LOGAN — Prosecutors have dismissed the criminal case against a 46-year-old Smithfield man who was facing rape and sexual assault charges after new evidence was discovered contradicting the allegations. Justin Craig Taylor was originally charged with assaulting a 20-year-old woman at his home last fall.
According to the original probable cause statement, Taylor befriended two young women at a local business and subsequently began messaging them. One of the women later encouraged the alleged victim to visit Taylor’s residence to “hang out.”
While at the home, Taylor was reported to have made sexual advances and inappropriately touched the woman, even though she explicitly told him to stop. Smithfield police investigators also noted that the suspect had provided alcoholic beverages to both individuals, both of whom were under the legal drinking age at the time.
Taylor had appeared July 13 in Logan’s First District Court. He had been charged with object rape, a first-degree felony, as well as three counts of sexual battery and one count of furnishing alcohol to a minor, all Class A misdemeanors.
Following the hearing, Taylor’s defense attorney, Sam Goble, provided new information that undermined the credibility of the witness prosecutors were relying upon for their case. He said the new evidence created inconsistencies for the state to continue pursuing the charges.
“We were fortunate the county attorney on the case is a hard worker,” Goble said. “He looked into the new information and, I believe, took into account how it made existing inconsistencies in the state’s case even worse. I really respect a prosecutor who works the case objectively with his duty in mind. Cache County, specifically my client, is fortunate to have attorneys of that quality working prosecutions.”
Cache County Deputy Attorney Andrew Crane filed a motion Monday to dismiss the case. He noted that evidentiary concerns had been raised by the defense and the alleged victim was uncooperative in pursuing the case.