North Logan man sentenced to four months in prison for sexually assaulting woman | News

LOGAN — A 23-year-old North Logan man was sentenced to four months in prison for sexually assaulting a woman more than three years ago. Joshua Hunter Cline apologized to the victim before being taken into custody by bailiffs and led out of the courtroom.

Cline was sentenced on Monday, July 1, in Logan’s 1st District Court. He previously pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted sexual abuse, now a third-degree felony.

With this confession, Cline admitted to the alleged charges without admitting guilt or offering a defense. In court, this is still considered an admission of guilt.

According to prosecutors, North Park police officers began investigating Cline after the victim described being sexually assaulted on September 10, 2021. The two were reportedly acquaintances.

Investigators interviewed Cline. He admitted to being with the woman the night of the incident. While they were at his home, he reportedly began touching her inappropriately when she told him “no.”

According to the report, Cline claimed the victim asked him two or three times to stop. He told police he thought the woman was just uncomfortable or nervous and if he continued, it would make her happy.

During the sentencing on Monday, defense attorney Wayne Caldwell said Cline made a big mistake that night and did not respect or communicate with the victim appropriately. He said his client regrets making the woman “feel bad.”

Cline told the victim he was sorry and that he never wanted to hurt her. He said, “I never want to hurt anyone again.”

Judge Spencer Walsh said the case could have been avoided if Cline had respected the victim’s boundaries. He called the defendant’s behavior “wrong and appalling, it cannot be tolerated.”

Cline was sentenced to 120 days in jail with credit for one day served, and will be released on probation for up to 48 months.

Caldwell had asked that Cline be released from work and that he be taken to jail in a few days to prepare for incarceration. Both requests were denied by Judge Walsh due to the seriousness of the crimes.