12-03-2025
Lehi man accused of choking child after church volleyball tournament
LEHI, Utah () — A Lehi man is facing a felony aggravated child abuse charge after he allegedly choked a child after a church volleyball tournament.
Nathan Jack Speaker, 42, was reportedly one of the last people in the gym along with his four children, the victim, and another adult. According to court documents, as the kids were knocking the volleyball around, the victim stepped in front of Speaker, and hit the ball away from him.
'This caused [Speaker] to become upset and grab the juvenile victim by the throat,' a Lehi Police Department Officer wrote in arresting documents. Police say Speaker lifted the victim completely off the ground before throwing the child into his own children.
The victim reportedly suffered a contusion to his right eye after colliding with another child and scraped his left knee.
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The other adult present did not see the alleged assault, according to court documents, but heard the victim cry and scream at Speaker afterward. The witness reportedly took the victim home who later told his mother about the alleged assault. Police say Speaker later wrote an apology letter to the victim and his family apologizing for what he had done. He then allegedly sent a text message to the victim's mother asking her to not report the incident to the police.
Police say Speaker 'actively evaded apprehension' after learning he would be taken into custody for the charges over the phone. According to court documents, it took four days for detectives to locate Speaker as his family members refused to tell them where he was, despite knowing.
Speaker was taken into custody and booked on a second-degree felony aggravated child abuse charge as well as third-degree felony tampering with a witness. Police say he was actively serving probation for a similar incident involving his own child at the time of his arrest.
Court records show Speaker has been ordered to be held without bail, pending a pretrial hearing.
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