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SALT LAKE CITY — A former Box Elder County sheriff's deputy now faces federal charges related to allegations that he illegally strip-searched women at traffic stops.
Scott R. Womack, 36, was charged in U.S. District Court with eight misdemeanor counts of deprivation of rights under color of law. Each count carries a sentence of up to one year in prison.
Womack pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday. A judge ordered him to surrender his passport, not have any contact with the victims and scheduled a five-day trial starting June 25.
Womack, of Brigham City, appeared in state court earlier this month where he faces six counts of official misconduct, three counts of attempted custodial sexual misconduct, lewdness and unlawful detention, all class B misdemeanors. He also is charged with custodial misconduct of a minor, a third-degree felony.
Two women, Tamsen Reid and Talia S. Buck, have filed federal civil lawsuits, alleging he illegally strip-searched them after pulling them over in Box Elder County on Nov. 20, 2010, and Nov. 26, 2010, respectively. Reid was 17 at the time of the alleged incident.
According to Buck's suit, several women complained to the Box Elder County Sheriff's Office with similar stories. Buck says she called the office the day after and was told, "I don't think officer Womack is that type of person."
Womack quit the sheriff's office in March 2011.
