A Uintah County Man Is Being Charged With Reckless Child Abuse
- Travis Uresk
- Jun 9
- 5 min read
by Travis Uresk
6-9-25
| Vernal, Ut. | June 8th, 2025 |
Police were dispatched to a residence in Vernal regarding possible child abuse. The mother stated that she had dropped off her two juvenile children at their father's, 43-year-old Phillip W. Potter's, residence.
The mother stated she had received text messages from the children telling her they were being hit and her daughter had been chained to the bed.
Upon arrival, Uintah County Deputies met with Phillip and observed a juvenile male and female exit the residence, both of whom were under the age of 18.
The juvenile female stated her dad had grabbed her twice. Once when he grabbed her by her arm, pushing her into her room, and once when he grabbed her by both of her arms, pushing her down onto her bed while yelling at her.
The female juvenile stated she didn't have any bruising, but the deputy did notice slight redness on her upper left arm, which appeared to have some faint finger outlines.
A deputy asked the juvenile male if anything had happened to him, and he said, "Yes, he shoved me in my room, too."
Both juveniles were taken to meet with EMS personnel for medical evaluation and to be with their mother.
Phillip admitted to grabbing the female juvenile and setting her down and tried to walk "through" the male juvenile, so he moved him off to the side and out of the way. After what the children had disclosed, it was determined to place Phillip under arrest.
After both juveniles were cleared by EMS personnel, Deputy Ogle asked permission from their mother to interview the children further and photograph any injuries they may have. She gave the deputies permission.
The female juvenile stated that she and her brother arrived before Phillip came home. She said Phillip came home from church and asked if she wanted to talk about it, and she told him no because most of the time, when they talk about church, it turns into a fight.
She said Phillip then told her, let's talk about it in your rooms, by yourselves, telling her and the male juvenile to go to their rooms.
She said Phillip grabbed her arm and pushed her into her room. Then, after Phillip put her brother into his room, he returned and started yelling at her. Phillip was telling her to sit down, so she told him, "No, I don't want to sit down.”
The female juvenile said Phillip grabbed her by both of her arms and pushed her down to the ground while yelling at her I don't care, I don't care! She said he left her bedroom and went to talk to her brother.
The male juvenile stated he and his sister arrived at Phillip's house, and thirty minutes later, he came home from church and started yelling at them. He states Phillip told the female juvenile to go to her room and began pushing her into the room.
When asked how he was pushing her, he explained that Phillip grabbed his sister by her arms and began shoving her toward her room, not allowing her to move.
The male juvenile stated that Phillip came back and told him to go to his room, but he wanted to check on his sister, so he attempted to do so but was stopped by Phillip. When asked how he was stopped, the male juvenile stated Phillip blocked his way and told him to go to his room.
He said he started walking to his room, and Phillip started shoving him. He stated that Phillip put him in his room, closed the door, and locked it. The male juvenile stated that he heard Phillip return to the female juvenile's room and began yelling at her.
The deputy spoke with the children's mother, asking why she reported to dispatch her children were being chained to the bed. She stated she was told by her children they were being hit and pinned to the bed, not chained.
At the jail, Phillip was read his Miranda Warning, which he stated he understood and agreed to speak with Deputy Ogle.
Phillip said he had returned home from attending church and told the female juvenile they needed to talk because he didn't like the text messages he had been receiving from her, her brother, and her mom telling him he was worthless.
Phillip said he told them he wanted to speak with each of them alone, and he was told no. He felt disrespected, and that's when he told her, 'Let's go to your room.' He said she jerked away and said no.
Once he took her to her room, he said he came back out and told the male juvenile he needed to go to his room, but he was told no. Phillip said the male juvenile pushed his way past him, so he grabbed hold of his wrist and pushed him into his room.
The deputy asked Phillip if he continued to hold onto her arm as he walked her to her room, and he said he did until she was inside.
Deputy Ogle asked Phillip if he had a tight grip on her arm. He said it wasn't loose, but it was tight either, saying he wasn't going to take a chance on her turning around and getting hit by her because they both have a problem with hitting.
Phillip told the deputy he returned to the female's room to try and talk to her. He said she stood up and came toward him, so he grabbed her by the arms and sat her down on the bed a little rough.
Deputy Ogle asked if he thought maybe she was not trying to come at him but wanted to leave the room, and he said no. Phillip was asked what he thought she wanted, and he said, "I think she was coming at me to try and hit me or something."
Phillip said after grabbing onto her arms, he walked her back at least 10 feet to put her back onto her bed.
Phillip W. Potter was booked into Uintah County Jail and was issued a citation for two counts of reckless child abuse.
Phillip W. Potter may post bail in the amount of $1,380.00.
No history of violence, drugs, or alcohol. Just a lead foot.
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