Booking photo for Brevan B. Baugh (Courtesy: Cache County Jail).
LOGAN — A 42-year-old Providence doctor has been sentenced to 15-years-to-life in prison after previously being found guilty of sexually abusing a child. Brevan B. Baugh spoke only briefly and showed little emotion, as he was given the maximum sentence.
Baugh was sentenced in 1st District Court Tuesday afternoon. He was found guilty in December of one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony.
Defense attorney Greg Skordas told the court the case had been difficult for everyone involved. He asked the court for a lighter sentence, explaining that Baugh had no prior criminal history.
Cache County Deputy Attorney Jacob Gordon disagreed. He told the court, he was disturbed that Baugh continued to deny the crime. He said the defendant’s actions, violating one of the most sacred trusts, was reprehensible.
Earlier, the victim’s mother described how Baugh had deceived her family. She asked for the harshest penalty, telling the court she never wanted to see the defendant again.
In December, a jury of four men and four women found Baugh guilty after a two day trial. It included the now teenage victim, tearfully testifying how Baugh made her touch him inappropriately on several occasions. The crime occurred when she was between 9 or 10-years-old but wasn’t reported to law enforcement until 2018.
The victim was an acquaintance and not associated with Baugh’s doctors office, Naturopathic Medical.
Baugh spoke only briefly during Tuesday’s sentencing. He said he was sorry for the “whole situation.”
Judge Angela Fonnesbeck said she believed that people are redeemable and the justice system works at redemption. She noted that no matter what sentence she imposed, it could not repair the long lasting effects of the defendant’s crimes.
Judge Fonnesbeck noted that under Utah State Law, she could sentence Baugh to six, ten, or 15 years. However she explained, she couldn’t see any reason for a lesser sentence, since the defendant continued to refuse and take any responsibility for his actions.
will@cvradio.com