Former Utah crime lab scientist charged with sexually abusing two children

A former state forensic scientist has pleaded not guilty to accusations of sexually abusing two children over a period of several years.

Michael Hepworth, 54, of Woods Cross, is charged in 2nd District Court with eight first-degree felonies, including rape and sodomy of a child, along with aggravated sexual abuse of a child. He also faces two counts of second-degree felony sexual exploitation of a minor. He is expected in court again on Aug. 29 for a pretrial conference.

Hepworth is accused of sexually abusing a boy and girl that he was acquainted with over several years. The crimes were reported by the alleged victims' mother in May, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in 2nd District Court.

The defendant worked in the computer forensics laboratory at Utah's crime lab as recently as last year, according to the search warrant affidavit, and "would have access to numerous files containing child pornography."

One of the alleged victims reported to police that Hepworth showed him pornography, often child pornography, as the sexual assaults took place

In May 2016, the boy messaged Hepworth asking if he had access to the "special videos" anymore, according to the court documents, to which Hepworth allegedly responded that he did not "because he no longer works in that lab."

Both of the children told investigators that Hepworth gave them money in exchange for sex. The now-15-year-old girl told police that she first had intercourse with Hepworth when she was 12; the boy, now 17, reported that he had been abused since he was 8 or 10 years old.

Hepworth worked the crime lab since January 2002, according to a Department of Public Safety spokeswoman. He was terminated in July.

The defendant was arrested in June, and is being held at the Davis County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

jmiller@sltrib.com