Lindon man charged with sexually assaulting young girl while doing home remodeling project

WEST JORDAN — A Lindon man was charged Tuesday with sexually abusing a young girl while working a construction job in Salt Lake County.

Jaime Arturo Bernal, 51, is charged in 3rd District Court with two counts of sodomy on a child and object rape of a child, first-degree felonies; and sexual abuse of a child, a second-degree felony.

Last June, Bernal was "assisting with a remodel of the victim's home" when he "forced the victim into a bathroom and sexually assaulted her. (Bernal) works in construction and has access to children all over the valley, making him a danger to this community," according to charging documents.

The victim was under the age of 13 at the time and "operates intellectually as a 7-year-old," the charges state.

The incident was reported to police after the girl's mother found a video on her daughter's phone in which she recorded herself "talking about a guy she met that likes her," and then talking about inappropriate touching, the charges say.

A warrant was issued Tuesday for Bernal's arrest.

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