Pleasant Grove Man Found of 10 Counts of Sexual Abuse

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    By Jacquelyn Springgay

    Last year, Jesus Partida, a former employee at Heritage Care Center in American Fork, was charged with four counts of forcible sodomy and 10 counts of forcible sex abuse that occurred between 2003 and 2005.

    On Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006, a jury found Partida guilty of all 15 counts in a two-day trial.

    In July 2005, Partida turned himself in for the sexual abuse, but later claimed he made up his confession to prompt a divorce.

    He also allegedly made up the abuse “because he thought the [offenses] would be misdemeanors, and he would be on his way,” said Joseph Jardine, Partida”s attorney, at the trial on Thursday.

    Forcible sodomy is when a person engages in any sexual act with a person who is 14 years of age or older involving the genitals of one person and mouth or anus of another person, regardless of the sex of either participant, Judge Steven Hansen explained to jurors at Partida”s jury trial.

    Forcible sex abuse is defined as sexual abuse of a person who is 14 years of age or older and takes indecent liberties with another person “with the intent to cause substantial emotional or bodily pain to any person or with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, without the consent of the other, regardless of the sex of any participant,” according to Utah Code.

    Partida will be sentenced on Nov. 28, 2006 at 8:30 am in front of Judge Hansen in the 4th District Court in Provo.

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