A Duchesne County Man Has Been Charged With Abusing A Child With Autism

| by Travis Uresk | February 10^th, 2026 |

On 1/14/26, the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office was notified and started an investigation of allegations of child abuse.

It was reported that 55-year-old Roy Dennis Tibbets, who is also currently on Adult Probation and Parole, had taken a belt to a child, resulting in bruises bad enough that the child wasn't able to attend school.

The person who reported the crime said she could hear the 12-year-old child screaming and begging for Roy stop.

On 2/5/2026, the child was interviewed by law enforcement, who stated, "Roy isn't the nicest person, and he can be mean sometimes with words." The child also told law enforcement that Roy hit them with his hands, belt, or a paddle that is a cutting board. The child stated, "He doesn't usually use his hands because he doesn't want to hurt them, so he uses other objects.”

The child told the Detective that she usually has red marks and bruises where Roy grabs her, leaving the bruises on her arms. When Roy wants the child to act "better," he will not allow her to go outside or to have her phone. The child reported that this happens at least two times a week, and Roy will threaten her with "jail time" and that she is going to grow into a bad person.

Sometime around January, there was an incident where Roy was talking to himself and then got upset at the child for doing the same thing. Roy grabbed her by the shirt and put her on the bed. Roy began and continued hitting the child. She stated that there were bruises to the back of her thighs and he buttocks. She wasn't allowed to go to school for three days. The Detective confirmed that the child had missed school around this time.

Detective Duncan asked the child how many times they were hit, and they said they couldn't count because she was screaming and begging Roy to stop. Roy finally stopped hitting her when her mother stepped in and separated them.

When asked how her body felt after being hit, she described that it was burning and felt like she was overheated, and that this had been the worst. Since this incident, the child has been spanked five more times, but nothing like that day. The child stated she does not feel safe around Roy.

The Detective spoke to the mother/witness, who had to separate the two. She admitted to Roy using drugs at this time and told the Detective she had never seen him take it this far, and had told him multiple times just that. The mother confirmed that there had been bruising and that she had not sent her child to school due to the incident.

She also said that Roy uses a paddle or his hand to spank, and that it was his hand that was used that day. The mother stated that the child has been diagnosed with autism, and she asks a lot of questions, which makes Roy mad that she is asking questions all the time.

On 2/5/26, Roy Tibbets was arrested at his residence in Roosevelt, Utah. During his arrest, he told deputies that "they" believe in corporal punishment and that he uses a cutting board, and when asked about the incident on the bed, he stated that when the child came in, he had not been spanking her, but admitted to spanking her during the event, Roy stated that he uses a cutting board with a handle. Roy also has an injury to his thumb due to an explosion.

Later, the Detective was notified by DCSF while making a safety plan. Roy called, which made the child scared and upset. When asked why she felt this way, she stated that Roy told her, "If you told law enforcement anything that will get him sent to jail, you better be scared of what I'm gonna do to you when I get out."