Beaver County deputies searching for local man charged with more than 35 sexual abuse-related felonies

November 15, 2017 Utah Channel 3

ST. GEORGE — A no-bail warrant was issued for a Beaver County man after he failed to show up for court Monday on multiple charges including rape, and police are asking for the public to be on the lookout for the individual.

Destry Mel Stewart, charged with 39 felonies including rape, unlawful sexual contact with a minor and other sexual abuse charges, failed to show up for a preliminary hearing Monday in 5th District Court in Beaver County, according to a statement released by Beaver County Sheriff Cameron Noel Thursday afternoon.

Stewart, 43, is suspected of sexually abusing teenage girls, and prosecutors say he violated a no-contact order that was filed Oct. 30, according to court documents.

Stewart was released from jail after a bail bondsman posted the $160,000 bail, and once the warrant was issued deputies from the sheriff’s offices in both Beaver and Millard counties conducted a search in the Crystal Park area of Millard County.

The Utah Department of Public Safety provided aerial support as officers searched for Stewart by helicopter, but all efforts have failed to locate the fugitive.

The Beaver County Sheriffs Office is asking the public to be on the lookout for Stewart, Sheriff Cameron Noel said in an email Thursday afternoon, adding, that “Stewart should be considered armed and dangerous and local law enforcement should be called if he is seen.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Beaver County Sheriff’s Office at 435-438-6473 or dial 911.

This report is based on statements from police or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

Email: cblowers@stgnews.com

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