Judge moves trial for funeral director charged with attempting to have sex with minor

LOGAN — A judge has granted the cases against Lonnie Nyman, owner and president of Nyman Funeral Home, to be transferred to Salt Lake County. The 41-year-old Millville resident is suspected of attempting to have sex with a teenage boy, racketeering, communications fraud and other charges.

Court records show Nyman appeared in 1st District Court Tuesday afternoon. His defense attorney, Greg Law, had previously requested the change of venue. Ryan Holtan from the State Attorney General’s Office, who filed the criminal charges against Nyman, agreed with the motion, allowing Judge Kevin Allen to reassign the case to 3rd District Court Judge Vernice Trease.

Nyman was originally arrested October 30, suspected of contacting a boy through a social media app commonly used to arrange sexual encounters. Detectives began investigating him after a family member found photos of the teen on the suspect’s computer tablet.

The victim told deputies about the relationship and claimed that when the two met, he became uncomfortable with Nyman’s behavior and left before engaging in any sexual conduct.

Authorities later learned that as the investigation started, Nyman allegedly contacted the victim on the same app again, telling him that his family had found out about their relationship. He later called the boy and told him that if anyone questioned him, he should lie and say, “all we did was visit.”

Police later arrested Nyman again on suspicion of writing fraudulent checks when he tried to post bail. He faces a total of 19 charges including sexual exploitation of a minor, pattern of unlawful activity, tampering with a witness, obstruction of justice and other offenses.

Nyman is currently out of jail after posting $50,000 bail. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

A day after Nyman’s original arrest, Utah State University issued a safety alert, stating he may try to threaten students or staff. The Code Blue Alert was emailed by USU Police Chief Mike Kuehn.

Nyman has close ties to the community. He was born and raised in Providence. He graduated from Mountain Crest High School, and later attended USU, before receiving a degree in Funeral Services from St. Petersburg College in Florida.


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