A Tooele City police officer has been charged with a felony after he allegedly had sexual relations with a federal parolee during his time as an officer.
Derik L. Dudley, 24, was charged with third-degree felony custodial sexual relations in 3rd District Court last Thursday.
Dudley was a Tooele City police officer between Dec. 1, 2017 and April 2018, according to a probable cause statement. Last March, the police department became aware the defendant had been engaged in a sexual relationship with a federal parolee, supervised by the federal government.
A Tooele City detective conducted an investigation, in which he interviewed Dudley and the parolee, the statement said. Dudley admitted to sexual acts with the parolee and said he knew the man was on federal parole at the time.
The parolee was interviewed and told investigators Dudley knew he was on federal probation and was told numerous times before sexual contact occurred, according to the probable cause statement. The parolee admitted to exchanging nude photographs and going to the defendant’s home in Dec. 2017.
Dudley resigned from the Tooele City police department in April 2018, the statement said.
In February, Tooele City police received information Dudley had been interviewed by the Salt Lake City Police Department for possible employment, according to the statement. Tooele City police detectives obtained a copy of Dudley’s interview with Salt Lake police, where he admitted to having engaged in sex with the federal parolee as a Tooele City police officer.
Tooele City Police Sgt. Jeremy Hansen said the Salt Lake City Police Department interview had additional information, which led to his department filing charges against Dudley with the Tooele County Attorney’s Office. He also said Dudley resigned from the department just prior to the conclusion of an internal affairs investigation.
Dudley is scheduled to make his initial appearance in 3rd District Court on April 1 at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Matthew Bates.