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RICHFIELD — A veteran Utah Highway Patrol trooper has been arrested and accused of inappropriately touching a young woman.
Bronson Willas Wood, 46, was booked into the Sevier County Jail on Tuesday for investigation of forcible sexual abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
In March, the Utah County Sheriff's Office was asked to investigate a case out of Richfield involving a UHP trooper. It was reported that a year ago, Wood had touched a 19-year-old woman without consent while off-duty, according to a police booking affidavit.
"The victim stated she had not previously reported it because she did not think anyone would believe her because Bronson is a highway patrol officer," the affidavit states.
A detective interviewed the woman in April. She said she was at Wood's home with a friend, and he encouraged them to drink and take shots of alcohol. Later that night, when the woman was on a couch in the basement, investigators say Wood went downstairs.
"Bronson put his hand on her hip and was rubbing her side. The victim was worried about escalating the situation so she tried to stay calm. Bronson continued to touch the victim, and she asked him to stop, but he did not stop," the affidavit alleges.
Wood then asked the woman, "Will you make out with me?" and the woman declined, according to the affidavit.
He then told the woman he had been in love with her since she was 17 and continued to touch her as the woman tried to convince him to go back upstairs, the arrest report states.
After Wood went upstairs, the woman called a friend to pick her up. He was confronted the next day after the woman told one of his family members what had allegedly happened, police said.
"Bronson initially denied everything but later told two people that what the victim said happened did happen," according to the affidavit.
Bronson, who has been with the Utah Highway Patrol for 17 years, was placed on administrative leave, according to a statement from the department.
"We also initiated an administrative investigation to determine the employee's involvement. This was done to complete both an independent and comprehensive criminal and internal investigation to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to address this matter effectively.
"We take the allegations in this incident very seriously," the UHP continued. "The Utah Department of Public Safety and the Utah Highway Patrol have zero tolerance for this type of behavior. Today we were made aware that Bronson Wood was booked into the Sevier County Jail on felony charges for sexual assault and contributing to (the delinquency of) a minor. The department has begun its internal processes to formally address this matter. We express our most sincere, heartfelt sympathy and support to the victim of this incident during this difficult time."
