Efrey Guzman, Mormon Church Leader, Accused In Penis-Biting Attack

Posted: 08/09/2012 6:59 pm Updated: 08/09/2012 6:59 pm



Prosecutors in northern Utah filed charges Tuesday against Efrey Guzman, a Latter-Day Saints church leader accused of biting a man's penis after assaulting his mother and sister.

Guzman, 46, of Sandy, was charged in open court with "aggravated sexual assault, aggravated burglary, both first-degree felonies, and sexual abuse of a child and forcible sexual abuse, both second-degree felonies," Bob Scott, a spokesman for the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, told The Huffington Post.

According to the arrest affidavit, Guzman went to the home of a 13-year-old girl on May 8. During his visit with the girl, who later described him to police as a "family friend," he assaulted her by attempting to kiss her and grab her buttocks. When the girl's 20-year-old brother entered the room he left, police said. The authorities were not immediately notified of the alleged assault.

On Aug. 2, Guzman returned to the teenager's home. When the girl's mom asked him to leave, he refused, police said.

"The defendant pushed his way into the residence and began to assault the mother," the arrest affidavit reads. "She yelled for help and tried to fight the defendant off. She said the defendant ripped her shirt exposing her breast."

Guzman was allegedly groping the woman when her son came into the room and witnessed what was occurring. It was when the young man attempted to intervene, police say, Guzman viciously assaulted him.

"While he tried to get the defendant off his mother, the defendant grabbed his penis through his boxer shorts and bit his penis causing severe damage that required surgery," the arrest affidavit reads.


The victims, who are identified only by initials in court documents, declined to speak with local media about the case.

Kent Kuhn, the victim's LDS Bishop, told ABC 4 News the family is traumatized.

"There is some medical things that may affect this man for a long period of time and emotionally these children are devastated," Kuhn said.

Ironically, Kuhn's wife, Gloria, told ABC 4 News that the mother had recently moved her family to the area in an attempt to shield them from crime.

"She thought it'd be safer here and this makes us really sad to think that something like that could happen here on our street," Gloria Kuhn said.

Guzman, who was an LDS branch president of a Latino congregation in Sandy, was booted from the congregation after the charges were filed.

Scott Trotter, a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, issued a statement to The Salt Lake Tribune that said the church "has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind."

The statement added, "Mr. Guzman has been released from his church duties effective immediately and faces further church discipline following the legal process."

Guzman is being held in the Salt Lake County jail in lieu of $300,000 bond. Court records do not list an attorney for him. Guzman is scheduled to appear in court again on Friday.

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February 5, 2013
SALT LAKE CITY — A Sandy man accused of sexually assaulting a woman and two of her children has been ordered to stand trial on the charges against him.

Efrey Antonio Guzman, 47, was ordered to stand trial on charges of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated burglary, first-degree felonies, as well as sex abuse of a child and forcible sexual abuse, second-degree felonies, following a hearing on evidence against him in 3rd District Court Monday. The alleged incidents took place in May and August.

A 13-year-old girl told police that Guzman, a "family friend," knocked on her door May 8 when she and her older brother were home alone. When Guzman learned that the brother was in the shower, "the defendant suddenly grabbed her, hugged her tightly and would not let her go," the charges state.

The teen said Guzman started kissing her and grabbed her buttocks, but left when her brother entered the room.

On Aug. 2, she said she noticed Guzman circling the street near her home. She ran inside to tell her mother that the man was outside and the mother then locked herself in a bedroom and called for help, the charges state.

Police say Guzman knocked on the door and asked if he could talk to the 13-year-old. The mother told Guzman that he needed to leave. But Guzman allegedly pushed his way into the home and began to assault the mother. During a struggle, Guzman ripped her shirt, then grabbed her exposed breast, the charges state.

When the brother heard his mother call for help, prosecutors say he went into the front room and saw Guzman assaulting his mother. While he attempted to get the man off of her, Guzman grabbed and then bit the son's genitals, "causing severe damage that required surgery," according to the charges.

Guzman was president of the LDS Union Park 9th Branch in Midvale. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said after charges were filed that Guzman no longer holds that position.

"The church has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind. Mr. Guzman has been released from his church duties effective immediately and faces further church discipline following the legal process," church spokesman Scott Trotter said.

An arraignment hearing has been set for Feb. 22.
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