LOGAN — A 51-year-old former Logan resident has been arrested on suspicion of raping a little girl more than eight years ago. Jerry D. Rice was arrested Friday afternoon and booked into the Cache County Jail.
Rice was arraigned in 1st District Court Monday afternoon. He was charged with five counts of rape of a child and five counts of sodomy on a child, all first-degree felonies.
According to a warrant for Rice’s arrest, the alleged victim told police how the suspect sexually assaulted her almost nightly over the course of a year, when the girl was approximately five-years-old. The crimes occurred while Rice was living with the victim’s family between 2010-2011.
The now 13-year-old girl claimed Rice was an acquaintance of the victim’s family. He would sneak into her bedroom at night and molest and rape her. He also threatened to kill her mom, if she told anyone.
During the police investigation, officers interviewed Rice. He denied the sexual assaults and then invoked his right to remain silent.
During Monday’s court appearance, Cache County Deputy Attorney Dane Murray said the nature of the charges against Rice are very serious. He asked the court to set the defendant’s bail at $50,000.
Rice asked the court for a lower bail amount. He claimed he was in prison or jail at the time of the alleged crimes.
Judge Angela Fonnesbeck said she was really concerned about the nature and degree of the charges. She agreed with Murray and set bail at $50,000.
Rice was ordered to appear again in court next week. He could face up to life in prison if convicted.