ST. GEORGE — Trial has been scheduled for a local man who pleaded not guilty to charges that he entered the home of a 65-year-old woman and sexually assaulted her.
David Joseph Diaz Vega, 28, of St. George, appeared Wednesday in 5th District Court to enter a plea on three charges: forcible sex abuse and burglary of a dwelling, both second-degree felonies as well as misdemeanor intoxication. The case is scheduled for a two-day trial Oct. 28-29.
The charges stem from an incident reported Oct. 14, 2018, in which Diaz Vega allegedly entered the home of an acquaintance through an unlocked door without permission.
He then sat down in the middle of the living room floor and took off his shoes and shirt before kissing the woman and sexually touching her, according to police.
Read more: Man accused of sexually assaulting 65-year-old after illegally entering home
Diaz Vega went outside to charge his cell phone on the porch, but went back inside where he started kissing and touching the woman in a sexual way and then walked into the woman’s bedroom and laid down on her bed, which is where Hurricane Police officers found him smelling strongly of alcohol, according to the probable cause statement filed in support of his arrest.
Six months prior, Diaz Vega was arrested March 20, 2018, after he allegedly struck an individual in the head during an altercation involving an eviction, according to court records. The homeowner told police she was in the process of evicting Diaz-Vega when an argument ensued, and when the homeowner’s friend tried to intervene, the defendant allegedly struck the friend in the head with a cooking pot.
Read more: Police: Washington City man arrested after striking man in head with cooking pot
Diaz Vega pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault eight days later and on March 28, 2018, he was sentenced to 24 months of probation and fined $1,043. His probation was revoked after his October arrest.
This report is based on statements from 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.
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