Suspected kidnapper Tevita Mounga may have more victims

SALT LAKE CITY – After an “elderly” man, Tevita Mounga, was arrested and charged with kidnapping and sexual assault on Friday, police stressed Wednesday that there may be more victims. Salt Lake City police urged parents to have age-appropriate conversations with their children to find out if their child was a victim.

Tevita Mounga, 78, was charged with seven felonies and one misdemeanor after an underage girl reported to police that she had been abducted and sexually assaulted by an older man she did not know. Charging documents say the 16-year-old girl said she was abducted by a man on March 6.

The girl said she was walking home from school near 500 North and 1000 West with a plate full of cupcakes. Mounga reportedly stopped and pointed at the cupcakes. The girl said she got into the truck thinking he wanted one.

In the car, Mounga held her against her will, took her phone and threw it out the window, she said. He then drove to an unknown location where the assault took place. After she reported the incident to the police, she was questioned by detectives.

“During the interrogation, she became emotional and was unable to continue speaking with investigators,” the documents state.

Further reports lead to arrest

Police subsequently received two more reports of an elderly man seducing young girls in a truck on May 10 and May 22. In both cases, witnesses managed to take photos of the truck he was in and the license plate.

“The license plate belongs to a white Ford F-150 registered to (78)-year-old Tevita Mounga,” the document states.

On Thursday, investigators conducted another interview with the original victim, who was then able to provide investigators with further details about the attack she suffered.

“After the interview, (the girl) agreed to take a photo lineup of the possible suspect. (She) identified the photo of Tevita Mounga as the older male suspect,” the document states.

Mounga was charged with aggravated kidnapping, two counts of sexual assault, three counts of rape with an object, simple aggravated sexual assault and damaging a communications device.

Joint call for action

Salt Lake City police stressed that investigators believe Mounga may have approached other girls before his arrest. The news release asked parents to talk to their children to identify other children who may have been asked to get into his truck.

“This is the biggest fear parents have: that their child will be abducted off the streets,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. “Anyone who behaves like this sends shivers down our community’s spine. Especially when they’re children who often walk from school or a neighbor’s house.”