Ogden school employee arrested after video shows sexual abuse of student, police say
OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) — Police arrested a former employee of Ben Lomond High School on Monday for allegedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old student.
America Karina Rubio, 21, was booked into Weber County Jail on suspicion of sexual abuse of a minor. She is facing charges of forcible sexual abuse of a minor and forcible sodomy, both first-degree felonies, according to the probable cause affidavit.
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Pleasant View Police began investigating earlier this month after receiving a report of the alleged abuse. As part of the investigation, they spoke with another juvenile who was “at the house on the day of the reported incident” which took place in December, the affidavit said.
The juvenile allegedly told police he had seen a video of Rubio engaging in sexual acts with his friend, a 16-year-old male. He said he recognized Rubio because she worked at Ben Lomond High at the time. Police later obtained the video which they say confirmed what the juvenile said.
Police then spoke with the victim who said he had been messaging Rubio through Instagram prior to the incident and invited her over to his friend’s house that day. He said they went into a room alone where incident took place.
Rubio allegedly admitted to the incident when questioned by police, according to the affidavit, saying she was hesitant to go over to the house because of her employee status but “ended up going.” Police say she admitted to engaging in sexual acts with the minor.
“America is being charged with Forcible Sexual Abuse of a Minor as the victim is [a] 16-year-old student at the high school where America is an employee,” the affidavit read. “The involved individuals along with the victim are all juveniles as juveniles [are] more vulnerable.”
An Ogden School District statement said Rubio was placed on administrative leave once the allegations came forward and no longer is employed at the high school. The district said she “did not work directly with the student involved as part of [her] regular job duties.”
“It is important to respect the privacy and confidentiality of those affected by this situation. We urge all members of our school community to refrain from speculating or spreading rumors and to allow the investigation to proceed with integrity and thoroughness,” the statement read.
Ogden School District’s full statement can be read below:
The welfare of our students is the highest priority for Ogden School District and Ben Lomond High School. We are aware of the criminal charges against a 21 year-old former Ben Lomond staff assistant and we are cooperating with Pleasant View police in their ongoing investigation. As far as we are aware, this employee did not work directly with the student involved as part of their regular job duties.
It is important to respect the privacy and confidentiality of those affected by this situation. We urge all members of our school community to refrain from speculating or spreading rumors and to allow the investigation to proceed with integrity and thoroughness. For those who have been directly involved, we have created a support plan to ensure their needs are being addressed.
Some parents might ask why they were not informed about this situation earlier. Ogden School District took steps to place the employee on administrative leave once the allegations were brought forward. Law enforcement was notified and an internal investigation was started, while simultaneously cooperating with the criminal investigation. While the District took immediate action to protect students, we also had an obligation to protect the integrity of the criminal investigation and follow the recommendations of law enforcement. As the investigation is ongoing, we will remain committed to cooperating with law enforcement and respecting the privacy of those who may have been involved.
We understand that these events can have a profound impact on individuals even if they were not directly involved. Counseling and support services are available for any student or employee who may be affected. Our dedicated team of counselors and support staff are ready to provide help and guidance for anyone who needs assistance.
We want to reiterate our commitment to supporting those involved in this situation, protecting and respecting their privacy, and ensuring that all of our students feel safe at school. We cannot stress enough how important it is for students and parents to report anything that they feel is concerning or inappropriate, no matter how small or insignificant. School administrators will treat all reports with confidentiality. Individuals can submit anonymous reports using the free SafeUT mobile app, telephone hotline or website, safeUT.org. Please help us in pursuing our goal of safety and well being for all students.
Ogden School District
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