Weber County dentist charged with exploitation of minor

Daniel Patrick Alston. Photo: Weber County

OGDEN, Utah, Feb. 21, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A South Ogden man has been charged after an investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children task force.

Daniel Patrick Alston, 71, was booked into the Weber County Jail and charged on Monday with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony.

The charges came after Alston, a dentist with a Washington Terrace practice, reportedly emailed graphic images and videos of pre-pubescent girls to an undercover agent.

“Post Miranda, he admitted to downloading files of child sexual exploitation due to curiosity and the ‘forbidden’ nature of the material,” a probable cause statement says.

The task force requested $250,000 bail for Alston, who reportedly owns a home in Mexico where he had planned to move, soon. Prosecutors adding that as a dentist, he has “access to children on a regular basis.”

Second district judge Michael DiReda set bail at $100,000 cash, which Alston paid. He has been released. His next court appearance is scheduled for this week.

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