Provo teen admits to sexually abusing 12 kids

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A 19-year-old Provo man turned himself into the police on Wednesday, telling them he had sexually abused a dozen children.

William Leonard Butcher was arrested on suspicion of 13 counts of sexual abuse of a child, four counts of forcible sexual abuse of a child, and sodomy on a child, all felonies.

He voluntarily came to the Provo Police Department on Wednesday morning and admitted to the abuse, which started when he was 14, according to the charges. He told police that his victims included boys and girls, as well as infants, and most of it happened when he was an adult.

The man also completed a voluntary written statement to the police about the abuse. Lt. Mathew Siufanua, spokesman for the department, could not speak as to why the Butcher came to them and admitted to the crimes.

He has been booked into Utah County Jail.

The man has no criminal history, according to a search of Utah court records. Police believe there may be more victims and are continuing to investigate Butcher's claims, Siufanua said.

mmcfall@sltrib.com

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