Wasatch County Republican Party Chair David Nephi Johnson, 54, was arrested Tuesday for alleged aggravated child abuse.
The first-degree felony charge is applied when a person intentionally or knowingly commits abuse of a person under the age of 18. According to an affidavit of probable cause, Johnson allegedly “waterboarded” his teenage daughter.
Defense attorney Sam Schultz said Johnson is “maintaining his innocence.”
The Utah Division of Child and Family Services notified the Heber City Police Department about the incident on Jan. 21. The affidavit states the teen went to DCFS to report the situation, which allegedly happened the same month.
Allegations against Johnson include grabbing the girl by the back of her neck and repeatedly forcing her head under water in a bathroom sink.
“She disclosed that David dunked her head under, brought it out, splashed water in her face, then dunked the victim’s head under again. The victim did not know how long the incident lasted from beginning to end,” the court document states.
The teen disclosed to a DCFS investigator that she could not breathe for 20 to 30 seconds.
“David was upset with the victim because she didn’t completely clean her room, and she went out without having it be spotless to his expectations,” the affidavit said.
In addition to the incident involving herself, the teen described situations involving her siblings. She said there was a similar event years prior, when Johnson allegedly forced her sibling’s head underwater.
“The victim stated that David removed her brother from the water, splashed water on his face and nose, knocked him down, and repeated the act multiple times,” the affidavit reads.
In addition to incidents involving “waterboarding,” the teen informed a DCFS investigator of a time when Johnson allegedly “backhanded” her, causing bruising. She told the investigator that she does not “feel very safe” at home.
The teen has been temporarily placed outside of her home with an adult sibling as part of a safety plan set by DCFS and her parents. A pre-trial protective order has been proposed by Fourth District Court Judge Jennifer Mabey.
Heber City Police filed a warrant for Johnson’s arrest on Tuesday. According to Chief Parker Sever, Johnson was detained after an arranged meeting between himself, Heber City Police and Schultz. Johnson was then booked into the Wasatch County Jail.
He had an initial appearance on Wednesday morning. Bail for Johnson’s release was set at $10,000.
In a statement released that afternoon, the Wasatch County Republican Party Executive Committee said it was made aware of the allegations on Tuesday evening. The group met in an “emergency session,” and in accordance with its bylaws, Vice Chair Patty Sprunt will temporarily assume leadership “to ensure the party continues its work for the residents of the county without distraction.”
Sprunt told The Park Record on Tuesday afternoon that she was aware of the situation and indicated there would be no call for Johnson’s resignation. She encouraged the public to wait until more information was available, a sentiment the county GOP echoed in its statement.
“The safety and well-being of children are of paramount importance to our party and our community. We are deeply concerned and troubled by the nature of the allegations brought forward by the Heber City Police Department,” the executive committee’s statement said.
It continued, “The Republican Party stands for the protection of the vulnerable and the upholding of the law. We trust the Heber City Police Department and the legal system to conduct a thorough investigation. Our legal system is defined by the protection of the innocent and the principle that individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Thus far the public has not seen any evidence in this case. We encourage the community to refrain from judgement [sic] until the facts and evidence have been presented.”
The Wasatch County Republican Party Executive Committee said it remains focused on serving the voters of Wasatch County and said its “thoughts are with the Johnson family during a difficult time.”
A first-degree felony in Utah is punishable by five years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Sever said the investigation is active and ongoing. The Police Department will continue to work with the DCFS on the case.
This article was updated on Thursday morning with a statement from the Wasatch County Republican Party.