Dad accused of waterboarding teen daughter because her room wasn’t ‘spotless to his expectations’

Authorities in Heber City say a local political leader has been arrested after disturbing allegations surfaced involving his teenage daughter.

David Nephi Johnson, 54, who serves as chair of the Wasatch County Republican Party, is facing a charge of aggravated child abuse. According to a probable cause affidavit from the Heber City Police Department, officers responded to a report from a 16-year-old girl who said she feared for her safety at home and was frightened for her life.

During an interview with deputies, the teen became emotional as she described an incident that she said happened roughly a week earlier. She told investigators that after returning home from spending time with friends, her father was angry that her bedroom had not been cleaned to what he considered a spotless standard. She alleged that Johnson then forced her into a bathroom where the sink had been filled with water.

The girl reported that her father held her by the back of the neck and pushed her head under the water. She said he lifted her up briefly, splashed water on her face, and submerged her head again. She estimated she was unable to breathe for as long as 30 seconds and told officers she felt as though she was drowning. Afterward, she said, he instructed her to go clean her room.

She told investigators she felt nauseated and short of breath following the episode. The teen also claimed her father had treated her younger brother in a similar way several years earlier, when the child was much younger. She further alleged that on another occasion, Johnson struck her in the stomach when she did not immediately comply with a request and mocked her for crying.

The girl told police she does not feel safe when her father is at home and has difficulty sleeping because she fears another violent outburst. Authorities removed her from the residence and placed her with an adult sibling. Two younger children remain in the home with Johnson and his wife.

Investigators indicated they believe the alleged abuse may have been ongoing for years but had not been reported sooner because the children were afraid. Police stated in the affidavit that they consider Johnson to pose a significant risk to the younger children still in the home.

In a statement, the Wasatch County Republican Party said its vice chair will assume leadership duties while the case moves through the legal system. The organization added that the allegations are deeply troubling and emphasized that the safety of children is a top priority for both the party and the broader community.