ST. GEORGE — A 31-year-old Hurricane man was arrested early Saturday morning after police say a three-month investigation identified him as the man who allegedly raped a 79-year-old woman in St. George.
Spencer Glen Monnett was booked into Purgatory Correctional Facility in Hurricane on five charges, including first-degree felony counts of rape and object rape, along with burglary of a dwelling, a second-degree felony. He also faces one count of sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor, and one class B misdemeanor count of assault.
The charges stem from an incident reported by the woman in the early morning hours of April 17 of a burglary at a residence near the 300 North block of Main Street. The woman told responding police that she was sexually assaulted during the incident by an unknown man.
Investigators learned that the suspect entered the residence through an unlocked door and went into the bedroom where the woman was sleeping, according to a previous statement made by the St. George Police Department.
Read more: Who can help police solve this case of an alleged sexual assault in St. George?
The woman told police she awoke to the man putting a cloth in her mouth before sexually assaulting her. The suspect left the residence after the alleged attack, and the woman called police.
Several officers were on scene within five minutes of the initial call to dispatch, and police detectives subsequently investigated the incident by interviewing neighbors and following up on leads.
Police say the suspect was later identified as Monnett through information and evidence processed during the investigation. He was brought in for questioning, and shortly before 4:30 a.m. Saturday, Monnett was placed under arrest and transported to jail, where he remains on $52,630 bail.
A news release issued by St. George Police Saturday states the arrest was made possible by the collaborative efforts of the officers and detectives involved with the case as well as the Utah State Crime Lab, Parabon NanoLabs and all those who assisted in the investigation.
Police also thanked the woman for her “courage, strength and perseverance throughout this investigation.”
Although St. George Police identified the woman by name in the news release, St. George News has not reached her for comment and generally does not name alleged victims of sexual assault or other abuse.
This report is based on statements from police and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.
That is just awful. I hope they lock him up for a long time for what he did to her. But knowing our injustice system, he will be out on bail. Shameful
Sometimes the death penalty should be given for non-murder offenses. This is one of those times. This guy deserves to be put down.
Yeah if they put you down it would help
Look who’s back in mommy’s basement! See you in another week after you come back down from your high.
He will fare far worse than death in prison; he will wish he had been put to death.
Yep …talk about ‘just punishment. it’s coming
Yep…. time to get off the dope, get a job, and give mommy’s basement a break.
Poor woman. Sick ….!* I agree with with Real Life and Lady Bug too. I hope this monster is proud of himself – scum.
* Ed. ellipsis added
This wonderful elderly lady is so blessed and fortunate that she came out of this terrible assult as well as she did…
Yes, I’m worried sick that our legal system will go easy on him and he’ll have the chance to repeat this unspeakable act, or worse, to another lady!
Hey Winters, normally I don’t play the grammar nazi, but who ever reads this 1st (admin, or you) please get another “a” in “assault” other wise someone might think you were doing it on purpose. Lots of people misspell that word. I know this because I got my first assault rifle at 16, and didn’t know I couldn’t spell it myself until a teacher pointed it out. Talk about irresponsible parents! I had a freakin Harley-Davison before I could spell that too! Teacher said I was a “Lazy Speller.” But GMC I had down.
get over yourself…
This monkey lookin’ dude is gonna get some serious beatdowns in prison.