Man charged for strangling victim in Japan, cyberstalking from Utah

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A Utah man has been indicted for his involvement in strangling and cyberstalking a victim in Japan — and he could face up to 10 years in prison.

Ian West, 50, was charged by indictment in January 2025 with assault of a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner by strangling, suffocating, or attempting to strangle or suffocate. On Wednesday, Feb. 12, West was charged, by superseding indictment, with cyberstalking.

While working as a civilian employee with the U.S. military, West was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. He was working as a teacher with the Department of Defense at the time of the alleged strangling in March 2024, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.

“After the assault in Japan, West returned to his home in Utah and began to cyberstalk the same person by setting up fake online profiles advertising massage and escort services, including some that featured intimate photos of the victim with personal contact information,” the attorney’s office said in a press release.

The victim closed their business for several months after the alleged assault, court documents said. Upon reopening their business in June 2024, the victim received several “unwanted communications” seeking sexual encounters as a result of the profiles and posts West is accused of creating.

The FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are investigating the case. If convicted of the charges, West would face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Sorina Trauntvein contributed to this report.