Utah resident Shayne Lyle Rowley faces arraignment on charges including sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust, sexual assault, child abuse and harassment in a case filed June 13 in Cortez.
The investigation began June 6, 2024, when a woman and child reported to the Cortez Police Department that the child had been sexually assaulted multiple times by Rowley, who has limited visitation rights. The child’s sex and age were redacted in the affidavit sent to The Journal.
A forensic interview June 11 at the Four Corners Child Advocacy Center by child advocate Lacy Osterloh revealed details surrounding the reported instances of assault.
The minor described “the last time,” an incident at the Duck Pond in Centennial Park in Cortez during a hot-air balloon event a few years ago.
Rowley allegedly took the child and a friend to the balloon event. The child asked to stay in the truck to take a nap, and Rowley allegedly returned to his truck alone and removed his pants and the child’s clothes, then digitally penetrated the protesting child.
The minor reported three incidents in Rowley’s truck and two at the Baymont Hotel, where Rowley, who was a truck driver, stayed during extended visits.
One hotel incident allegedly occurred after swimming. The child said Rowley entered the bathroom uninvited, placed the child on the bed and touched the protesting child inappropriately.
The child reportedly was hesitant to elaborate on other incidents and further details, often shutting down during questioning, according to the affidavit. The child also expressed concern for friends whom the child alleged may have also been assaulted by Rowley.
The woman corroborated the child’s account, noting behavioral changes a few years ago when the minor began refusing to spend time with Rowley unless accompanied by friends or siblings. She estimated the refusal intensified a little over four years ago, when the minor didn’t want to see Rowley at all.
The woman also described Rowley’s controlling behavior, including demanding immediate phone calls and threatening to disconnect the child’s phone, and police found more than 51 such threats in text messages on the woman’s phone. Messages revealed that Rowley demanded the child enable location tracking and using verbally abusive language and derogatory insults.
Rowley also sent 200 to 300 texts daily after contact was cut between the woman, child and Rowley in April 2024 after a final meeting at a Five Guys restaurant.
A neighbor also confirmed the minor’s disclosures, having encouraged the child to report the abuse after noticing their reluctance to interact with Rowley and the child telling them about the alleged instances of abuse.
Rowley’s criminal history includes domestic violence assault and commission of domestic violence in the presence of a child by the Salt Lake City Sheriff’s Office in 2002. He received a conviction of assault related to that case in 2014.
According to the affidavit, Rowley was arrested on suspicion of sexual abuse of a child in Salt Lake in 1999, which reportedly involved similar acts of digital penetration, fondling and sexual comments to another minor. He was convicted of sexual assault in that case in 2000.
The woman added that Utah police had been called for domestic violence regarding Rowley on at least two separate occasions, one where he wouldn’t allow her and the children to leave the home, and another where he was holding her down and wouldn’t allow her to get up.
In this case, Rowley was arrested on suspicion of committing a Class 3 felony for sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and incest, a Class 4 felony for sexual assault and a Class 2 misdemeanor for child abuse and harassment.
Rowley’s arraignment is set to take place in Montezuma County District Court on Monday, June 2 at 10:30 a.m.
