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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
OREM — A man is in jail after police say he sexually abused a 10-year-old girl in a pool at the Orem Recreation Center this week.
Demetrio Avelino Siruno, 38, of Lehi, was arrested Wednesday evening for investigation of three counts of sexual abuse of a minor.
Around 8 p.m. Wednesday, Siruno "inappropriately touched a 10-year-old victim on the outside of her swimming suit" at the recreation center, Orem Police Lt. Craig Martinez said.
The girl was swimming in an area of the pool known as the "lazy river," Martinez said. The incident was reported right away, he added.
"The little girl immediately went over to her mom, told her mom, (and) her mom immediately went over to one of the lifeguards," Martinez said.
The lifeguard then informed other employees at the pool "so they could all keep an eye" on Siruno while one of them called police, he said.
Martinez praised the girl for reporting the alleged abuse right away.
"We're always concerned … that kids are afraid or too scared to come forward, even to their parents," he said. "But fortunately, this young girl has been taught well and has a good enough relationship with her parents that she knows she can go to them when something like this occurs."
Siruno requested to confer with a lawyer rather than address the allegations directly with police, Martinez said.
There have been no indications that there are additional victims in the case, according to Martinez.
Siruno was convicted of impaired driving in May 2015 and pleaded guilty to DUI in 1997 and 1999, Utah court records show. He pleaded no contest to DUI in 1996. He was charged with electronic communication harassment, giving false information to law enforcement, and making a threat of violence in a 2012 case, but those charges were later dismissed.
Siruno's criminal history also includes convictions for criminal trespass, interfering with arrest, retail theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Contributing: Marc Giauque
