Preliminary hearing scheduled for Hyde Park man suspected of extortion to get another date

Booking photo for Kyle A. Balls (Courtesy: Cache County Jail).

LOGAN — A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for a 22-year-old Hyde Park man suspected of taking intimate photos of a woman and later sending them to other people. Kyle A. Balls was arrested in December.

Balls appeared in 1st District Court Monday morning. He was previously charged with sexual extortion, a third-degree felony; and seven misdemeanors, including distribution of intimate images, voyeurism and electronic harassment.

According to police reports, Balls met the alleged victim on a social media app, and they reportedly engaged in consensual sex on several occasions.

The woman told officers she broke up with Balls after that because she did not want to continue the relationship. She reportedly started dating another man, although the suspect wanted to continue the sexual encounters with her.

Police report Balls sent an inappropriate photo of the victim to her new boyfriend and continued to text her, saying he would send more photos to other people as well. The woman claimed she wasn’t aware the pictures existed.

Prosecutors allege that the photos were later sent to four other people as Balls continued to pressure her into dating him again.

As the investigation continued, officers reportedly found the photos and a video in a folder on Balls’ phone.

During Monday’s court appearance, Balls was ordered to appear again for the preliminary hearing, where Judge Thomas Willmore will determine if prosecutors have sufficient evidence to bind the suspect over for trial.

Balls is currently out of jail after posting $16,110 bail. He could face up to five years in prison.


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