- David Nephi Johnson, 54, has been charged with aggravated child abuse for allegedly waterboarding his 16-year-old daughter during an argument.
- The incident arose when Johnson became angry over the cleanliness of his daughter's bedroom after she returned home.
- Authorities removed the teenage girl from the home due to concerns for her safety, while her younger siblings remain with their parents.
HEBER CITY, UTAH — David Nephi Johnson, 54, is facing an aggravated child abuse charge after investigators say he “waterboarded” his 16-year-old daughter during an argument over whether her bedroom was cleaned to his expectations.
Allegations Outlined In Arrest Paperwork
Investigators were sent a report of suspected child abuse after the teen told authorities she did not feel safe at home and said she feared for her life. During an interview, she became visibly emotional while describing what she said happened about a week earlier, according to a probable-cause affidavit.
The teen told deputies her father was angry when she returned from spending time with friends because her room was not “spotless” before she left. She alleged he grabbed her by the back of the neck, took her into a bathroom, and forced her head into water in the sink more than once. She estimated she could not breathe for up to about 30 seconds and described feeling like she was drowning.
Afterward, she said, he ordered her to clean her room. The teen told investigators she felt sick and struggled to breathe following the incident.
Claims Of Earlier Violence In The Home
The teen also alleged her father had done something similar to her younger brother years earlier and claimed he had backhanded her in the stomach during a separate incident when she did not comply with a demand. She further told investigators she did not feel safe when her father was home and said she had trouble sleeping because she feared something violent could happen.
Where The Children Are Now
Authorities removed the teen from the home and placed her with an adult sibling. The two younger children remained in the care of Johnson and his wife, according to the report. Investigators noted they believed abuse in the household had been ongoing for years and said the children were too fearful to report it.
Party Role And Response
Johnson is identified as the chair of the Wasatch County Republican Party. In a statement, the organization said its vice president would take over while the case proceeds and added that the allegations were deeply troubling.
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