Ute Tribe guard faces sex charges

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jun 23, 2009 | by Geoff Liesik

FORT DUCHESNE, Uintah County -- A security guard for the Ute Tribe's housing department has been charged in U.S. District Court with sexually assaulting a woman on two occasions -- once at gunpoint.

Roger Uinta Reed, 31, is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse while within Indian country.

According to a federal complaint, Reed met his alleged victim while investigating a vandalism complaint in May at the home of one of her relatives. The woman told authorities that after the initial meeting, Reed began following her around and would drive by her house several times a day. He also asked her on a date, she said, but was turned down.

"Reed would ask (the woman) personal questions and knew information about (her) family," the complaint states.

The woman told investigators she was leaving a family member's home on June 10 at about 9 p.m. and encountered Reed outside the residence. She said she tried to re-enter the home, but Reed stopped her, dragged her behind the home, forced her to the ground and sexually assaulted her.

The woman was able to break free and run home, the complaint states. She did not report the alleged assault.

Reed is accused of sexually assaulting the woman again on June 13. The complaint states that the alleged assault took place in the woman's home while her boyfriend slept on the couch and her children played in another room.

The woman told authorities she encountered Reed as she walked down a hallway toward her kitchen. He had a handgun, she said, and pointed it her head.

"Reed began to tell (the victim) that it would be a shame if her children got hurt," the complaint states. "Reed then told her not to yell and threw her to the ground."

The woman said Reed began to sexually assault her and she tried to fight him off. She said she stopped fighting after he told her "a sleeping person would make an easy target, referring to her boyfriend asleep in the other room," the complaint states.

The woman reported the second incident to her boyfriend the following day, according to investigators. Her children told authorities they saw Reed enter the home through an open door on the night of the alleged assault.

On Friday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Samuel Alba ordered Reed to be held in federal custody pending trial. His next court date has not yet been scheduled. He faces up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count if convicted.

A message for Ute Tribe Business Committee Chairman Curtis Cesspooch seeking information about Reed's employment was not returned.

E-MAIL: geoff@ubstandard.com