Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Tuesday, April 23, 2024 73° Today's Paper


Top News

Sheriff: 4 men assaulted 9-year-old while mother smoked meth

1/1
Swipe or click to see more

Clockwise from top left: Randall Flatlip, Larson RonDeau, Jerry Flatlip and Josiah RonDeau. Uintah County Sheriff’s Office Authorities allege the four men sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl at a Utah home while her mother was in the garage smoking meth. (Uintah County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

SALT LAKE CITY » Four men have been arrested for sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl in a Utah home while her mother was in the garage smoking meth, authorities said today.

The girl’s mother left her sleeping on a couch March 27 inside a home in rural Uintah County, which borders Colorado, the Uintah County Sheriff’s Office said in court documents.

The four men were staying at the home and took the child into another room, where they assaulted her, investigators said. When her mother returned, the child said she wanted to leave.

Two days later, the girl told her mother about the assault, deputies said. The woman then reported it to police.

The sheriff’s office identified the men as 36-year-old Larson RonDeau, 20-year-old Josiah RonDeau, 29-year-old Jerry Flatlip and 26-year-old Randall Flatlip.

The men did not have listed phone numbers, and it didn’t appear any of them had a lawyer who could comment on their behalf.

Larson RonDeau, the first to be arrested, was charged Friday with rape and sodomy of a child. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday in the town of Vernal.

The other three men were arrested several days later. Uintah County Attorney G. Mark Thomas said today he expects similar charges to be filed against them in the next few days.

State child welfare officials have taken custody of the girl.

Thomas said the child’s mother has not been arrested, and any possible charges against her would come after officials finish reviewing the cases against the four men. He had no information on the child’s father.

Investigators said in court documents the four men might have been related. The mother told deputies she was friends with a woman who might have been related to some of the men. The mother met the woman during a past stay in jail, deputies said. They did not offer further details.

Thomas, the prosecutor, didn’t know today whether the four men were Utah residents, but he believed they may have ties to Montana.

Messages seeking additional details from the sheriff’s office were not immediately returned.

5 responses to “Sheriff: 4 men assaulted 9-year-old while mother smoked meth”

  1. DeltaDag says:

    A little late, but at least the child is probably better off now.

  2. sewing4u says:

    trash human beings

  3. Dawg says:

    REAL PIGS! They need a Love Daddy in prison to teach them a little respect. Mano-Mano!

Leave a Reply