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Rape and child sex-abuse charges have been dismissed against the former executive director of a Cedar City home for troubled girls after prosecutors learned that some of the alleged victims lied to investigators.
Daniel Sandberg Taylor, 43, was charged last June in 5th District Court with three counts each of rape and aggravated sexual abuse of a child, all first-degree felonies.
The three alleged victims were all staying at Integrity House, a residential treatment center for troubled girls 12 to 17 years old.
Prosecutors last Friday filed a motion to dismiss the charges, saying it was discovered during follow-up investigation "that several of the alleged victims and witnesses lied about the underlying charges."
The motion also says that several of the alleged victims were "unable and unwilling to participate in the prosecution due to sever psychiatric and emotional issues."
Judge G. Michael Westfall dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning prosecutors cannot refile the charges.
A statement issued by defense attorney Blaine Hofeling said Taylor is "gratified" by the dismissal of all charges by Iron County prosecutors.
"Mr. Taylor has at all times maintained and continues to maintain his innocence," the statement says. "Mr. Taylor looks forward to trying to rebuild his life and wishes to express gratitude to those who have continued to believe in his innocence and who have provided invaluable support to him."
Also charged last June was Jamie Frost, 29, identified as a student/family advocate at Integrity House. Frost was charged with two counts of class B misdemeanor assault in the Iron County justice court. Court documents do not include information about the alleged crimes, except to say that they occurred on June 1, 2013.
In October, Frost entered a guilty plea in abeyance to one of the assault counts and the other was dismissed.