LOGAN — A 33-year-old Smithfield man has been sentenced to more than three months in jail, after being convicted of sexually assaulting a teenager, and drinking and driving. Victor A. Torres was arrested earlier this year, when the victim’s family called law enforcement to report the assaults.
Torres was sentenced in 1st District Court Monday morning. He previously pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors of sexual battery; and driving under the influence, a third-degree felony.
Public defender Mike McGinnis told the court he couldn’t make excuses for Torres’ behavior. He explained that his client was in a relationship with the victim but should have waited until she was a legal adult. He expressed concern that if Torres did not get his alcohol addiction under control, someone could be hurt.
In July 2018, Torres molested the victim multiple times.
In April 2019, Smithfield City police officers conducted a traffic stop on Torres’ vehicle. He had a blood alcohol level of 0.22 percent, four times above the state legal limit.
During Monday’s sentencing, Cache County Deputy Attorney Dane Murray told the court how Torres would not leave the victim alone. He explained how the defendant’s actions have had a traumatic effect on her.
Judge Thomas Willmore ordered Torres to serve 107 days in jail, 45 days for the sexual battery case and 62 days for the DUI case. The two sentences will run consecutively. He also ordered the defendant to have no contact with the victim or her family.
Judge Willmore expressed anger with Torres belief that he wasn’t guilty of a crime. He said the defendant’s actions had put the public at risk.