LOGAN — A 40-year-old Logan man has been arrested for allegedly holding a woman against her will near Newton Dam, according to law enforcement. Lynal Lee Atene was booked Friday, July 12, into the Cache County Jail.
According to an arrest affidavit, Logan Police Dispatch received a 911 hang up near Newton Dam, late on July 11. A woman requested help and made a comment about her husband, before the call was disconnected.
Law enforcement responded to the area and located a vehicle belonging to the alleged victim. After several hours, she called to deputies from a field just west of the reservoir. She was wearing only underwear and claimed Atene had assaulted her.
The woman told deputies that she and Atene were at Newton Dam when he allegedly became upset. As she attempted to get in her car and drive away, the suspect reportedly disconnected the vehicle’s battery. He then assaulted her and took her cellphone, the probable cause statement detailed.
Deputies and Logan City Police officers continued searching the area through the night.
Early Friday morning, a man, later identified as Atene, was found walking along the dam. He claimed that he had been in a disagreement with the alleged victim the night before and left.
The alleged victim transported to a hospital for medical treatment. While there, she explained more of what happened, alleging that Atene had attempted to strangle her the night before, according to court documents.
Atene was arraigned Monday in Logan’s 1st District Court. He was charged aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony; damage to a communication device, a class B misdemeanor; and intoxication, a class C misdemeanor.
Judge Angela Fonnesbeck ordered Atene to remain in jail without bail after prosecutors argued the suspect was a danger to the alleged victim. She ordered him to appear again in court July 31.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.