This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A former Box Elder County sheriff's deputy has been charged with eight federal misdemeanors after prosecutors say he inappropriately searched eight women during traffic stops in 2010.
Scott Womack, 36, surrendered to federal authorities Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Attorney David Barlow, and was scheduled to make an appearance in federal court on Wednesday, as well.
Womack has been charged with eight counts of deprivation of rights under color of law following a federal investigation.
The court documents state that Womack, while working as a deputy, required all eight women to expose parts of their bodies without legitimate law enforcement purposes.
Three of the counts state that Womack required those particular alleged victims to show either their genital area, pelvic area, or breasts and pelvic area.
All the incidents occurred in 2010, court documents state, with the majority of the incidents taking place from July to November 2010.
Womack faces up to a year in federal prison for each count, if convicted.
Box Elder County Sheriff Lynn Yeates has said Womack was fired after one of the alleged victims filed a complaint in July.
Womack is also charged in state court with one felony and six misdemeanors in connection with similar alleged misconduct. Charging documents in those cases allege the crimes happened on six different dates between Oct. 1, 2010, and July 20, 2011.
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