A grand jury in the District of Utah has indicted Ian West, a 50-year-old resident of Mountain Green, Utah. The indictment charges him with assaulting a former dating and intimate partner by strangulation while working overseas with the U.S. military, followed by cyberstalking upon his return to Utah.
Court documents reveal that West was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, as a teacher with the U.S. Department of Defense when he allegedly strangled the victim around March 31, 2024. After returning to Utah, West is accused of cyberstalking the same individual by creating fake online profiles advertising massage and escort services. These profiles reportedly included intimate photos and personal contact information of the victim, resulting in unwanted communications from individuals seeking sexual encounters.
West was initially charged on January 15 with assault involving strangulation or attempted strangulation of a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner. On February 12, he faced additional charges for cyberstalking through a superseding indictment. If convicted on these charges, West could face up to ten years in prison.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Trial Attorney Taryn Meeks from the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hirata for the District of Utah are leading the prosecution.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.