Utah Woman Gets Community Service in Sex Case - Updated

(Provo, Utah) Local proctor mom Ashley Nicole Cloward, 32, successfully negotiated away multiple counts of rape and sodomy in exchange for a no contest plea on two counts of obstructing justice.

Consequently, Cloward was reluctantly sentenced by Fourth District Judge Lynn W. Davis to community service and probation.

If Davis had his way, Cloward would not have been the only person accused in a sex abuse case. The state Division of Child and Family Services would have been right beside Cloward, he said.

"The state of Utah should be indicted," said an exasperated Davis during Cloward’s sentencing hearing. "Why is it a 29-year-old single woman was allowed to serve as a proctor mother for troubled teenage boys? Can you imagine [DCFS] having a 29-year-old single man as a proctor father in a house for troubled teenage girls? It’s absurd."

Davis followed the recommendation of Deputy Utah County Attorney Donna Kelly and defense attorney Michael Petro in sentencing Cloward to probation, community service and a $740 fine. Davis also suspended a one-year jail sentence as part of the agreement.

After the sentencing hearing, it was revealed that the state's case was weak because there were no witnesses, somewhat explaining the leniency in the plea deal.

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Utah Woman Guilty in Sex Case
[Previous 3/3/11 post bumped]
(Provo, Utah) In December 2009, a local proctor parent (similar to foster parent), Ashley Cloward, was accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with her proctor son.

Cloward faced charges of first-degree felony rape, first-degree felony sodomy, first-degree felony object rape and second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse.

This week, 32-year-old Cloward pleaded no contest to reduced charges of obstruction of justice in accordance with a plea agreement.

Deputy Utah County Attorney Donna Kelly said her case was hobbled by a missing witness — a boy who was a fugitive from the juvenile justice system.

She said other witnesses could not be located, and the victim — who was 17 at the time of the alleged sexual encounters — was homeless and difficult to contact.

Cloward faces a possible year in jail on each of two counts when sentenced on April 13.