CEDAR CITY, Utah, Dec. 27, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A Cedar City man is being held without bail after being charged with multiple forcible assaults of a 17-year-old girl he supervised at a fast food restaurant.
Joshua Michael Downard, 35, has been charged with:
- Two counts of rape, a first degree felony
- Forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony
- Sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor
In addition, a probable cause statement says Downard threatened to kill the family of his victim if she reported the assaults, and told her if she made claims, they would not be believed.
According to the probable cause statement, the first rape occured in April of 2018 when Downard asked the victim to take a ride with him, went to a remote Iron County location and assaulted her in his truck.
“Josh is known to regularly carry a concealed handgun in his waistband,” the probable cause statement says. “Josh threatened her, saying that if she told anyone, he would use his gun to kill her sisters. She feared for her own safety as well.
“Throughout their contact with one another, Josh would continually remind her that she would not be believed, and he was willing to cause her and her family harm. This incident was followed by other incidents in Iron, Washington and Salt Lake Counties.”
The second rape charge stems from an August incident in which Downard and the victim met with his associates, the statement says. Downard insisted the associates think the two were romantically involved, and he assaulted her in a tent, the probable cause statement says.
The forcible sexual abuse charge stems from repeated incidents between June and August of this year, which continued after the victim returned to school, she told police.
The incidents took place at the fast food restaurant at 1001 W. 200 North, Cedar City. The victim told police that when she complained about unwanted touching, Downard would pat his handgun.
The sexual battery arose from a June incident when Downard reportedly told the victim to accompany him to a cabin, she said. She was encouraged to become intoxicated, and awoke the next morning to find her clothes removed.
“Throughout the course of the above mentioned activities, Joshua continually reminded the victim that she and her family would be harmed or killed if she told anyone of the repeated rape and sexual assault, or otherwise disclosed that their relationship was anything other than consensual,” the statement says.
The probable cause statement is based on interviews with the victim, witnesses, and the ex-wife of Downard, who said her former husband confessed his actions to her in an admission of adultery.
Downard is being held without bail due to reports he has threatened suicide, due to threats made against the victim, and due to the belief he is a flight risk, the probable cause statement says.
