Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- A Midvale man faces charges for assaulting a pregnant teen 'spouse'.
- The 29-year-old allegedly abused a 17-year-old, whom he 'married' religiously.
- The marriage is not legally recognized; the teen reported daily sexual abuse.
MIDVALE — Criminal charges have been filed against a 29-year-old Midvale man accused of sexually assaulting and beating a pregnant teenager to whom he was allegedly "married."
The man was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with four counts of unlawful sexual conduct, a third-degree felony, and assault of a pregnant woman, a class A misdemeanor. KSL.com is not naming the man to protect the identity of the victim.
The investigation began on May 13 when a 17-year-old girl, who is six weeks pregnant, reported being assaulted by a 29-year-old man. The girl lives with the man "as a religious spouse," according to a police booking affidavit.
The girl, who is still in high school, "disclosed she had been in an arranged marriage since January 2024, when she was just shy of her 16th birthday," the affidavit states. However, Unified police stated in the arrest report that "the marriage was completed through the Muslim religion but is not a legally recognized marriage."
The girl revealed that she started having sexual intercourse with the man daily after they were "married."
On the night of May 12, the two got into an argument, and the man "lunged at her and started hitting and kicking her. The victim believes she was hit and kicked by (him) at least 40-50 times," according to the affidavit.
Police noted the girl had a "large golf ball-sized" bump on the side of her head and bruises on her forearms.
When the man was questioned by police, he "made no mention of having a current spouse or girlfriend," the affidavit states.
He was taken into custody after being questioned.
Charging documents filed by the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office state the teen and man live together and she is pregnant with his child, but make no mention of them being married.
"The victim reported she and the defendant have been in a sexual relationship since she was 15. The defendant was a trusted adult to this victim. However, he took advantage of her age and vulnerability," the charges state.
