LOGAN — A 19-year-old Smithfield man was arrested Wednesday on allegations he sexually assaulted and unlawfully detained a woman in a Nibley church parking lot last month.
Jaycee Owen Hoyt was arraigned Friday morning in Logan’s 1st District Court, appearing by web conference from the Cache County Jail. He was charged with three second-degree felony counts of forcible sexual abuse and one third-degree felony count of aggravated kidnapping.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the investigation began March 23 when the victim’s father contacted Cache County sheriff’s deputies to report the assault. The alleged victim told deputies she connected with Hoyt on social media the day prior and agreed to attend a church event with him in Nibley.
While sitting in the victim’s vehicle to escape the cold after the event, Hoyt allegedly initiated unwanted sexual contact, including reaching under her clothing. Court documents state Hoyt ignored the victim’s repeated physical and verbal pleas to stop, eventually forcing her hand onto his genitals. The victim reported she was frightened to resist further or use her phone to ask her mother for help because Hoyt had earlier claimed he was carrying four knives.
The affidavit detailed how the woman eventually managed to start her vehicle and leave the parking lot. She later provided deputies with text messages exchanged with Hoyt following the incident. In the messages, Hoyt allegedly apologized, admitting he “took it too far” and acknowledging he refused to let her leave. When confronted over text about forcing her hand down his pants, Hoyt allegedly replied, “ik and I’m sorry,” adding, “It was stupid of me.”
During Friday’s video arraignment, Judge Spencer Walsh set Hoyt’s bail at $35,000 and ordered him to have no contact with the accuser. He also ordered the suspect to appear again in court May 11.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.