ST. GEORGE — A Hurricane teen accused of sexually assaulting an underaged girl during a high school rodeo event in Heber City in May appeared in 4th District Court in Wasatch County last week.
Traylen Alexander Young, 19, was formally charged with two first-degree felonies, including object rape and aggravated kidnapping, along with a second-degree felony count of forcible sexual abuse, according to charging documents filed by the Wasatch County Attorney’s Office on June 1.
Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office investigators responded to a report alleging that a teenage girl was sexually assaulted in Heber City on May 5 during the Utah State High School Rodeo Finals, the affidavit alleges.
The reporting party told investigators she and a group of friends had gone to the Wasatch County Event Center to attend the rodeo and dance that followed the competition.
She said she had talked to Young earlier that evening at the arena. Shortly thereafter, she said that Young was holding onto her arm as he led her out of the practice arena into a hallway that ran alongside the arena where the dance was taking place. He then pulled the teen into a nearby bathroom, where he locked the door behind him and proceeded to sexually assault her, according to the police report.
The complainant said she was able to fight off the suspect and once she broke free, she said she ran from the bathroom.
After the suspect was identified, investigators arranged to speak to Young at the Hurricane Police Department on May 31, during which Young initially denied touching anyone and claimed that nothing had happened. When investigators asked Young why anyone would say that, he reportedly told police that he “has been accused in the past from girls,” the deputy noted in the report.
Police say Young later admitted to kissing the girl while in the bathroom but said that nothing else happened. When investigators inquired as to why he initially denied anything happened, Young said it was because he was a bull rider and “he was afraid and has a lot to lose,” the affidavit states.
Following the interview, Young was arrested and booked into the Wasatch County Jail on the afternoon of May 31. He made an initial appearance in 4th District Court in Heber via video two days later and bail was set at $10,000. Young was released from custody three days later after posting a bond.
The case has been scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 27 in Heber City.
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
St. George News reporter Nick Yamashita contributed to this report.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.