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RIVERTON — A man associated with a facility in Riverton that houses juvenile girls has been arrested and accused of raping one of the residents multiple times.
The investigation was ongoing Wednesday. Detectives say they fear there could be additional victims.
Kenneth James Vester, 48, of South Jordan, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Tuesday night for investigation of four counts of rape.
The victim is a 15-year-old girl at a “facility which holds female youth” in Riverton, according to a police affidavit. It did not name the facility nor Vester’s position with the facility.
Vester took the girl to an orthodontist appointment in February, and afterward took her to a nearby park and raped her, the affidavit states.
“Kenneth had threatened her to not tell anyone at the facility, nor her therapist,” the girl later told police, according to the affidavit.
In March, the girl said she was feeling sick and Vester was going to give her ear drops and a heating pad, but raped her in her room, according to police.
Four days later, the girl “stated she had a court date and wanted her mother to take her to court. (She) said Kenneth was upset and told the other staff he would be taking (her) to court (alone),” police wrote.
After court, Vester took the girl to a park and kissed her, according to police. She was sexually assaulted again at the park five days after that, the affidavit says, and again at the end of March.
“(The girl) said Kenneth would take her out to parks a lot, and would always be alone. (She) said Kenneth had sex with her almost every time he would take her to a park,” the affidavit states. She also said “she was constantly threatened by Kenneth if she was to say anything to anyone.”
Detectives went through hours of surveillance video as part of their investigation and “have seen an inappropriate relationship between Kenneth and the victim. Kenneth is seen multiple times for several months following the victim into her bedroom, the bathroom, laundry room, and other areas of the home. Each time, Kenneth and the victim were alone,” police wrote in the report.
Vester also bought the girl a “promise ring” as well as a Fitbit, which he used to track the girl with the GPS device installed in it, the affidavit states, and gave her a pair of his underwear and multiple shirts.
“In speaking with other occupants of the home, it appears Kenneth has attempted to groom other juvenile females,” the affidavit says.
Riverton police did not comment on the case Wednesday, saying it is still an ongoing investigation.
- The 24/7 Utah Rape & Sexual Assault Crisis Line is 1-888-421-1100. This free hotline is available 24/7.
- The Utah Domestic Violence Link Line is 1-800-897-LINK (5465). This free hotline is available 24/7.
- The National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1-800-656-4673. This free hotline is available 24/7.
- A list of local and statewide Utah Rape Crisis Programs can be found here.
- Resources for survivors of sexual assault can be found on the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s website.
- A list of warning signs for an unhealthy or abusive relationship can be found on breakthecycle.com.
- Resources for teen dating violence victims and prevention can be found on teendvmonth.org.
- National and local resources for victims, families and educators can be found on The National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.
