Alleged kidnapper Tevita Mounga could claim even more victims

SALT LAKE CITY– After an “elderly” man, Tevita Mounga, was arrested and charged Friday with kidnapping and sexual assault, police stressed Wednesday that there may be other victims. The Salt Lake City Police Department encouraged parents to begin having age-appropriate conversations with their children to determine if their child was a victim.

Tevita Mounga, 78, was jailed on seven counts and a misdemeanor after an underage girl reported to police that she had been kidnapped and sexually assaulted by an elderly man she did not know. Charging documents say the 16-year-old girl said a man kidnapped her on March 6.

The girl said she was walking home from school near 500 North and 1000 West with a plate of cupcakes. Mounga would have stopped and waved at the cupcakes. The girl said she got into the truck under the impression she wanted one.

Once inside the truck, Mounga physically restrained her against her will and confiscated her phone, throwing it out the window, she said. He then went to an unknown location, where she believes the assault took place. After reporting the incident to police, detectives questioned her.

“During (the) interview, she became emotional and was unable to continue speaking with investigators,” the documents state.

Other reports lead to arrest

Police then obtained two more reports of an elderly man in a truck attracting young girls on May 10 and 22. In both cases, witnesses were able to take photos of the truck he was in and the license plate.

“The license plate went to a white Ford F-150 registered to 78-year-old Tevita Mounga,” the document states.

On Thursday, investigators conducted a follow-up interview with the original victim, who was then able to give investigators more details about the assault she suffered.

“After the interview, (the girl) agreed to make a photographic identification of the potential suspect. (She) identified the photograph of Tevita Mounga as the elderly suspect,” the document states.

Mounga was charged with aggravated kidnapping, two counts of forcible sodomy, three counts of object rape, one count of aggravated sexual assault and one count of damage to a communications device.

Call for community action

Salt Lake City police noted that detectives believe Mounga may have approached other girls before his arrest. The release asked parents to have conversations with their children to identify any other children who may have been asked to ride in his truck.

“It’s a parent’s ultimate fear to see their child taken off the street,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. “Anyone who engages in this type of behavior sends chills down the spine of our community. Especially when it comes to children, who often leave school or the neighboring house on foot.