07/31/2011
By Tim Gurrister
OGDEN -- A former South Ogden police officer has pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and forcible sodomy.
Andrew Welling, 41, of Farr West, has been held in Weber County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail since his March 1 arrest on 10 first-degree felony charges.
The allegations involved an ongoing illicit sexual relationship with a youth under the age of 14.
Second District Judge Michael DiReda set sentencing for Sept. 9 after Welling pleaded guilty to two of the 10 charges in a plea negotiation announced this week.
Eight counts of forcible sodomy and one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child were dismissed in return for the guilty pleas.
The charges all carry maximum prison terms of five years to life.
The abuse occurred over two years, from March 2007 through April 2009, according to court records.
Welling resigned from the South Ogden police force in January. He had worked there since August 2008.
He had been placed on administrative leave in November 2010 after the Weber County Sheriff's Office notified the South Ogden Police Department of the criminal investigation.
An internal investigation determined none of the offenses occurred while Welling was on duty, South Ogden police spokeswoman Marci Edwards said at the time of Welling's arrest.
Welling's resignation came before either investigation had been completed.
