LOGAN — A 37-year-old tattoo artist from Hyrum has admitted to sexually assaulting two more women while performing tattoo work last year. Douglas Steve Chavez, who was previously convicted of similar crimes in 2022, was arrested in December and later released on bail.
According to charging documents, the first victim contacted the Cache County Sheriff’s Office in November, reporting she had been sexually abused by Chavez, while receiving a tattoo. She had received a message from the Hyrum man after posting a bounce house for sale on social media.
Chavez reportedly offered to trade tattoo work for the bounce house. He arranged to do the work in a trailer next to his home.
The woman told deputies that while Chavez was doing the tattoo, he moved her hand into his groin area. She attempted to move her arm several times but each time he placed it back between his legs until the tattoo was completed.
As deputies were investigating the first incident, a second woman contacted them reporting she had also been sexually assaulted by Chavez in December. She explained how the Hyrum man had contacted her on social media about a car she was selling.
Chavez again offered a trade of tattoo work for the vehicle. He again arranged for the woman to meet him at his home in Hyrum so he could perform the work inside the nearby camp trailer.
The woman reported that during the tattoo, Chavez pinned her arm under his arm, placing her hand between his legs. He also pulled her tank top down further than was needed. This went on for approximately four hours until she began having a panic attack and left.
In 2021, Chavez was arrested after a woman explained how he inappropriately touched her while performing tattoo work. He was later convicted of sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor, and sentenced to serve 75 days in jail, followed by 24 months of probation.
According to court records, Chavez appeared Aug. 12 in Logan’s 1st District Court. He accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to one count of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony. A remaining charge was dismissed, under the condition that he pay $2,000 in restitution to each woman and return the car to the second victim.
Chavez is scheduled to be sentenced September 23.