Former deputy sentenced to jail for trying to solicit and stalk female inmates

LOGAN — A former Cache County Sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to jail for soliciting a female jail inmate to have sex with him, and stalking others online.

Court records show James “Josh” Woytko appeared in 1st District Court Tuesday morning.  The 36-year-old Smithfield man was ordered to serve 30-days in jail and complete 100-hours of community service.

In June, Woytko pleaded guilty to custodial sexual relations, a class A misdemeanor, and stalking, a class B misdemeanor.  As part of the settlement, a second stalking charge was dismissed.

Prosecutors had said Woytko solicited and sexually harassed several women in the jail, while he was employed as a deputy.  In one instance, he contacted a woman shortly after she was released on probation.  He offered her gifts in exchange for sex.

Later, two inmates reported Woytko made sexually harassing comments to them.  One reported how he asked her to go shower, so he could see her naked.  The other woman claimed he said that seeing her in street clothes was causing him to be aroused.  He also attempted to contact the women through social media after they were released.

The victims had claimed they were offended and uncomfortable by Woytko’s actions.  They were also fearful because of his position and authority.

Woytko was terminated in 2017, following an investigation into policy and procedure violations, by the sheriff’s office.  He had been a deputy for almost six-years.


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