Booking photo for Jeremiah C. Abel (Courtesy: Cache County Jail).

LOGAN — A 39-year-old North Logan man has been sentenced to prison for a string of crimes, including sexually enticing several young girls, driving under the influence and sexually assaulting a woman. Jeremiah C. Abel cried, while blaming his actions on alcohol, claiming that he has drank his whole life.

Abel was sentenced in 1st District Court Monday afternoon. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of enticing a minor over the internet, a second-degree felony; dealing in materials harmful to a minor and driving under the influence of alcohol, both third-degree felonies; and sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor.

In December 2018, Abel sent text messages to several teenage girls, encouraging them to engage in sexual relations with him. He also sent them pornographic pictures of himself. The victims were all acquaintances of the defendant and reported the behavior to police. He was arrested and released on bail.

In March, Abel was driving in Logan when he attempted to turn left and pulled in front of another car, causing a two car crash. He refused to take a field sobriety test after officers detected the smell of alcohol. His blood later showed a blood alcohol level of .25. He had 10 previous drug and alcohol convictions.

Abel was again arrested but allowed to be released on bail again, under the condition that he undergo treatment.

In July however, Abel groped a woman who he had just met hours earlier. She was visiting his home, watching fireworks at the time.

During Monday’s sentencing defense attorney Jeanne Campbell said Abel had committed some serious crimes that there was no excuse for. His addiction to alcohol was partly because of the sexual abuse he suffered as a child from his mother, who is presently serving two life sentences in prison.

The woman who was assaulted in July told the court, she believed Abel was a predator and a danger to his family. She explained how he had put her in a headlock, while “grinding” against her and moaning in her ear.

Abel told the court he was remorseful and sorry, and wished to apologize to his family, friends and co-workers. He said, “I should have listened to those around me that told me to stop drinking.” He asked the court to give him one more chance instead of prison, and allow him to finish an in-patient treatment center.

Judge Thomas Willmore told Abel that he had been given enough chances to get help. He said the defendant had caused deep hurt to other people that deserved punishment. He ordered him to service one-to-15-years in prison for the second-degree felony, with the other crimes to run concurrently.


will@cvradio.com



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