Salt Lake Police Officer Charged with Sexual Assault During First Date

Officer Faces Multiple Felony Charges After Religious Event Gathering Turns Violent

A Salt Lake City police officer faces 13 felony charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman during their first in-person meeting on December 8, 2024. Zander Etan Nunley, 26, stationed in Salt Lake City but residing in American Fork, received charges including rape, object rape, and forcible sodomy. The charges, filed in 4th District Court on December 16, stem from an incident that began under the pretense of watching a religious Christmas devotional. Prosecutors allege Nunley attacked the victim within minutes of her arrival at his home.

5 Key Points

• Nunley faces four first-degree felonies, including rape and forcible sodomy.
• After communicating for several weeks, the victim met Nunley through the dating app Hinge.
• Court documents detail violent assault, including strangulation and threats involving firearms.
• Medical examination revealed multiple injuries, including neck bruising.
• Salt Lake Police Department placed Nunley on paid administrative leave following the allegations.

Details of the Assault

Prosecutors allege the assault occurred on December 8 when the victim arrived at Nunley’s American Fork residence for their first in-person meeting. The pair had connected through the dating app Hinge and maintained communication for two to three weeks before agreeing to meet. Their planned evening was supposed to begin with watching a religious Christmas devotional together and viewing holiday lights in the area. According to court documents, the situation turned violent within five minutes of the victim’s arrival. Charging documents state that Nunley abruptly changed the television channel and began forcefully kissing her, displaying aggressive behavior that would escalate throughout the evening. The victim immediately noticed the forceful nature of his actions, describing his kissing as “very aggressive as if he didn’t know his own strength.”

Victim’s Account of Violence

The victim’s statement to investigators, detailed in court documents, describes how the situation rapidly deteriorated after she commented on Nunley’s aggressive behavior. When she mentioned his strength, Nunley allegedly responded with the threatening statement, “I like to beat people up.” Court documents detail how Nunley then allegedly forced the victim into his bedroom and sexually assaulted her despite her repeatedly telling him “No.” During the attack, prosecutors say Nunley strangled the victim “to the point she was having a difficult time breathing” while making disturbing comments, repeatedly asking her, “You like it rough, don’t you?” A subsequent medical examination at a hospital revealed multiple injuries, including severe bruising on her neck, where a forensic nurse documented that Nunley had “bit her very hard to the point of bruising.” The examination also revealed additional bruising across other areas of her body, according to police reports.

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Criminal Charges and Law Enforcement Response

The 4th District Court filed thirteen felony charges against Nunley on December 16, marking a significant legal response to the allegations. The most serious charges include four first-degree felonies: rape, object rape, and two counts of forcible sodomy. Prosecutors also filed eight counts of forcible sexual abuse as second-degree felonies, demonstrating the severity of the alleged assault. The charges were further supplemented with one count of aggravated assault as a third-degree felony and a class A misdemeanor assault charge. In response to these serious allegations, the Salt Lake Police Department took immediate administrative action, placing Nunley on paid administrative leave while the investigation proceeded. The case has drawn particular attention due to Nunley’s position as a law enforcement officer, highlighting concerns about abuse of authority and public trust.

Weapons and Intimidation Tactics

The court documents reveal an additional layer of intimidation in the assault, detailing how Nunley employed weapons to further terrorize his victim. After the attack, Nunley informed the victim that he had positioned a firearm near her head and chest throughout the entire assault. This revelation proved particularly traumatic given the victim’s previously expressed discomfort with firearms. During their earlier conversations, she had explicitly told him she wasn’t comfortable around guns, making his deliberate use of weapons even more disturbing. Prosecutors noted in the charging documents that the victim observed multiple additional firearms displayed throughout Nunley’s living room, creating an environment of fear and intimidation. This strategic use of weapons and prior knowledge of the victim’s fears demonstrates what prosecutors describe as a calculated approach to the assault.