Man charged with sexually abusing two teenagers in St. George Park

ST. GEORGE – A Maryland man was charged Thursday with sexually assaulting two young girls in a restroom at a St. George park.

Nicholas Micael Palazzo, 20, who police say is originally from Maryland and has only been in Utah for six months, is charged in 5th District Court with two counts of rape, two counts of aggravated kidnapping and sodomy (first-degree felonies), two counts of sexual assault (second-degree felonies) and other charges.

Police were called to the men’s restroom at JC Snow Park, 275 E. 900 South, in St. George on Wednesday after a witness came in and observed two people engaging in sexual acts, according to a police affidavit. Emergency dispatchers were told a man and two teenagers were seen leaving the restroom.

Officers found Palazzo, who they believed was impaired. Police say he “could not tell me where he met the women other than that he met them somewhere in St. George. (He) said he did not know the names or ages of the girls,” the affidavit states.

Officers found the girls, ages 14 and 15, at another location. They said they were at another park when they met Palazzo, whom they did not previously know.

“(He) pressured them to drink his ‘lemonade’ and after tasting it, they believed it was alcohol,” the affidavit states.

According to police, Palazzo continued to flirt with the girls even after learning their ages. The girls then went to the Fiesta Fun Center to meet friends and Palazzo followed them, the affidavit states. Afterward, they went to the snow park.

“While at the snow park, (Palazzo) continued to grope and kiss the two women. Both (girls) stated they did not want to be touched or kissed… and again told (Palazzo) that they were underage,” the affidavit states. When the girls tried to go home, police say Palazzo pushed them into a men’s restroom stall and sexually assaulted them. The girls told police they were “frozen and frightened.”

In addition to the seven felonies, Palazzo was also charged with two counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor (a Class A misdemeanor), drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, consumption of alcohol in a public place and unlawful consumption of alcohol (a Class B misdemeanor), and operating while intoxicated (a Class C misdemeanor).

Palazzo’s first court date is scheduled for Friday.