Restaurant manager faces charges for allegedly having sex with underage employee

August 28, 2017 Utah Channel 3

ST. GEORGE – A manager of a St. George restaurant is accused of having sex with an underage employee inside the restaurant’s bathroom.

Raymond Kaponga was arrested Thursday, the day before his 23^rd birthday, on third-degree felony charges for unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

Kaponga, who worked at the Teriyaki Grill located at 974 W. Sunset Blvd., was the girl’s shift leader, according to a pair of unsealed search warrant affidavits and charging documents filed in 5^th District Court.

The girl was 15 at the time of the first alleged-sexual encounter and later turned 16. Court documents state that the two also engaged in sexual activity at the suspect’s home.

St. George Police detectives began investigating the case in July after they received an anonymous tip alleging that the two were “having sex in the bathroom of the restaurant.”

The juvenile told police during a forensic interview that Kaponga had forced her to have intercourse with him the first time, but she had consented to the other three times, court records state.

Kaponga initially denied having sex with his employee, telling police he never gave her his address. He later admitted to sending her his address but stated he was “heavily intoxicated and could not remember what happened” on that night, charging documents state.

A search warrant served Aug. 2 stated that the company had “suspended Raymond” after learning about the two having intercourse. However, a warrant served on Aug. 8 stated he had been “transferred” to another location.

Kaponga was booked into the Washington County Correctional Facility and bailed out the same day on a $5,000 bail bond.

Kaponga is scheduled to make an initial appearance in court Tuesday.

Email: tsullivan@stgnews.com

Twitter: @tracie_sullivan