Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO — A 65-year-old Springville man accused of forcing two teenage girls to have sex with multiple men in his home appeared in court Tuesday to face 27 separate criminal charges.
Kenneth Michael Bond appeared via video from the Utah County Jail after refusing to go to court, records state. He is charged with 20 counts of object rape, a first-degree felony, two counts of aggravated exploitation of a prostitute, a second-degree felony, and five counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a third-degree felony.
Anything of this gravity that occurs in Utah County … requires a swift and confident position from our office on getting someone like this off the streets.
–- Craig Johnson
Prosecutor Craig Johnson said the man met the girls, ages 15 and 16, in his Springville neighborhood after they did some yard work for him. Eventually, Bond forced them to engage in non-consensual sex acts with him and at least three other men, Johnson said.
"(Bond) groomed them to a position where he could take advantage of their naivete," Johnson said. "He offered them iPhones and paid for their data plans. He also threatened them and their families."
The charges filed in 4th District Court involve incidents beginning in January and ending in July. Bond is currently being held on a $75,000 cash bond.
"We're very concerned and take seriously these allegations," Johnson said. "Anything of this gravity that occurs in Utah County … requires a swift and confident position from our office on getting someone like this off the streets."
He asked that any other potential victims contact the Springville Police Department. In the meantime, he hopes the girls Bond is accused of abusing can heal.
"We're hopeful the victims can engage in counseling and move on and recover and be able to have productive lives," Johnson said.
Email:emorgan@ksl.com
