In Springville, Utah, a 27‑year‑old professional rodeo steer wrestler, Connor McKell, is sitting behind bars in the Utah County Jail with no bail after being booked on a string of serious felony charges this month. Court records show McKell was arrested at his home on January 18 and now faces 15 counts of first‑degree felony object rape, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of unlawful detention — each with a domestic violence enhancement attached.
Authorities say the case began the night of the alleged assault when a woman showed up at a local hospital, visibly hurt and shaken. The probable cause affidavit released by Springville police says she had gone to McKell’s residence earlier that evening and believed he was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
According to the woman’s account to investigators, what started as a consensual encounter turned violent. She told police she repeatedly told McKell she wanted the interaction to stop. But investigators allege McKell ignored her objections and used force in a way that caused pain and injuries.
The report says she eventually reached out to friends for help and left the residence. A sexual assault nurse examiner who later examined the woman documented injuries consistent with her account, and friends who saw her shortly after also noted visible marks on her neck.
Springville police later obtained a search warrant for McKell’s home and took him into custody. After being advised of his rights, McKell told investigators the encounter was consensual and that he had been drinking, according to court documents. Officers pointed to what they described as contradictions in his statements.
McKell, who competed professionally in rodeo steer wrestling — a fast‑paced event where competitors wrestle a steer to the ground — now faces weeks, if not months, behind bars as the case moves through the legal system. He remains held without bail in the Utah County Jail, and no court dates have been made public yet.
The woman’s friends and local community members have not spoken publicly about the case, but the charges against McKell, given their severity, have drawn attention across Utah’s tight‑knit rodeo circles and beyond.
Investigators continue to review evidence, and prosecutors will decide on any future filings or trial dates. For now, McKell’s arrest stands as a stark reminder of how quickly lives can change when serious allegations come to light.
