OGDEN — An Ogden portrait photographer has pleaded guilty to a pair of charges in the sexual abuse of two customers.

In 2nd District Court on Wednesday, Russell Scott Healey, 60, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse stemming from incidents on April 15, 2019, and Aug. 7, 2020. In a plea bargain, the Weber County Attorney’s Office dropped two first-degree felony object rape charges from the 2020 case.

Healey has been held without bail in the Weber County Jail since his arrest on Nov. 17, 2021. Defense attorneys soon asked that Healey’s mental competency to stand trial be examined. A state expert in February 2020 found Healey to be competent and the case proceeded.

Weber County sheriff’s investigators said in a probable cause statement that potentially many women have been victimized similarly over the years, but the charges focused on the allegations involving two customers.

The arrest affidavit said Healey offered free photo shoots to women but he told them that they would have to pay for any photos they wanted. He would then withhold photos, ask them to pose for more provocative photos and then seek sexual favors, the affidavit said.

The investigation began Aug. 7, 2020, when a woman reported she had been assaulted by Healey that day.

She said Healey began making advances on her, telling her how beautiful she was. She said he allegedly grabbed her and kissed her neck, fondled her breasts and inserted his fingers in her genital area.

The woman in the 2019 case told deputies that Healey had offered to do a free photo shoot to help build her portfolio. She said that at one shoot, she was sitting on a couch while wearing a dress when Healey allegedly rubbed her upper leg and kissed her genitals through her underwear.

Judge Cristina Ortega set sentencing for Nov. 9.

Court records show Healey pleaded guilty in 1993 in Salt Lake County to third-degree felony charges of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor and unlawful sexual intercourse.

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