This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A South Jordan man was charged Tuesday in the alleged sexual assault of a 5-year-old girl who attended a day care he operated in the 1990s.
Ward Allen Bushman, 47, is charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony. If convicted, he faces 15 years to life in prison.
Bushman purportedly assaulted the girl between Sept. 1, 1998, and May 31, 1999, when she was 5 years old, according to court documents. The girl, now 22, recently reported the abuse to Salt Lake City police.
While attending the day care, the victim told police, Bushman would put his fingers in her vagina. He also placed his hand down her pants, pulled her pants off and masturbated in front of her, documents state. At times, she reported, Bushman would have sex with his wife in front of the children at the day care, which was located near 600 East and 2100 South.
The Salt Lake Tribune typically does not identify the victims of sexual assault.
Bushman turned himself in to Davis County Jail about 5 p.m. Wednesday. He was released about six minutes later under a bond agreement, said Davis County Sgt. DeeAnn Servey. Third District Judge Keith Kelly set his bail at $100,000.
"It is possible that there are other victims of Mr. Bushman who have not yet been identified," says a news release from SLCPD. "We are asking for any such victims to please come forward to speak to detectives."
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