Man charged with child rape, sexual abuse in Salt Lake City after admitting to sex with 14-year-old girl

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A Salt Lake City man is facing multiple charges related to child rape and sexual abuse after allegedly picking up two underage girls with a friend and taking them to an apartment outside the city, according to the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.

Ekyoci Kashembwe, 23, is charged with two counts of sodomy of a child (first-degree felony), two counts of rape of a child (first-degree felony), as well as multiple counts related to sexual abuse of a child.

On or about Jan. 20, 2025, Unified Police responded to a report of sexual abuse. A 14-year-old girl reported that she and her friend were picked up by “older men,” later identified as Ekyoci Kashembwe and David Ndakola.

The girl told police that after getting in the car, she and her friend began panicking and her friend sent a text to another friend to call the police if they didn’t hear from her in 30 minutes. According to the 14-year-old girl, the group got off the highway in Midvale and stopped at a gas station where one of the men asked if they wanted beer.

Both girls responded that they didn’t drink, according to court documents. The men allegedly asked the two underage girls if they smoked, and told the girls that they were going to get them high.

After arriving at an apartment, Ndakola allegedly rolled joints and the group smoked one. The 14-year-old girl’s friend reportedly got tired and began falling asleep on the couch, as Kashembwe allegedly started to sexually assualt her.

Court documents detail two incidents of sexual abuse involving both victims at the apartment.

In an interview with police, Kashembwe admitted to having sex with the 14-year-old girl, stating that it was consensual despite reports from the girl that it was not. He also admitted to smoking marijuana but “denied knowing where it came from,” court documents state.

“The victim reported she told the defendant “No” multiple times and attempted to physically resist; however, he continued to sexually abuse her,” court documents state. “The defendant also admitted to offering the victim drugs and alcohol, making them intoxicated and easier to take advantage of.

Kashembwe is charged with five first-degree felonies, three second-degree felonies, and one third-degree felony in the case. Ndakola is charged with unlawful sexual activity with a minor (third-degree felony) and two counts of endangerment of a child or vulnerable adult (third-degree felony).