Police arrest, charge Southern Utah man accused of allegedly molesting 2 young children

Composite image with background stock photo by Artas/iStock/Getty Images Plus, overlay stock photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News

ST. GEORGE —A local man is in jail facing first-degree felony charges following an investigation into a report that he sexually abused two children – abuse that reportedly took place in Salt Lake City and in St. George.

Stock image | Photo by Glenn Highcove/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

The initial investigation began in June when St. George Police detectives were tasked with investigating a report of sexual abuse involving 46-year-old Reyes Miramontes Guzman. 

According to the probable cause statement filed Monday, detectives learned through several forensic interviews with the young victim that Guzman reportedly sexually abused the little girl, who was 6 years old at the time,  multiple times over the course of three years.

The report also states the abuse involved inappropriate touching and other sexual acts that caused the child to freeze while the abuse was taking place. During one such incident, police say, the youngster was trapped in a corner while the suspect reportedly molested her, and when she started to cry, the suspect told her to go into the bathroom and “wipe off her face so the others wouldn’t know she was crying,” the officer noted in the report.

The child’s account was also supported by information gathered by detectives during the months-long investigation that ultimately led detectives to a second victim, who is now an adult and reportedly was molested by Guzman while the child was living in the Salt Lake City area.

Through a series of interviews, officers learned the abuse started when the child was 3 years old – abuse that reportedly involved inappropriate touching and other sexual acts.

The report also states the molestation occurred in Salt Lake City as well as in St. George, and officers also learned that at some point, the suspect had been confronted by a relative with allegations of the sexual abuse of one of the children.

During an interview at the police department, Guzman admitted to knowing the victims and confirmed that he lived in Salt Lake City and in St. George, information that was consistent with what officers had learned during the many interviews conducted since June.

When the suspect was asked if there was a confrontation several years ago regarding allegations that Guzman was sexually abusing a child, the suspect reportedly confirmed that a confrontation had taken place, but denied ever touching either child.

According to police, the suspect told officers the allegations were “basically made up.”

Detectives met with the Washington County Attorney’s Office to review the case, and shortly thereafter they notified Guzman of his pending arrest.

On Monday, the suspect arrived at the St. George Police Department and turned himself in to police. He was subsequently transported Tuesday to Purgatory Correctional Facility and now faces six charges of first-degree felony sexual abuse of a child.

The defendant remains in custody on $100,000 bail.

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.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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