Staff member at CV Youth Center arrested for allegedly engaging in sexual relationship with inmate

Wesley Kendall Allen (Photo: Facebook)

LOGAN — A staff member at the Cache Valley Youth Center has been arrested for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with one of the juvenile inmates. Wesley Kendall Allen, 40, was booked Thursday into the Cache County Jail.

According to a probable cause statement, Logan City Police officers began investigating after the alleged victim’s mother found journal entries about her daughter being in a relationship with Allen. The woman notified the Division of Child and Family Services, who contacted police.

During an interview with investigators, the teenage girl claimed to have had a sexual relationship with Allen while being housed in the facility between mid-November and the end of December 2022. She described how he would take her to an area of the center that didn’t have video surveillance, and molest and fondle her. This occurred multiple times.

The girl also explained how during another occasion, Allen allegedly watched her take a shower and get dressed. He was reportedly the only one on staff at the time.

Police obtained video surveillance from the center, confirming the multiple visits to the unmonitored area. The times in the room were between seventeen seconds and over 8 minutes.

Video also showed Allen alone in a common area of the facility during another time. The victim is seen entering the shower room but leaving the door open. He continued to sit and look into the room, allegedly watching her. He then is seen following her to her bedroom and standing at the doorway for a time, before closing the door and walking away, the affidavit described.

During the interview, the girl explained to police how Allen told her that he loved her and written her a love note. He also provided her his personal cellphone number so she could contact him.
Allen had allegedly told the girl, he would help her get a driver’s license and passport so they could flee the country and live together. He also told her to “lie” and tell people nothing happened, when the investigation was opened, police reported.

Allen was arraigned during a virtual hearing Friday morning in 1st District Court. He was charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a child and object rape, both first-degree felonies; four counts of forcible sexual abuse and one count of obstructing justice, all second degree felonies.

Judge Spencer Walsh assigned a public defender to the case after Allen claimed he was unemployed. He ordered the suspect to be held in jail until attorneys can argue for bail after reviewing evidence in the case.

In a statement from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, spokesperson Josie Thacker said: “We are aware that one of our employees at the Cache Valley Youth Center in Logan, a facility in the Division of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services, was arrested on suspicion of various serious crimes.

“An important part of our mission is to provide care for and protect youth who are in our facilities. The allegations against this employee are troubling and are completely the opposite of what we are trying to accomplish.

“As soon as we became aware of an allegation of inappropriate contact between this employee and a youth, the employee was put on administrative leave and we immediately notified Child Protective Services. We have been fully cooperating with local law enforcement. The employee has since been terminated.

“In addition to swift action and accountability for this employee, we are evaluating our policies and procedures to ensure the highest quality of care and safety for those we serve.”

Allen is scheduled to appear again in court Monday. He could face up to life in prison, if convicted.

Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.


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16 Comments

  • KA January 27, 2023 at 2:26 pm Reply

    If “Dateline” ever revamps their “To Catch a Predator” series, they could set up permanent shop in Cache Valley.

  • Kramer January 27, 2023 at 3:21 pm Reply

    Cue the plea deals where he gets a slap on the wrist

  • Joseph Smith January 27, 2023 at 3:35 pm Reply

    What is wrong with people in our valley? Do we, as dad’s have to start doing some REAL punishing of these people? Between sex with under aged girls, kiddie porn, and sexual assault – I feel it’s time to start an “off the record” task force and start making this idiots feel the consequences. Maybe the thought of getting your head bashed in would offset their obsession for young penis or vagina. This is maddening.

    • DB January 28, 2023 at 3:42 pm Reply

      Amen!!

      • Notafan January 28, 2023 at 8:41 pm Reply

        It didn’t seem to be a problem for the church, its leader’s and members during the joseph smith times, nor after until the present. Now?? All of a sudden it doesn’t sit well with everyone in the “community” and people wonder why there is so many of these types of crimes in the valley ?

    • Notafan January 28, 2023 at 8:37 pm Reply

      Your name is the exact reason there is so much of this in your valley. Mr. Smith

  • DB January 28, 2023 at 3:39 pm Reply

    And the government who controls our lives, gets to determine our content when we ( break the revenue making laws) puts us in places like these!! Poor girl probably became a felon for weed and now she is a rape victim.. The director of the youth center needs to be fired!! And the perp needs to do 40 to life but will only get 40 days???

  • AKH January 28, 2023 at 4:42 pm Reply

    My heart breaks for his wife and children. I know exactly what they are going through. I too had my whole life turned upside for something like this. It will not be an easy road for her or her children. I would not wish it on my worst enemy!
    My heart also breaks for the victim. My daughter lives a life sentence caused by my ex husbands actions. Yet he lives free as if nothing ever happened. He apparently paid his debt to society. For my daughter and I, we will never forget and the scars are forever!

    • AKH January 30, 2023 at 12:24 pm Reply

      I can’t believe all these other comments! His wife and children need our love and support! They don’t need to see random people bicker over religion and politics! His actions are inexcusable and unfortunately he will probably plea down to barely any jail time, compared to the turmoil he’s caused for many others, but society’s focus, our focus, should be on the victims and not just the underage girl he took advantage of! All the victims of this senselessness! Grow up people!

  • Jim jones January 28, 2023 at 5:07 pm Reply

    It is just part of the legacy.

    • jantzen August 6, 2023 at 12:15 pm Reply

      I went there in 2021 some staff if they look will remember my name but this is crazy he did not seem like that at all like omg

  • Joseph Smith January 30, 2023 at 8:05 pm Reply

    Just an fyi, for you morons that can’t focus on the problem at hand: my name happens to be the same as the guy who invented the mormon church, but I also don’t believe in anything made up, like all religions. Now, monkeys, stop looking at the shiny object and focus on the pedophiles.

  • Lyss Harris January 30, 2023 at 11:40 pm Reply

    “Pedophile at CV Youth Center arrested for rape of a minor” there, fixed your headline.

    Don’t call it a sexual relationship if she was RAPE.

  • T. Webber February 22, 2023 at 9:33 pm Reply

    There have been multiple complaints against this guy from back when he was a jailer at Cache County jail. Complaints from women inmates. He has been known for this type of behavior yet nothing has been done. Hopefully others will come forward with these new charges and perhaps negligence charges will be brought against authorities who knew he is a pervert and allowed him to continue offending in a position of authority.

  • Brandy Gillespie February 28, 2023 at 4:13 pm Reply

    The sad part is that there is a female doing the same thing with the boys! She is currently on leave and being investigated! They try to hide and conceal it all! I worked there until the end of December and reported so many things that are happening and wrong! Truly trying to do what was right. I was treated horribly for doing so, out casted, ignored, harassed, etc. Until I finally couldn’t take it anymore and left. Sadly, this is why they lose good staff and staff that are doing all these horrible things get to stay and be in leadership positions! They definitely didn’t disclose that they promoted him to a higher position in December!!! The ADP at this facility should be equally held accountable and he isn’t and that is also a huge problem. I wish people would start doing more before anyone else is hurt but they won’t.

    • Ben March 20, 2023 at 6:52 pm Reply

      This is really going to screw up their PbS numbers.

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