Former Davis Social Worker Pleads Guilty to Sex Abuse of Teen Client

By Loretta Park
Standard-Examiner
January 28, 2014

http://www.standard.net/stories/2014/01/27/former-davis-social-worker-pleads-guilty-sex-abuse-teen-client

FARMINGTON --- A former licensed social worker entered a guilty plea to one of the four felonies he was charged with in relation to the sex abuse of a teenage girl he was counseling.

Scott Andrew Peterson, 36, of Bountiful, entered a guilty plea to one of forcible sex abuse, a second-degree felony, before Judge John Morris on Monday.

In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors dismissed two other counts of forcible sex abuse and one count of forcible sodomy, a first-degree felony. 

A sentencing hearing has been set for March 10. 

Peterson is being held in the Davis County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bail.

He was arrested in October by Centerville police.

Peterson owned and operated Therapy on the Fly, at 1199 S. Main in Centerville, police said.

The business closed in August and Peterson opened a business online, police said.

Peterson surrendered his license to practice in Nov. 1 to the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.

According to the Therapy on the Fly website, Peterson had opened an office in Ogden at the Old Post Office in 2010.

According to DOPL's website, Peterson received his license in 2008. He had received his master's degree in social work from New Mexico Highlands University in 2005.

The girl, now 17, told police she had been receiving therapy from Peterson. Between March and June, Peterson engaged in sexual relations with the girl, who was 16 at the time, at his office, police said.

Centerville police were notified of the incidents by the legal department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. The girl had reported the abuse to her bishop.

According to a probable cause statement, Peterson had been the girl's counselor for two years.

Peterson told police "that over time he began to have very strong feelings for her and one thing led to another," according to the document.

Police said they do not believe at this time there are more victims.



Contact: lpark@standard.net