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon and is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court on Thursday.
The alleged victim, Julie Hoggan, filed a civil lawsuit against Epperson in federal court in December 2010.
Her suit contends Epperson began making inappropriate comments to her in November 2009. "He overtly flirted with her by smiling and winking at her," the suit says.
In December of that year, he ordered her to bare her breasts so he could photograph them, according to the lawsuit. He also showed her photos of his genitalia.
Hoggan alleges Epperson backed her into a corner where he groped her and forced her to fondle him. On one occasion, the suit claims, he attempted to forcibly sodomize her.
Epperson denied the allegations in a response to the civil lawsuit.
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