Smithfield man pleads guilty to raping teenage girl

LOGAN — A 40-year-old Smithfield man, accused of raping a teenage girl, has pleaded guilty and will now wait to be sentenced next month. Jose Arano-Araujo was arrested in May after the victim reported the assault to Cache County Sheriff’s deputies.

Arano-Araujo appeared in 1st District Court Monday afternoon. He accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to two amended counts of attempted rape, a first-degree felony. A third felony charge was dismissed by prosecutors. Each count carries a sentence of three-years-to-life in prison.

State attorney Jacob Gordon said Arano-Araujo went to the home of an acquaintance on May 11. While there, he engaged in sex with the 13-year-old girl.

During Monday’s appearance, Arana-Araujo spoke only briefly through an interpreter. He told the court he agreed to waive his right to a trial and admitted to the two charges. He was scheduled to be sentenced November 26.


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