George Cyrus Merrill booking photo from the Cache County Jail.
LOGAN — A 47-year-old Smithfield man has admitted to showing pornographic images on his phone to employees at several local businesses. George Cyrus Merrill accepted a plea deal to lesser charges and will now await sentencing.
Merrill appeared Wednesday, Nov. 16, in Logan’s 1st District Court. He pleaded guilty to stalking, a class A misdemeanor; and two counts of lewdness, a class B misdemeanor.
As part of the resolution, prosecutors agreed to dismiss 10 remaining charges.
According to prosecutors, Merrill approached an employee at the department store on August 2. He asked for a particular item and proceeded to grab his phone to show the item needed. While showing a picture of the item, he swiped through other images on his phone which included a photo of his genitals.
The employee told Logan City Police officers, Merrill continued to swipe through photos, returning to the naked image several times.
The employee said they were alarmed and walked away from Merrill. They later spoke to store’s management after other employees reported similar incidents.
All three victims described how Merrill walked up to them and asked for a certain item. He then pulled out his cellphone and proceeded to show several pictures, including the pornographic photo of himself.
The incidents happened several times at stores in Logan and North Logan. Store managers were able to provide police with security camera footage of the defendant inside the stores.
This also occurred at a local hair salon. Cache County Deputy Attorney Zachariah Becerra explained how Merrill showed similar pictures to a beautician after receiving a haircut. The defendant had claimed to have a coupon and then showed the beautician photos of his genitals, while scrolling through images on his phone.
During law enforcement’s investigation, Merrill admitted to police he showed the pornographic photos to the women. However, he claimed it was accidental.
According to jail records, Merrill was booked for a time in the Cache County Jail. He was later released, while the cases proceeded through the court system.
Merrill spoke only briefly during Wednesday’s hearing, telling the court he wished to waive his rights and confess to the three charges. He was scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 24, when he could face up to two-and-a-half-years in jail.