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A Heber bounce house operator accused of sexually assaulting several young boys is now facing even more charges after police say they found child pornography at his home.
Bryce Johnson, 33, was charged earlier this month with four counts of first-degree felony sexual abuse of a child and a charge of misdemeanor sexual battery. On Tuesday, prosecutors filed another case charging Johnson with 20 counts of second-degree felony sexual exploitation of a minor.
Investigators allege in charging documents that when they searched Johnson's house after the initial charges were filed, they found more than 20 images depicting child pornography.
Heber police officials said in a Facebook post that it appears as if Johnson downloaded the images online, and did not create the photographs. They noted that the investigation is ongoing and they "suspect there will be more charges" filed in the future.
Johnson is accused of inappropriately touching four boys that he met through his business, Fun Stuff LLC, which operates a bounce house, water slide and ice rink in Wasatch County.
Johnson was in court Wednesday for a bail-reduction hearing, where his attorney, Susanne Gustin, argued he should be released on an ankle monitor.
Fourth District Judge Jennifer Brown, instead, affirmed the $100,000 cash-only bail that was set in the sex assault case, and imposed $50,000 cash-only bail in the child pornography case.
Two friends of Johnson who wrote letters to the court in connection with the bail issue, claimed he was not a flight risk and would respect any release conditions imposed by the court.
A woman who said she had worked with Johnson as a coach at the Midway City Ice Rink, wrote, "I have known him to be a kind and caring person, always concerned with the well-being of those around him."
Another woman called Johnson "one of the most caring people I have ever met. He is always putting others needs before his own."
The judge set status conferences in both cases for Aug. 2.