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CEDAR CITY — A man in southern Utah was arrested Monday and accused of sexually assaulting a woman, and police believe there are additional victims.
Lehi Rulon Jeffs, 20, was booked into the the Iron County Jail for investigation of forcible sodomy, sexual battery, assault, lewdness and object rape.
On Feb. 4, a woman reported an assault to Cedar City police. On Feb. 7, detectives conducted a follow-up investigation during which she recounted being sexually assaulted.
"The victim described her actions and responses during the event as freezing up. The victim did not give consent to any of the actions or say 'no.' The victim also did not cooperate, but stayed still for the events," a police booking affidavit states.
The woman also brought two others to the interview who claim they were also sexually assaulted.
"I was told about other similar events that happened, but in a neighboring jurisdiction. Due to the events not occurring in my jurisdiction, I cannot add those charges in this probable cause statement. I do feel it is necessary to add that these victims all had similar stories and events happen to them. I was also told that Lehi never asked for their permission. The victims told me that they and Lehi had grown up in a culture they identified as (Fundamentalist LDS)," the arresting officer wrote in the affidavit.
"The victims explained to me that in that culture, women are not supposed to tell men 'no' or go against them. They also explained to me that growing up they are not taught about anything sexual so they did not know what was going on when Lehi started assaulting them. I was told that Lehi uses this against the women he does this to, as they don't know what to do or to tell him 'no,'" the affidavit alleges.
When questioned, Jeffs told police that sexual acts with the woman were consensual, according to the affidavit. But when police seized his cellphone and searched it, "I found Lehi having a conversation with another female, saying he had to get out of the country before charges were filed against him.
"Lehi has told multiple people that he is looking to flee the country due to these charges. I also have pictures of text messages to prove this," the arrest report continues. "There are also other charges from similar cases with other agencies with the same and different victims that are still being investigated, including victims that were under the age of 18 at the time of the crime."
Police say in the search of Jeff's phone, "he goes into detail about kidnapping a female and then fleeing the country through the mountain borders to Canada. I also found a conversation on the phone of Lehi saying he could pay people off," according to the affidavit. The arresting officer also noted that based on interviews with the alleged victims, "there is another victim, but she may not come forward as Lehi sends her money. I did find evidence of Lehi sending this woman money electronically."
