You’ll want clarity fast: a Wasatch County Republican chair now faces a first-degree aggravated child abuse charge after a teenage relative reported he repeatedly forced her head under water during a punishment incident over a messy room. The arrest and charge center on allegations that he “waterboarded” the teen, an act that carries serious legal penalties and has already prompted local party leadership changes and an active investigation.
Expect the article to lay out what allegedly happened, how authorities and child welfare officials responded, and what political fallout is unfolding as the case moves through the courts. For background and reporting on the arrest, see local coverage from the Park Record and KSL.
Details of the Allegations and Incident
The account centers on a January bathroom confrontation in Heber City that led to felony charges. Law enforcement and child welfare agencies documented statements about repeated physical and emotional harm to a teenage relative.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Incident
According to an affidavit filed after a Utah Division of Child and Family Services report, the episode began when the teenager’s room did not meet a parent’s standards before going out with friends. The teenager says the parent confronted them about the messy bedroom and then escorted them into a bathroom. Heber City police were notified by DCFS on January 21 after the teen disclosed the encounter to an investigator.
The affidavit describes a short, intense escalation: verbal reprimand, physical grabbing, then the act that prompted criminal charges. Prosecutors later charged the Wasatch County Republican Party chair with aggravated child abuse based on those allegations.
Description of the Waterboarding Allegation
The teen reported that the parent repeatedly pushed their head into a sink of running water and dunked it under the open tap. They described feeling unable to breathe for about 20 to 30 seconds during each dunking, and characterized the experience as “waterboarding.” The allegation centers on intentional immersion of the head and airway obstruction rather than accidental splashing.
Police and prosecutors treated that description as the basis for a first-degree felony aggravated child abuse charge. The claim included an assertion that the acts were punitive, not protective or accidental.
Additional Allegations Involving Siblings
The DCFS report noted that the teenager referenced prior incidents involving younger relatives. Those accounts include similar physical punishment and striking that caused visible bruising, according to investigators. The affidavit indicates the pattern extended beyond a single episode and involved multiple family members at different times.
Investigators flagged the broader family allegations when assessing risk and determining whether to pursue charges. Heber City Police coordinated with child welfare authorities to document statements from potential additional victims and witnesses.
Teenager’s Emotional and Physical Response
The teen reported short-term physical effects, including bruising and marks on the torso consistent with being struck. They also described panic and an inability to breathe during the sink dunking episodes. Emotional reactions included fear of the parent and reluctance to be alone with them afterward.
Mental-health concerns were noted by DCFS investigators as part of the intake, prompting referrals and protective measures while the criminal case moved forward. Heber City police records show the teenager’s statements played a central role in the decision to book the suspect on aggravated child abuse charges.
Political and Legal Repercussions
The arrest triggered immediate local political changes and a criminal process that remains active. Leadership duties shifted within the county party while law enforcement and child welfare agencies took steps to protect the teenager and pursue charges.
David Nephi Johnson’s Role and Response
David Nephi Johnson, 54, served as chair of the Wasatch County Republican Party and was booked into the Wasatch County Jail after Heber City Police filed a warrant. He faces a first-degree aggravated child abuse charge tied to an alleged incident that reportedly involved forcibly submerging his daughter’s head in a bathroom sink.
Johnson’s attorney has publicly stated he maintains his innocence. Bail was set and he was released after posting it, according to local reporting. Johnson’s continued party affiliation and any internal disciplinary steps beyond the temporary leadership change remained limited at the time of reporting.
Wasatch County Republican Party’s Statement
The Wasatch County Republican Party convened an emergency session after learning of the allegations. The executive committee temporarily elevated Vice Chair Patty Sprunt to lead party operations to avoid disruption to county party activities.
The committee emphasized the importance of child safety and urged the community to await facts from law enforcement. Its public comment also reiterated the presumption of innocence and affirmed cooperation with authorities while focusing on continuing outreach for voters in Wasatch County.
Ongoing Legal Investigation and Custody Actions
Heber City Police continue to work with the Utah Division of Child and Family Services on an active investigation. The DCFS report prompted the initial police notification on January 21, and the teen has been placed temporarily with an adult sibling as part of a safety plan.
A probable cause affidavit alleges multiple incidents, including past episodes involving other children, and describes the victim’s account of being unable to breathe for 20–30 seconds during the alleged event. A pretrial protective order has been proposed by the Fourth District Court; prosecutors will weigh charging decisions as investigators compile evidence.
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