This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A personal trainer who pleaded guilty to a felony charge for having sexual relations with a teenage client will not go to prison for his crime.
Instead Benjamin JD Mora, 29, of American Fork, will serve three years of probation and only go to prison for a term of up to five years if he can't keep the terms of his probation agreement, state court records show.
Third District Judge Deno Himonas handed down the sentence Friday in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court.
Mora was initially accused of meeting his then-15-year-old victim at least four times between July and October of 2012 and assaulting her in his vehicle at locations across Salt Lake County.
He was charged with 11 first- and second-degree felony counts, including forcible sodomy, object rape and forcible sexual abuse in January 2013. If convicted of the charges, he could have spent the rest of his life in prison.
But in a deal with Salt Lake County prosecutors, Mora pleaded guilty in September to one count of third-degree felony unlawful sexual activity with a minor. All other charges were dropped.
Under the terms of his probation, Mora must participate in any programming and counseling recommended by Adult Probation and Parole, can violate no new laws and is barred from any contact with his victim.