Logan man sentenced to prison for raping woman at local hotel

LOGAN — A judge has sentenced George C. Taggart to prison for raping a woman at a local hotel last fall. Judge Brian Cannell ordered the maximum sentence of three-years-to-life saying, “There comes the time when I have to protect the public.”

Taggart appeared in 1st District Court Tuesday morning, after previously pleading guilty to and amended charge of attempted rape, a first-degree felony. He told the court he had been suffering from several issues at the time he was arrested. He admitted to being addicted to meth and heroin, and had attempted suicide seven times in the previous year.

Logan City Police officers arrested Taggart September 11, 2016, after a woman called 911 claiming that she was raped. The victim said she went by a hotel room where the defendant was staying. She claimed she knew him and agreed to meet him there for an unrelated matter.

Once she arrived, Taggart allegedly forced himself on her as she tried to stop him repeatedly.

During Monday’s court appearance, public defender Shannon Demler said Taggart suffered from drug addictions and depression. He said, he has had problems with hearing voices and seeing people. He asked for the court to consider a jail sentence and treatment, instead of prison.

State attorney Jacob Gordon said Taggart should be taken out of society because he can’t act appropriately. He described how every time the defendant made a statement, he blamed his actions on someone else. He said Taggart needs to figure out that his is responsible for his own actions.

The victim briefly spoke, telling the court how Taggart stalked her and her family. She said, “I don’t think I could go on if he is out.”

Judge Cannell said the court was concerned with Taggart’s lack of responsibility. He expressed hope the defendant would figure out a way to be successful in life and relationships, following his prison sentence.

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