St. George man could face 25 years in prison for having sex with teen

Stock image | St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A 29-year-old St. George man is facing five felony charges, each carrying a sentence of up to five years in prison, Monday after allegedly admitting to having an unlawful sexual relationship with a teenage girl.

Marcus David Worley, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Jan. 4, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News
Marcus David Worley, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Jan. 4, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s booking, St. George News

Detectives went to the Washington County 5th District Court House Monday to assist with a sex offense report, according to a probable cause statement filed by the St. George Police Department in support of the arrest.

Upon arrival, they met with a female who reported she had sexual intercourse or participated in sexual activity with Marcus David Worley on five separate occasions, the statement read. She additionally told police she was between the ages of 15 and 18 when the incidents occurred.

During an interview with detectives, Worley allegedly admitted to having sexual intercourse with the teen while she was under the Utah legal age of consent, according to the report.

“Marcus also admitted that he knew that it was a crime to have sex with (the teen),” the arresting detective wrote in the statement, “and also admitted to knowing her age at the time as well.”

There is no indication in court documents that the teen was an unwilling participant in the sexual activity.

Worley was arrested and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility.

He was charged with four third-degree felony counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a 16- or 17-year-old, along with a third-degree felony count of unlawful sex activity with a minor.

In Utah, each third-degree felony charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine. Thus, if convicted, Worley potentially faces up to 25 years in prison, along with a $25,000 fine.

Judge G. Michael Westfall, of the 5th District Court, ordered $10,000 bail for Worley’s release pending trial.

He was found indigent by the court during his initial court appearance Tuesday and will be represented by court-appointed attorney Jay Winward. He is scheduled to make his next court appearance Jan. 11.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

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5 Comments

  • 42214 January 5, 2016 at 6:35 pm

    I’m confused, I thought this was called a honeymoon in Utah.

  • .... January 5, 2016 at 10:22 pm

    It is if you belong to the local cult

  • htown January 6, 2016 at 1:23 pm

    Any relation to the “Title” lady that seduce a couple of teenage boys last year?

    Whatever happened to her?

  • sagemoon January 6, 2016 at 2:54 pm

    What a creep. And not a smart man, either.

  • .... January 6, 2016 at 6:04 pm

    She became one of the Apostles

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