Former staff member at CV Youth Center pleads guilty to having sexual relationship with teen inmate

Wesley Kendall Allen booking photo from the Cache County Jail.

LOGAN — A 40-year-old former staff member at the Cache Valley Youth Center has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing one of the juvenile inmates. Wesley Kendall Allen engaged in a sexual relationship with the girl last year. He was arrested in January and booked into the Cache County Jail.

Allen appeared in 1st District Court for a change of plea hearing Monday morning. The Richmond man accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to object rape, a first-degree felony; two counts of forcible sexual abuse and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, both second-degree felonies; and witness tampering, a third-degree felony.

According to prosecutors, the victim’s mother found several journal entries about her daughter being in a relationship with Allen and contacted the Division of Child and Family Services, who contacted police.

During an interview with investigators, the teenage girl disclosed how she had a sexual relationship with Allen while being housed in the facility between mid-November and the end of December 2022. She described how he would take her to the center’s laundry room that didn’t have video surveillance, and molest and fondle her. This occurred multiple times.

The girl also explained how during another occasion, Allen watched her take a shower and get dressed. He was reportedly the only one on staff at the time.

Police obtained video surveillance from the center, confirming the multiple visits to the unmonitored area. The times in the room were between seventeen seconds and over 8 minutes.

Video also showed Allen alone in a common area of the facility during another time. The victim was seen entering the shower room but leaving the door open. He continued to sit and look into the room, watching her. He then is seen following her to her bedroom and standing at the doorway for a time, before closing the door and walking away.

During police’s interview, the girl explained how Allen told her that he loved her and written her a love note. He also provided her his personal cellphone number so she could contact him.

Allen had also told the girl, he would help her get a driver’s license and passport so they could flee the country and live together. He also told her to “lie” and tell people nothing happened, when the investigation started.

During Monday’s court appearance, defense attorney Craig Bainum explained that in exchange for Allen’s guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss two remaining charges. He asked the court for a special sentencing date when he could have witnesses testify about his client’s character.

Allen was ordered to remain in jail without bail. He was scheduled to be sentenced May 8, when he could face up to life in prison.

According to a spokesperson for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Allen was placed on administrative leave after being arrested. He was later terminated.


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2 Comments

  • Fanny Alger March 22, 2023 at 9:40 am Reply

    See?! All the conservatives were right! Queer folx & drag queens & books ARE the problem. BAN IT ALL !
    Oh wait… is this another straight white conservative male?
    Hmm. That’s odd.

  • AKH March 23, 2023 at 5:00 pm Reply

    I know this man’s wife very well and right and wrong between politics parties is NOT what deserves our focus. His actions destroyed 2 families and it’s the victims that need our attention, not one’s personal political agenda.

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