LOGAN — A 72-year-old Providence man has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman at his home. Richard R. Cornell was booked Monday night into the Cache County Jail.
Cache County Sheriff’s Lt. Doyle Peck said deputies received report of the assault around 7:30 p.m., after the alleged victim went to CAPSA for help. The 19-year-old woman described being raped by Cornell, who was an acquaintance.
“This was a pretty graphic assault,” explained Peck. “Our investigators are trying to figure out what triggered Cornell to do this. It seems to be totally out of the blue.”
The victim called Cornell from the sheriff’s office, so deputies could record the conversation. The suspect apologized to the woman and said it never should have happened. He then allegedly stated that he had prayed about it, and she should go home, “take a shower, and forget it ever happened.”
Deputies responded to the home where the alleged assault took place. They were able to collect several pieces of physical evidence.
Investigators also questioned Cornell, who previously worked in law enforcement, military police and federal court security. He refused to cooperate without his lawyer.
Deputies noted that Cornell was still wearing the same clothes the victim described him having on when the rape occurred. They also filed for a warrant to collect his DNA.
Cornell was booked on suspicion of forcible sex abuse, object rape and forcible sodomy. He is being held on $100,000 bail.