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Copperton man accused of paying boys to get naked, giving them pornography

Posted at 5:35 PM, Sep 03, 2015
and last updated 2015-09-04 13:36:24-04

COPPERTON, Utah — A Utah man is accused of paying four middle school-age boys to take off their clothes and perform various activities at his Copperton home.

Michael Wade Heagren, 55, is also accused of distributing pornography to some of the boys.

Mug shot: Michael Wade Heagren

Mug shot: Michael Wade Heagren

According to a charging document filed in 3rd District Court, Heagren was the boys’ basketball coach at their middle school. A representative for West Jordan police said Heagren was a coach involved in the Salt Lake County summer recreation program.

The boys told detectives that Heagren had paid them for chores and other activities between May 1 and May 19, 2015.

According to the charging document, three of the alleged victims said Heagren paid them $50 each  to lie down in a stream naked.

On another occasion, Heagren is accused of paying two of the boys $20 each for getting naked and running back and forth in a field by his home, the document said. Those two boys also told detectives they observed pornographic magazines in a room where Heagren asked them to undress.

One of the alleged victims told detectives Heagren sent pornographic images to his cellphone on two occasions in April and October of 2014.

According to the charging document, that boy’s father sent Heagren a text message and Heagren responded with this message:

“Hey, bud, your mom sent me a message. Sorry I had you and [name redacted] go streaking and pornography. Take care and work hard.”

Heagren was charged Wednesday with five counts of Dealing in Harmful Material to a Minor by Adult, a third-degree felony. His bail was set at $75,000.