WILLARD, Box Elder County — A Utah Highway Patrol trooper is facing charges accusing him of exposing himself to a teen and also offering to show the teen a pornographic movie.
Robert Ellis Nelson, 57, of Willard, was charged Feb. 13 in 1st District Court with distributing harmful materials to a minor and obstruction of justice, third-degree felonies, and three counts of lewdness, a class B misdemeanor.
He resigned from the Utah Highway Patrol on Feb. 20.
On Sept. 2, investigators say Nelson invited the 17-year-old victim into his home for a glass of water. While in the house, Nelson showed the teen "an explicit image from a pornographic video on a laptop and asked if the victim would like to watch the video," according to charging documents.
The victim declined and left the home. But Nelson then stood naked in his garage and performed a sex act while watching the victim mow a nearby lawn, the charges allege. Prosecutors added that this happened "on at least two other occasions and (Nelson) would attempt to wave the victim over to him while doing so."
The Utah Department of Public Safety says Nelson was placed on leave as soon as the allegations came to light and the Box Elder County Sheriff's Office and Box Elder County Attorney's Office conducted a criminal investigation.
Nelson "factory reset his computer shortly after being placed on administrative leave due to these offenses being reported," the charges state.
Nelson was a UHP trooper for 12 years. His duties included standard patrol duties and commercial vehicle inspections.
His initial appearance in court is scheduled for March 23.
