Teen who attacked youth camp counselor has probation revoked; sentenced to prison

A judge has revoked probation for a teen who attacked a counselor at a youth offenders’ camp after he pleaded guilty to additional crimes.

Tavari Pearson, now 19, hit the counselor in the head with a rock and sexually assaulted her while on a walk in May 2022, according to police. At the time, he was 15 and being housed at the Spring Mountain Youth Camp.

District Judge Erika Ballou, who was later suspended and ultimately resigned, sentenced Pearson to probation and six months’ jail time in 2024 after he pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault and attempted battery to commit sexual assault. His plea was an Alford plea, meaning he only admitted that prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him.

Before the plea deal, he had been charged with sexual assault and attempted murder.

In a separate case, Pearson pleaded guilty earlier this month to two counts of car theft and a count of ownership or possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He awaits a Nov. 4 sentencing on those charges.

After the recent plea, Clark Patrick, his attorney in the case related to the attack, said Pearson would agree to revocation, court minutes show.

District Judge Colleen Brown then revoked Pearson’s probation on Sept. 23 and sentenced him to eight to 20 years in prison, with credit for about three and a half years already served.

That sentence, which prosecutors had requested in 2024, was previously suspended while Pearson had a chance at probation, according to court records.

Attorney Robert Murdock, who represents the counselor, said Tuesday that he was unaware of the hearing at which Pearson had his probation revoked.

But he said he was pleased with the sentence and felt Brown took the case seriously.

Prosecutor Michael Allmon called the result “very appropriate,” noting that Pearson received the maximum possible sentence.

“Everyone deserves a second chance, but at the same time, this was someone that, in the state’s view, was committing a very violent and dangerous felony and that’s why we asked for prison to begin with,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that wasn’t done and we see that he was out committing more crimes shortly after his release.”

Allmon said prosecutors did not expect to immediately go forward with the revocation last week, but planned to schedule a later hearing. Instead, Pearson agreed to go to prison.

The prosecutor said he had previously been in touch with Murdock, who was informed of hearing dates.

Murdock said his client continues to recover from the attack.

“This will take a lifetime of healing,” he said.