Booking photo for Jaxson Gene Smith (Courtesy: Cache County Jail)
LOGAN — A 19-year-old man Logan man has confessed to raping a teenage girl in 2020. Jaxson G. Smith accepted a plea agreement, a year after being arrested and placed in the Cache County Jail.
Smith participated in a virtual hearing in 1st District Court Monday morning, appearing by web conference from jail. He pleaded guilty to rape of a child, sodomy on a child and aggravated sexual abuse of a child, all first-degree felonies.
Defense attorney Joseph Saxton explained that as part of the deal, prosecutors agreed to drop eight remaining charges against Smith. They will also recommend a prison term of six-years-to-life at the time of sentencing.
Cache County sheriff’s deputies began investigating Smith after receiving a tip from the SafeUT app. The informant described how the defendant was engaging in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl.
Deputies interviewed the victim. She described how after sneaking out of her home, Smith would pick her up and take her to his residence. While there, the two would engage in sexual activity.
Smith spoke only briefly during Monday’s hearing, telling the court he was guilty of the charges and thanking the court for its time.
Judge Spencer Walsh ordered Smith to remain in jail, complete a pre-sentence report about his criminal history, and appear for sentencing April 25.
will@cvradio.com