- Robert Friedrich Rhien, 41, faces charges of aggravated kidnapping and forcible sexual abuse.
- Rhien allegedly lured a woman with a babysitting ad then assaulted her.
- Two other women reported similar experiences after responding to Rhien's ads.
AMERICAN FORK — A Utah County man is accused of luring a woman to his home by placing an ad for a babysitter and then sexually abusing her.
Robert Friedrich Rhien, 41, of American Fork, was charged Monday in 4th District Court with aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony, and forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.
On July 31, a woman responded to an online ad for a babysitting job. Rhien called the woman and asked her to come meet the 13-month-old child she would allegedly be caring for, according to charging documents.
But when the woman arrived at the house and was invited inside, Rhien "asked her to 'change his diaper.' (She) told the male that she would not do that because she does not take care of grown men," the charges state.
Rhien then inappropriately touched the woman and forced her into a back room of the house.
"While being prevented from leaving the room, (the woman) was able to text a friend telling her to call her because she could not leave freely and felt unsafe to do so. (The woman's) friend called (her) phone and Robert froze and finally let go of (her) arm," the charges state. "Once Robert let go over (her) arm, (she) ran out of the house and ran to her vehicle."
When police questioned Rhien, he allegedly claimed he was lonely and "stated that he may have gone too far with some things and that he had been trying to be better. (He) stated he had been asking women to come over and spend time with him as in a 'friendly just hang out manner and then sometimes he pushes it too far,'" according to charging documents.
Investigators say they have received reports from at least two other women who say they were invited to Rhien's residence and were told to come alone, after responding to a babysitting ad, the charges state.
