Former judge in Utah sentenced to prison for child exploitation charges

Content warning: This article contains information about alleged child sexual abuse material. Reader discretion is advised. Report CSAM to law enforcement by contacting the ICAC Tip Line at (801) 281-1211 or your local law enforcement agency. 

BOX ELDER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — A former First District Court judge in Box Elder County has been sentenced to three prison terms of 0-5 years for multiple child sexual exploitation charges.

In March 2025, Kevin Robert Christensen was charged with nine felonies, including two counts of enticing a minor and two counts of dealing in materials harmful to a minor.

One month later, Christensen pleaded guilty to one count of enticing a minor and two counts of dealing in materials harmful to a minor. The remaining charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Former Box Elder judge pleads guilty to sexual crimes against children

Kevin Christensen appears in Second District Court in Ogden for sentencing. Courtesy: Rick Egan, The Salt Lake Tribune

According to the Attorney General’s office, prosecutors argued for the maximum allotted sentence for the charges, which is up to 15 years imprisonment.

First District Judge Catherine Conklin stated that she felt that Christensen’s prior position of authority within the community adds a “significant” aggravating factor to the charges. She added that she feels that he presents risk to the community due to evidence she read in his psychosexual report, emphasizing that he has “explanations” that keep him from taking full accountability for his actions.

“Therapy just isn’t going to be enough,” Conklin said. “Any sentence other than prison will give the impression that Mr. Christensen got off easy.”

Ultimately, Christensen was sentenced to three consecutive terms of up to five years on June 8, 2026.

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Utah Attorney General Derek Brown commented on the sentencing, saying that “no one is above the law.”

“Kevin Christensen was a sitting judge. He swore an oath to uphold the law. Then he sent explicit images to a 13-year-old, solicited more from a 16-year-old, and left thousands of predatory messages behind, said Brown. “Today he is a convicted felon. No one is above the law, and this office will keep proving that.”

‘The sorrow I feel is truly beyond words’: Christensen speaks

Kevin Christensen took to the podium at Monday’s sentencing, saying how sorry he is for the hurt that he has caused the victims.

“The sorrow I feel is truly beyond words,” Christensen said. “It is not me feeling sorry for myself but feeling sorry for those that I have hurt and betrayed.”

“The chats I initiated and participated in were truly awful,” he continued. “My heart is broken as I see how this has affected my family, how it has broken their hearts.”

Tremonton fire chief and Box Elder judge linked in child abuse case, documents say

Background

In 2025, former Tremonton City Fire Chief Ned Brady Hansen and former First District Court Judge Kevin Robert Christensen were arrested on charges related to child sexual exploitation.

Court documents revealed that Hansen and Christensen had a sexual relationship and communicated about child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on the app Kik.

Hansen was charged with eight counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, while Christensen was charged with engaging in graphic sexual chats with a minor. Both men resigned from their positions following their arrests.

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