Judge: Centerville therapist’s conduct with girl ‘utterly reprehensible’
Scott Andrew Peterson walks out of the courtroom with his attorney, Tara Isaacson, after his sentence was read by judge John Morris (not pictured) at the Davis County Courthouse in Farmington, Ut., Monday, March 10, 2014.Peterson plead guilt earlier this year to one count of second degree felony forcible sexual abuse. (Brian Nicholson/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
Scott Andrew Peterson listens as his attorney, Tara Isaacson, argues on his behalf during his sentencing at the Davis County Courthouse in Farmington, Ut., Monday, March 10, 2014.Peterson plead guilt earlier this year to one count of second degree felony forcible sexual abuse. (Brian Nicholson/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
Scott Andrew Peterson listens as his attorney, Tara Isaacson, argues on his behalf during his sentencing at the Davis County Courthouse in Farmington, Ut., Monday, March 10, 2014.Peterson plead guilt earlier this year to one count of second degree felony forcible sexual abuse. (Brian Nicholson/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
Scott Andrew Peterson walks into the courtroom for his sentencing at the Davis County Courthouse in Farmington, Ut., Monday, March 10, 2014.Peterson plead guilt earlier this year to one count of second degree felony forcible sexual abuse. (Brian Nicholson/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
Scott Andrew Peterson walks into the courtroom for his sentencing at the Davis County Courthouse in Farmington, Ut., Monday, March 10, 2014.Peterson plead guilt earlier this year to one count of second degree felony forcible sexual abuse. (Brian Nicholson/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
Scott Andrew Peterson listens with his attorney, Tara Isaacson, as his sentence is read by judge John Morris (not pictured) at the Davis County Courthouse in Farmington, Ut., Monday, March 10, 2014.Peterson plead guilt earlier this year to one count of second degree felony forcible sexual abuse. (Brian Nicholson/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
Scott Andrew Peterson walks out of the courtroom with his attorney, Tara Isaacson, after his sentence was read by judge John Morris (not pictured) at the Davis County Courthouse in Farmington, Ut., Monday, March 10, 2014.Peterson plead guilt earlier this year to one count of second degree felony forcible sexual abuse. (Brian Nicholson/Special to the Standard-Examiner)
FARMINGTON — A judge called a former social worker’s conduct with a teenage girl, “utterly reprehensible.”
Judge John Morris said Monday that Scott Andrew Peterson’s actions after he was arrested in October “only helped you, not the victim.”
Morris said Peterson “took responsibility after the fact. Key words here are ‘after the fact’.”
Morris sentenced Peterson, 36, of Bountiful, to serve 1 year to 15 years at the Utah State Prison.
Peterson had pleaded guilty to one count of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony, in January. He has been held in the Davis County Jail since Centerville police arrested him.
The victim, surrounded by family, was in court for the sentencing hearing. Also in court were family members of Peterson.
Tara Isaacson, Peterson’s attorney, had asked the judge to impose a year sentence at the Davis County Jail instead of a prison sentence.
She said her client has “taken responsibility from day one.”
Peterson waived his right to a preliminary hearing because he was “concerned about the impact the preliminary hearing would have on the victim,” she said.
Deputy Davis County Attorney Cristine Ortega said prison is appropriate because Peterson held a “position of special trust.” The victim was 15 years old when therapy was started and was “dealing with serious issues.”
“He exploited her weaknesses,” Ortega said. “He made her feel guilty.”
Ortega said the victim was “vulnerable,” and had been referred to Peterson for counseling by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Peterson was told “not to have any conduct” with the victim after she reported he had kissed her, Ortega said. The conduct escalated to inappropriate touching.
The girl, who is now 17, no longer trusts anyone, Ortega said.
Isaacson said Peterson is not a predator.
Peterson owned and operated Therapy on the Fly, at 1199 S. Main in Centerville. The business closed in August and Peterson opened a business online, police said.
Peterson surrendered his license to practice last November 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 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 LDS Church. 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 reporter Loretta Park at 801-625-4252 or lpark@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter at @LorettaParkSE.