37-year-old man charged with sexually abusing 17-year-old girl in Cedar City

Cedar City – The City of Wonders — A Las Vegas man was arrested and accused of sexually exploiting a 17-year-old girl at a Cedar City hotel.

The man was identified as 37-year-old Vernon Ross of Las Vegas, according to court documents.

Police responded to a report of a runaway teenager and found that the youth had made several calls to Ross before escaping.

Ross contacted police several days after the girl was found and admitted to meeting and having sex with the teen in May, but said he believed she was 18.

Several photos and videos of child sexual abuse were also found on Ross’ phone. He told police another video of child sexual abuse was on his wife’s phone. Ross also stated that he offered the teenager alcohol and she drank some, and that he gave her a nicotine vaporizer at her request.

Ross was booked into the Iron County Jail on five counts of sexual abuse of a minor.

The probable cause affidavit states: “Vernon is charged with multiple sex offenses and has admitted to all of the offenses. He lives in Las Vegas but has committed crimes in Cedar City. If released, it is very likely that he will flee the judicial district to Nevada.”