Thursday, October 29, 2009

UT: Ex-Marine recruiter waives preliminary hearing in sex-abuse case

By Stephen Hunt
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 10/27/2009 05:10:47 PM MDT

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13651415

A former U.S. Marine Corps recruiter charged with 14 felonies in connection with an alleged sexual relationship with a 15-year-old female Olympus High School student on Tuesday waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Trevor Adam Hooper, 26, is charged with one count each of first-degree felony counts of rape and forcible sodomy, 11 counts of second-degree felony sex exploitation of a minor and one second-degree felony count of forcible sexual abuse.

A scheduling hearing for Hooper was set for Nov. 16 before 3rd District Judge Randall Skanchy.

Prosecutors said they elevated the charges against Hooper because he occupied a position of special trust in relation to the girl.

The two allegedly met when Hooper, an Iraq War veteran who lives in Clearfield, was recruiting at Olympus High, one of four high schools where he was assigned.

During April, Hooper picked up the girl and drove her to a motel, where Hooper videotaped and photographed their sexual activity, according to charging documents.

An investigation began in May when the girl's father caught her sneaking back into their home early one morning and subsequently found photos depicting sexual activity on her camera, according to the probable cause statement.

Hooper -- who has voluntarily separated from the military -- could face up to life in prison, if convicted of the first-degree felonies.

shunt@sltrib.com

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