Social worker accused of raping teenage girl waives preliminary hearing

Donavan Faucette, 38, social worker with Bear River Mental Health who was arrested early Monday morning, accused of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old client.

LOGAN — A 34-year-old Hyrum man, accused of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and pleaded not guilty to four felony sex abuse charges.

Donavan Faucette appeared in 1st District Court Thursday afternoon. He was arrested earlier this month after telling a supervisor at Bear River Mental Health, where he was employed, that he had engaged in a sexual relationship with a client. He was later charged with rape, object rape and forcible sodomy, all first-degree felonies.

During Thursday’s hearing, defense attorney Shannon Demler told the court that he is working with the prosecution on a possible plea deal. He also asked Judge Brandon Maynard to set bail at $80,000.

Judge Maynard said he would allow Faucette be released on bail under the condition that he have no contact with the alleged victim or her family.

Faucette is accused of reportedly picking up a teenage girl at her relative’s home, back on May 15. He reportedly drove her into Logan Canyon and had sex with her near the turnoff to Temple Fork Canyon. Two days later, he was arrested and booked into the Cache County Jail and was being held without bail.

During Thursday’s court appearance Judge Maynard ordered Faucette to appear again in court June 15 for a pretrial conference.

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