Alexander Darin Caldwell jail booking photo. (Photo: Cache County Jail)
LOGAN — A 26-year-old Smithfield man has confessed to engaging in a sexual relationship with a teenage girl last year. Alexander Darin Caldwell accepted a plea deal that will keep the victim from having to testify during a trial.
Caldwell appeared Wednesday in 1st District Court. He pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a third-degree felony.
Defense attorney Shannon Demler said that as part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped two similar remaining charges.
Caldwell was arrested Sept. 7 after the victim’s mother called law enforcement, describing how she found him and her 15-year-old daughter in a bedroom, after coming home early from work. He was booked into the Cache County Jail and later released on $10,000 bail.
Smithfield City Police officers questioned Caldwell, who admitted that he had engaged in a sexual relationship with the girl. The two would often go to parks because they had nowhere else to go.
The crimes took place in Smithfield where the defendant lived.
Caldwell told police, the victim first said she was 18 but later said she was 16. He admitted to knowing it was wrong to be with a girl so young.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Caldwell waived his rights to a fair trial. He also acknowledged the possible criminal penalties for a third-degree felony, zero-to-five-years in prison.
Judge Brian Cannell scheduled sentencing for November 9.
will@cvradio.com