This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A former Unified Police Department officer was sentenced to probation instead of prison Friday for a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, who pleaded for leniency before the court on his behalf.
The now-18-year-old said her relationship with 26-year-old Regan Anson "saved my life" and that "sex was the smallest part of our relationship."
The girl explained that she has experienced extreme anguish and depression over the past several months, not because of Anson, but because of how she has been treated by "this system [that] does not care about me."
"You cannot undo the pain this case has done to me over and over again," she said. "This man is not for you to prosecute. His life is not yours to judge."
She said she is deeply concerned for his well-being and wished they could be in contact, even if they were just friends.
Charging documents in the case say the underage girl "could not legally consent to the conduct" with Anson, who was "in a position of special trust."
Deputy Salt Lake County District Attorney Sandi Johnson, who spoke on behalf of the prosecution, said she didn't believe Anson to be "predatory" when he and the teen developed a relationship, but she's required to hold him accountable.
Anson told 3rd District Judge Katie Bernards-Goodman that he takes full responsibility for the inappropriate relationship and that no one should place blame on the teenager.
"There are no words to describe what this has done to her life," he said. "I would give anything to take it back. ... It shames me that I have violated the oath that I took to wear that badge."
Anson, who served 49 days in jail, asked Bernards-Goodman for the chance to continue rebuilding what he has left of his life.
Bernards-Goodman sentenced him to three years of probation. If he completes the probation, his three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a 16- or 17-year-old will be reduced from felonies to class A misdemeanors.
Anson, who was fired from UPD in light of the relationship, was originally charged with five counts of second-degree-felony forcible sexual abuse, but those were amended to the lesser charges of unlawful conduct in exchange for his guilty plea.
He will be required to add his information to the sex offender registry, and the listing will remain in place for 10 years if he does not commit another sex crime. He is also prohibited from contact with the victim or her family.
The Tribune typically does not identify victims of sex crimes.
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