Estimated read time: 2-3 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
SALT LAKE CITY — A 22-year old Kearns man is in police custody accused of robbing and sexually assaulting several women at automated teller machines across Salt Lake County over a four-month span.
Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder said the suspect is believed "to be responsible for 16 to 19 separate incidences."
"Theses were violent attacks on our citizens," Winder said. Authorities arrested Helaman Jose Pragana for investigation of several aggravated felony charges in connection with "a string of violent sexual assaults and robberies that have occurred in a minimum of four jurisdictions," Winder said.
Pragana was booked Wednesday into the Salt Lake County jail where he awaits formal charges.
Winder said the perpetrator would approach mostly women in vulnerable conditions at ATM's or gas stations, abduct them, rob them and "then terrorizing them after the assault hoping they would not contact law enforcement."
Winder said the perpetrator began his attacks in April, committing primarily robberies — sometimes targeting men — but the alleged crimes eventually escalated and became more violent and more focused on women.
"This individual became (emboldened) as these crimes went on," Winder said. "Had this gone unchecked, we might have seen even more heinous actions on his part."
He said the perpetrator allegedly started out committing crimes of opportunity and increased this level of violence when he realized he could get away with terrorizing and assaulting female victims.
Winder said investigators were able to track the suspect using "very unique" forensic evidence, luck and "some good old gumshoe leather." Pragana was arrested in a joint effort that included the Unified Police Department, Taylorsville Police and the U.S. Marshal Service.
Taylorsville Police Chief Del Craig said the alleged victims were typically accosted at night and threatened with a handgun, then ordered to take money from their accounts. When the alleged crimes became more violent, the female victims were also assaulted, he said.
Despite the number of crimes committed from April to August, police had a tough time getting a fix on a suspect.
"He certainly used the element of surprise and the cover of darkness as a means of concealing his identity," Craig said.
With the arrest, investigators hope other victims may come forward, strengthening their case.
Authorities said Pragana has a prior arrest for robbery in 2004.
----
Written by Jasen Lee with contributions from Lori Prichard
