LOGAN, Utah, July 11, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A North Logan man has been booked onto jail after he allegedly raped a 13-year-old girl after luring her to his apartment using Snapchat.
A probable cause statement from the 1st District Court of Logan said Tristan Todd Larson, 20, was arrested Wednesday afternoon and is facing charges of rape of a child, a first-degree felony; use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor; and possession of a controlled substance — marijuana/spice, a class B misdemeanor.
The probable cause statement said the arresting officer was assigned to investigate an incident involving the 13-year-old girl, who disclosed that she was raped by a man identified as Tristan Todd Larson. She reported that on June 22 of this year, she had received a Snapchat message from someone that she believed to be named Sierra, a girl that she knew from school.
In the Snapchat messages, “Sierra” was asking if the victim wanted to come to her house. The victim agreed and rode the bus from Logan to the North Pointe Apartments in North Logan.
The victim stated that she was told “Sierra’s” apartment number in the message.
The victim went to that apartment and knocked on the door.
“The victim disclosed that a male individual, who she later identified as Tristan Todd Larson, had answered the door,” the statement said. “The victim stated that she was confused and surprised that Tristan answered the door, due to she did not know that is where he lived. The victim stated that Tristan pulled her into his apartment by her arm.”
Larson is an acquaintance of her boyfriend, the victim later told officials.
Larson then placed a red bandanna over her mouth and tied it around the back of her head, the statement said.
“The victim stated that Tristan then pushed her down the hallway into a bedroom,” the statement said. She described the bedroom, then said that he “pulled her pants down” and raped her.
“The victim stated that she was unable to scream due to the bandanna, and that Tristan did not say anything to her throughout the incident,” the statement said.
She then pulled up her pants and ran out of the apartment, she told officers.
“The victim was able to identify Tristan Larson as she has seen him around and that her boyfriend is acquaintances with Tristan as well,” the statement said. “The victim disclosed this is how Tristan knew who she was and was pretending to be Sierra on Snapchat to lure her to the apartment.”
A warrant was executed on Larson’s apartment. Several items were found in the apartment and Larson’s bedroom that the victim stated she observed during the incident. Also in Larson’s room was a crusher with green leafy substance, which the officer said resembled marijuana, and tested positive to marijuana. There was also a bong in the room, the statement said.
Larson was brought to the North Park Police Department for an interview and read his Miranda rights. On being interviewed, Larson said he knew the victim, and stated that he does reside at the address she alleged she was at.
Larson also stated that he had seen and been with the victim on the day of the event, and that he walked to Walmart with her, but stated that she has never been in his apartment nor his bedroom. He also stated that the victim’s boyfriend, his family, and others had never been in his apartment or bedroom. When Larson was asked how the victim was able to describe his room and items in his room he invoked his right to an attorney, the statement said.
A warrant was executed for the DNA of Larson to compare with the exam that was conducted on the victim.
Larson was transported and booked at the Cache County Jail, where he is being held without bail.
