Man charged after victim reports being sexually assaulted in 2010

Johnathan Paul Shurts | Bonneville County Jail IDAHO FALLS — A 48-year-old man was arrested after a victim told police she was molested at her babysitter’s house in 2010 and 2011. Johnathan Paul Shurts is charged with felony lewd conduct with a child under 16 and felony child sexual abuse of a minor under 16. In a statement to EastIdahoNews.com, Shurts asserted his innocence in the case. “I am pleading innocent of all charges, he said. “I have retained attorney Curtis Smith, and these charges are unproven. It came out of nowhere, and I’d ask you to please reserve judgment until this is resolved.” According to court documents, a 19-year-old woman reported to a Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputy on Dec. 21 that she had been molested by a man at her babysitter’s house when she was four and five years old. Shurts was not the babysitter but lived in the home. During an interview at the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center, the victim reported that Shurts would force her to touch him inappropriately, and would also touch her inappropriately. Shurts allegedly also showed her sex toys in the home. “I kinda just kept it a secret my whole (life) because I didn’t want to ruin anyone’s life,” the victim said during the interview. “(It) hurt me so bad, so I was like I’ll just deal with it on my own.” The victim says the abuse would occur whenever the babysitter was not in the room. According to the victim, she recently came home from college for Christmas and saw Shurts at church. She then told a relative about the abuse. Court records say that during the investigation, the DVSAC worker found that Shurts had multiple previous reports to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s office regarding alleged inappropriate touching of minors. In one case, two young girls, ages 14 and 15, reported that Shurts had “sexual contact with each of them.” The report stated that Shurts would grope the 15-year-old when she was between the ages of 8 and 10 years old. The 14-year-old reported that Shurts “fondled” her in inappropriate areas between the ages of 6 and 10 years old. Police reports say Shurts would not provide a statement to detectives in this case, and “prosecution was declined.” On Jan. 17, deputies went to Shurts’ home and explained the allegations, asking him if he would give a statement or participate in an interview. Shurts reportedly stated he “did not know what to say” and then asked who made the claims. The deputy told him he was just there to find out if Shurts would speak about the case or if he wanted to contact an attorney. Shurts asked, “Are they pressing charges?” and said, “Oh, gee. This caught me off guard.” He then told the deputy he wanted to speak to a relative who works as a deputy at the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office. Court records say that Shurts did not deny the allegations during the conversation with the deputy. The deputy returned to Shurts’ home on Jan. 22 to follow up, and Shurts stated he had contacted John Malek as his attorney. On Feb. 13, the deputy met with Malek, who scheduled a “tentative meeting with Shurts” for Feb. 21 to discuss the case, and for Shurts to give a statement and potentially be interviewed. On Feb. 20, the deputy received a call from Malek confirming the next day’s meeting. On Feb. 21, Malek contacted the deputy to say that Shurts had told him he “didn’t feel comfortable meeting.” Police records say Malek encouraged Shurts to meet with him and the deputy, but he declined. A warrant for Shurts’ arrest was issued on March 13, and he was booked into the Bonneville County Jail on a $150,000 bond. He posted bail and was released on the same day. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is expected to appear for a jury trial on July 29. Shurts could face up to life in prison and over $100,000 in fines if convicted. Though Shurts has been charged with these crimes, this does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. “I am pleading innocent of all charges, and I have retained Curtis Smith, and these charges are unproven, and it came out of nowwhere. Pease reserve judgement until this is resolved.” The post Man charged after victim reports being sexually assaulted in 2010 appeared first on East Idaho News.
Source: eastidahonews.com