Solicited beating gets teen 4 years

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jun 25, 2009 | by Geoff Liesik

VERNAL -- A pregnant teenager who paid a man to beat her in an effort to miscarry her baby will spend up to four years in state custody.

Eighth District Juvenile Court Judge Larry Steele ordered the 17- year-old held in secure confinement until she is 21 after she pleaded no contest Tuesday to second-degree felony criminal solicitation to commit murder.

The girl initially faced the same charge as a first-degree felony.

"In considering a disposition, the court must not only think of the minor, but must think of the safety of the unborn child," Steele wrote in his order. "To proceed with customary efforts to keep the minor out of the custody of the state endangers the life of the unborn child."

The teen could be released from state custody before she turns 21 and placed on parole.

In addition to confinement, Steele ordered the girl - now eight months pregnant - to undergo a psychological evaluation and possibly a psychiatric assessment if needed and attend any counseling recommended. She will also be required to perform 188 hours of community service by Dec. 23 and attend prenatal and parenting classes.

Court records indicate that the state will seek to remove the teen's baby from her once it is born.

According to police, the girl paid a stranger $150 to hit her repeatedly in the stomach on May 20. She told authorities her boyfriend threatened to end their relationship if she did not end her pregnancy.

The teen said she was distraught and planned to hitchhike to Florida when she encountered Arron Nathanael Harrison while walking down the street. She said she asked the 21-year-old "if he believed in God." Investigators said she then asked Harrison to help her "terminate her baby," and he allegedly agreed to do so.

The pair went to Harrison's apartment, where court records state the girl lay on his bed and then asked Harrison to turn off the lights so she wouldn't see him punch her.

"According to (the girl), Arron punched her in the stomach about five times, slapped her on her face and bit her on the neck," court records state. "(The girl) stated that she wanted (it) to look like an accident or that she got assaulted."

Harrison has been charged with attempted murder, a second-degree felony. A preliminary hearing in his case had been scheduled for Wednesday, but has been postponed until July 7.

Harrison, who also has burglary and theft charges pending in an unrelated case, remains in the Uintah County Jail.

E-MAIL: geoff@ubstandard.com