Former BYU-Idaho student faces charges after allegedly sexually assaulting teen in at least ’80 incidents’
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REXBURG — A former Brigham Young University-Idaho student is facing multiple charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a teenager at least 80 different times.
Daqualyn Ramone Mallett, 22, has been charged with three felonies for lewd conduct with a child under 16 years old.
In April, a Rexburg Police Department officer was assigned to investigate a report of sexual assaults that happened in Rexburg from September 2020 to August 2021. The victim was 13 to 14 years old at the time, court documents said.
Mallett, who was 18 to 19 years old at the time and attending BYU-Idaho, was identified as the suspect.
Through investigation, the officer learned that the victim, who is now 17, had recently told family members about the sexual assaults. A report was then made to law enforcement.
Mallett is known to the victim’s family, court documents said.
The officer interviewed the 17-year-old victim and found that there were “approximately 80 separate incidents” where Mallett sexually assaulted him, court documents said. The assaults reportedly took place in Mallett’s vehicle, the victim’s home and at a church parking lot in Rexburg.
The victim told police he believed the assaults started in the fall of 2020. He said Mallett had given him a ride to the BYU-I Center to train for school sports, and Mallet would spend a lot of time with the victim’s family and watch movies in his family’s basement.
The victim reported there were times when he was alone with Mallett when sexual abuse occurred. For instance, the victim told officers when Mallet would drive them in his vehicle, he would touch the victim on his leg and groin area, court documents said.
According to documents, there were occasions when the victim had tried to stop Mallett, but Mallett would make the teenager feel guilty and would continue assaulting him.
The victim told the officer he was reportedly scared Mallett would find him at home and sexually assault him.
Court documents do not share Mallett’s side of the story. EastIdahoNews.com has contacted his attorney for comment, but we have not heard back. If we do, we will update this story.
Police arrested Mallett, who is currently in the Madison County Jail, court records show.
Mallett was given a $50,000 bond. In October, he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was issued a no-contact order between him and the victim.
He is scheduled for a jury trial on Jan. 31 at 9 a.m. at the Madison County Courthouse with District Judge Steven Boyce presiding.
Though Mallett has been charged with these crimes, this does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.