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In Utah, a
victim of a sexual assault by a police officer could easily find
herself convicted of a felony unless she submits with docility to
whatever the armed predator is willing to inflict on her. On the
other hand, if the officer is exposed as a sex offender, it’s
quite likely that he would face misdemeanor charges. This is illustrated
by the case of former Box Elder County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott
Womack, who is facing multiple lawsuits and criminal charges
involving illegal strip-searches of young women conducted during
traffic stops over a period of about two years.
In February,
Womack
pleaded no contest to three counts of attempted custodial misconduct
– which is a misdemeanor offense. In exchange for Womack’s
plea, county prosecutors dropped nine additional charges –
all of them misdemeanors, as well.
Under the plea
bargain agreement, Womack’s name would not be permanently
inscribed in the sex offender registry – despite the fact
that his acts are, by definition, those of a violent sex offender.
Since the charges against him are misdemeanors, Womack would eventually
be eligible for the restoration of his peace officer certification.
Womack
does face federal criminal charges and federal lawsuits filed
by three of his victims, but it’s likely that most, if not
all, of the trouble he faces would be made to disappear once the
first state case against him is closed.
In Utah, a
victim of a sexual assault by a police officer could easily find
herself convicted of a felony unless she submits with docility to
whatever the armed predator is willing to inflict on her. On the
other hand, if the officer is exposed as a sex offender, it’s
quite likely that he would face misdemeanor charges. This is illustrated
by the case of former Box Elder County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott
Womack, who is facing multiple lawsuits and criminal charges
involving illegal strip-searches of young women conducted during
traffic stops over a period of about two years.
In February,
Womack
pleaded no contest to three counts of attempted custodial misconduct
– which is a misdemeanor offense. In exchange for Womack’s
plea, county prosecutors dropped nine additional charges –
all of them misdemeanors, as well.
Under the plea
bargain agreement, Womack’s name would not be permanently
inscribed in the sex offender registry – despite the fact
that his acts are, by definition, those of a violent sex offender.
Since the charges against him are misdemeanors, Womack would eventually
be eligible for the restoration of his peace officer certification.
Womack
does face federal criminal charges and federal lawsuits filed
by three of his victims, but it’s likely that most, if not
all, of the trouble he faces would be made to disappear once the
first state case against him is closed.