Brother of LDS apostle (Christofferson) charged with attempting to sexually exploit children in Utah and Ohio

[I Have Questions]

Can the removal of the annotation on Wade Christofferson’s Church record, be considered as criminal negligence if it can be shown to have enabled Wade Christofferson to offend? As I understand the criteria for criminal negligence it’s…a failure to be aware of a knowable substantial risk. The responsible individual(s) knew or should have known there was a high risk of a wrongful act, such as an accident, property damage, or injury. Or a significant deviation from a reasonable standard of care: The person or persons failure to acknowledge the knowable risk constitutes a major departure from how a reasonable person would act in the same situation. Especially if the negligent act or omission must be the cause of the resulting harm, injury, or death.

In other words, can the First Presidency and Stake Presidency who requested and facilitated the removal of that annotation be charged with criminal negligence in the event Wade Christofferson confesses or is found guilty?

Separately, I think Church lawyers will be now working hard on throwing money at this to make it go away without ever being heard in court.

“Criminal negligence” is not a crime that can be charged. It is one of the mental states that may be required by a statute that defines a crime. Others include intent, knowledge and recklessness. So, you’d have to find a statute that would make removing the annotation a crime under defined circumstances. Nothing springs to mind, but I don’t practice criminal law and I haven’t combed statutes in Utah or Ohio to see what’s there.

In general, criminal liability for someone else’s act falls under the categories of conspiracy to commit a crime and accomplice liability, both of which are defined by statute.

Thanks Res, would it be pursuable as civil negligence do you think?

[Res Ipsa]

“Criminal negligence” is not a crime that can be charged. It is one of the mental states that may be required by a statute that defines a crime. Others include intent, knowledge and recklessness. So, you’d have to find a statute that would make removing the annotation a crime under defined circumstances. Nothing springs to mind, but I don’t practice criminal law and I haven’t combed statutes in Utah or Ohio to see what’s there.

In general, criminal liability for someone else’s act falls under the categories of conspiracy to commit a crime and accomplice liability, both of which are defined by statute.

Thanks Res, would it be pursuable as civil negligence do you think?

That’s a tough one. I don’t think I’ve looked at this for over a decade. My recollection is that US courts generally hold that they will not get involved in enforcing a church’s internal governance rules. I can see a court buying an argument that the government cannot, under the First Amendment, intrude into the a church’s decision about who can be a member and any restrictions on the terms of membership. I have a very hard time seeing the present Super Court finding this type of lawsuit Constitutional.

Beyond the Constitutional issues, I think the two biggest challenges would be the elements of legal duty and causation. I don’t know if courts have imposed legal duties on a church when its leaders learn that a parishioner has has committed sexual abuse of a minor. And, if they have, whether removing the annotation would be a breach of that duty.

Causation is hard to assess because we don’t know many specifics. Any plaintiff would have to prove that the removal of the annotation caused the abuse. In other words, would the annotation being in place have prevented the abuse. I just can’t tell.

I do hope that the victims consult with attorneys with experience in this area of practice. Sadly, no one should count on a religious organization to protect children from predators.

[Shulem]

I think it's safe to conclude that brother Wade's career in Mormonism is over regardless of the legal outcome. We shall see how things unfold.

But it's curtains for him! He's out!

[Shulem]

I'm just thankful that my kids left the Church! I don't have to worry about my grandkids being molested by creepy Mormon elders.

[I Have Questions]

I do hope that the victims consult with attorneys with experience in this area of practice. Sadly, no one should count on a religious organization to protect children from predators.

I think the Church will be moving heaven and earth to try and keep any further details from reaching the public domain. The details lead me to think that maybe some of the victims, if not all, are within the Christofferson extended family.

[Shulem]

I do hope that the victims consult with attorneys with experience in this area of practice. Sadly, no one should count on a religious organization to protect children from predators.

I think the Church will be moving heaven and earth to try and keep any further details from reaching the public domain. The details lead me to think that maybe some of the victims, if not all, are within the Christofferson extended family.

That is very likely the case and the Church will continue to do everything to cover things up and deny transparency. Mormonism is all about keeping things secret and safe and protecting the image and the good name of the Church is the number one priority. Nothing is more important then maintaining the image of the Church. Nothing! This has been the practice since the days the church was founded and the leaders learned how to cover things up and lie about anything and everything. The alter of sacrifice has burned many.

The Church is rotten to the core! It really is a rotten mess.

Exposing Mormonism is our sacred duty. Besides, it's fun, right?

[Everybody Wang Chung]

This is getting worse. Many unanswered questions. Where was the inspiration of the Holy Ghost when the prophet and apostles approved the expungement of the notation from his file? This enabled him to hold positions in multiple bishoprics, providing unrestricted access to children.

If you ever had doubts about whether the leaders are inspired or receive revelation from God, it's time to stop doubting those doubts.

From the SLTRIB today:

Brother of an LDS apostle allegedly sent sexually explicit letters to Utah girl last month. Wade Christofferson, 72, was charged in Ohio federal court with attempting to sexually exploit a minor, along with a second count of coercion and enticement.

| Updated: 10:22 a.m.

The path that led Ohio prosecutors to charge Wade S. Christofferson with attempting to sexually exploit a child began a month ago, when they say a Utah father figured out the code that Christofferson had been using with his daughter.

The federal prosecutors allege Christofferson had been using this secret language to shield his sexually explicit requests of the young girl in letters he had been sending her from Ohio for at least six months. The Utah father discovered the code on Nov. 5, prosecutors say, after he overheard a FaceTime conversation between his daughter and Christofferson and began asking them questions.

Police started investigating a week later after a man in Ohio — who knew about the alleged abuse in Utah — reported that Christofferson had allegedly sexually abused his daughter, too.

This timeline was detailed in a charging document that The Salt Lake Tribune obtained Thursday from the federal prosecutors’ office in southern Ohio.

Christofferson — whose older brother is an apostle and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ governing First Presidency D. Todd Christofferson — was charged on Nov. 20 in federal court in Ohio with attempting to sexually exploit a minor, along with a second count of coercion and enticement. The 72-year-old was booked into jail that same day in Utah.

The charging document alleges Christofferson was FaceTiming with the Utah girl on Nov. 5 when her father overheard him asking her to see “snow” and “friends.” After Christofferson’s request, federal prosecutors say, the girl went into a bathroom closet and closed the door. Her father opened the door a few seconds later, according to charges, and found the girl lifting up her shirt to the camera.

The Utah girl told her father, and later investigators, that Christofferson had taught her code words, and that “friends” meant “nipples,” and “snow” referenced her genitals. The father told investigators that Christofferson had been sending his daughter letters over the past six months that used these and other sexual “code words.”

Get Top Stories newsletter. The day’s biggest stories every morning, delivered right to your inbox.
The Tribune generally does not identify alleged sexual assault victims and is not specifying how Christofferson knew the two girls in an effort to protect their privacy.

The Utah girl also told investigators that Christofferson had touched her inappropriately in the past and told her “that she would like it when she got older,” according to the charges.

Christofferson also allegedly admitted to the Ohio father that he sexually abused his young daughter several years ago more than a dozen times, the documents say. Christofferson has not been charged in state courts in Utah or Ohio in connection to these allegations as of Thursday.

The docket in the federal case in Ohio has been under seal, and there’s no defense attorney listed in Utah records for Christofferson.

Christofferson allegedly admitted abusing the two girls to their fathers, according to the charging document. The charging documents also say that Christofferson had indicated he wanted to start the repentence process with his bishop.

Latter-day Saint bishops, or lay leaders of congregations, all have access to a 24/7 help line, which the church encourages them to use in cases of suspected abuse.

For its part, the church says “when abuse occurs, the first and immediate responsibility of church leaders is to help those who have been abused and to protect vulnerable persons from future abuse.”

Critics have countered, however, that the help line — staffed by attorneys for the church’s Salt Lake City law firm, Kirton McConkie — is mainly designed to shield the church from lawsuits.

Police in Dublin, Ohio — where Christofferson lives — searched his home in November, and a review of his phone allegedly revealed a search history for criminal defense attorneys in Ohio and Utah, as well as the phrase, “In Ohio do clergy have to report child abuse confessions.”

The answer in Ohio, according to a 2025 law, is that it depends on how the clergy learned of the abuse. In Utah, the law says clergy “may” report abuse obtained through a confession, but it does not require them to do so.

Christofferson also looked online about leaving the United States, the charging document says, and texted a family member in Arizona on Nov. 11 to ask if he could come there for “an open-ended stay” starting on Nov. 13.

It’s not clear why Christofferson was in Utah by Nov. 20, where he was booked into the Salt Lake County jail. Utah’s court docket does not indicate where he is at in the extradition process back to Ohio, which was ordered Nov. 25 by a Utah federal judge.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/12/05/ ... other-top/

[Rivendale]

This is getting worse. Many unanswered questions. Where was the inspiration of the Holy Ghost when the prophet and apostles approved the expungement of the notation from his file? This enabled him to hold positions in multiple bishoprics, providing unrestricted access to children.

If you ever had doubts about whether the leaders are inspired or receive revelation from God, it's time to stop doubting those doubts.

From the SLTRIB today:

Brother of an LDS apostle allegedly sent sexually explicit letters to Utah girl last month. Wade Christofferson, 72, was charged in Ohio federal court with attempting to sexually exploit a minor, along with a second count of coercion and enticement.

| Updated: 10:22 a.m.

The path that led Ohio prosecutors to charge Wade S. Christofferson with attempting to sexually exploit a child began a month ago, when they say a Utah father figured out the code that Christofferson had been using with his daughter.

The federal prosecutors allege Christofferson had been using this secret language to shield his sexually explicit requests of the young girl in letters he had been sending her from Ohio for at least six months. The Utah father discovered the code on Nov. 5, prosecutors say, after he overheard a FaceTime conversation between his daughter and Christofferson and began asking them questions.

Police started investigating a week later after a man in Ohio — who knew about the alleged abuse in Utah — reported that Christofferson had allegedly sexually abused his daughter, too.

This timeline was detailed in a charging document that The Salt Lake Tribune obtained Thursday from the federal prosecutors’ office in southern Ohio.

Christofferson — whose older brother is an apostle and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ governing First Presidency D. Todd Christofferson — was charged on Nov. 20 in federal court in Ohio with attempting to sexually exploit a minor, along with a second count of coercion and enticement. The 72-year-old was booked into jail that same day in Utah.

The charging document alleges Christofferson was FaceTiming with the Utah girl on Nov. 5 when her father overheard him asking her to see “snow” and “friends.” After Christofferson’s request, federal prosecutors say, the girl went into a bathroom closet and closed the door. Her father opened the door a few seconds later, according to charges, and found the girl lifting up her shirt to the camera.

The Utah girl told her father, and later investigators, that Christofferson had taught her code words, and that “friends” meant “nipples,” and “snow” referenced her genitals. The father told investigators that Christofferson had been sending his daughter letters over the past six months that used these and other sexual “code words.”

Get Top Stories newsletter. The day’s biggest stories every morning, delivered right to your inbox.
The Tribune generally does not identify alleged sexual assault victims and is not specifying how Christofferson knew the two girls in an effort to protect their privacy.

The Utah girl also told investigators that Christofferson had touched her inappropriately in the past and told her “that she would like it when she got older,” according to the charges.

Christofferson also allegedly admitted to the Ohio father that he sexually abused his young daughter several years ago more than a dozen times, the documents say. Christofferson has not been charged in state courts in Utah or Ohio in connection to these allegations as of Thursday.

The docket in the federal case in Ohio has been under seal, and there’s no defense attorney listed in Utah records for Christofferson.

Christofferson allegedly admitted abusing the two girls to their fathers, according to the charging document. The charging documents also say that Christofferson had indicated he wanted to start the repentence process with his bishop.

Latter-day Saint bishops, or lay leaders of congregations, all have access to a 24/7 help line, which the church encourages them to use in cases of suspected abuse.

For its part, the church says “when abuse occurs, the first and immediate responsibility of church leaders is to help those who have been abused and to protect vulnerable persons from future abuse.”

Critics have countered, however, that the help line — staffed by attorneys for the church’s Salt Lake City law firm, Kirton McConkie — is mainly designed to shield the church from lawsuits.

Police in Dublin, Ohio — where Christofferson lives — searched his home in November, and a review of his phone allegedly revealed a search history for criminal defense attorneys in Ohio and Utah, as well as the phrase, “In Ohio do clergy have to report child abuse confessions.”

The answer in Ohio, according to a 2025 law, is that it depends on how the clergy learned of the abuse. In Utah, the law says clergy “may” report abuse obtained through a confession, but it does not require them to do so.

Christofferson also looked online about leaving the United States, the charging document says, and texted a family member in Arizona on Nov. 11 to ask if he could come there for “an open-ended stay” starting on Nov. 13.

It’s not clear why Christofferson was in Utah by Nov. 20, where he was booked into the Salt Lake County jail. Utah’s court docket does not indicate where he is at in the extradition process back to Ohio, which was ordered Nov. 25 by a Utah federal judge.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/12/05/ ... other-top/

Getting worse? Only on exmormon reddit. I don't see it being discussed anywhere else unless it is still in the information dead zone period. I do agree that D Tad (the apostrophe deleter) is becoming more and more culpable for Wade's ability to secure church positions that placed him with children. What also appears worse? It seems some of the victims were extended family. That places D Tad in a precarious triple whammy. Does he honor church? Does he honor family? Does he honor self? Of course this applies generically to whomever deleted the notation.

[Res Ipsa]

This is getting worse. Many unanswered questions. Where was the inspiration of the Holy Ghost when the prophet and apostles approved the expungement of the notation from his file? This enabled him to hold positions in multiple bishoprics, providing unrestricted access to children.

If you ever had doubts about whether the leaders are inspired or receive revelation from God, it's time to stop doubting those doubts.

From the SLTRIB today:

Brother of an LDS apostle allegedly sent sexually explicit letters to Utah girl last month. Wade Christofferson, 72, was charged in Ohio federal court with attempting to sexually exploit a minor, along with a second count of coercion and enticement.

| Updated: 10:22 a.m.

The path that led Ohio prosecutors to charge Wade S. Christofferson with attempting to sexually exploit a child began a month ago, when they say a Utah father figured out the code that Christofferson had been using with his daughter.

The federal prosecutors allege Christofferson had been using this secret language to shield his sexually explicit requests of the young girl in letters he had been sending her from Ohio for at least six months. The Utah father discovered the code on Nov. 5, prosecutors say, after he overheard a FaceTime conversation between his daughter and Christofferson and began asking them questions.

Police started investigating a week later after a man in Ohio — who knew about the alleged abuse in Utah — reported that Christofferson had allegedly sexually abused his daughter, too.

This timeline was detailed in a charging document that The Salt Lake Tribune obtained Thursday from the federal prosecutors’ office in southern Ohio.

Christofferson — whose older brother is an apostle and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ governing First Presidency D. Todd Christofferson — was charged on Nov. 20 in federal court in Ohio with attempting to sexually exploit a minor, along with a second count of coercion and enticement. The 72-year-old was booked into jail that same day in Utah.

The charging document alleges Christofferson was FaceTiming with the Utah girl on Nov. 5 when her father overheard him asking her to see “snow” and “friends.” After Christofferson’s request, federal prosecutors say, the girl went into a bathroom closet and closed the door. Her father opened the door a few seconds later, according to charges, and found the girl lifting up her shirt to the camera.

The Utah girl told her father, and later investigators, that Christofferson had taught her code words, and that “friends” meant “nipples,” and “snow” referenced her genitals. The father told investigators that Christofferson had been sending his daughter letters over the past six months that used these and other sexual “code words.”

Get Top Stories newsletter. The day’s biggest stories every morning, delivered right to your inbox.
The Tribune generally does not identify alleged sexual assault victims and is not specifying how Christofferson knew the two girls in an effort to protect their privacy.

The Utah girl also told investigators that Christofferson had touched her inappropriately in the past and told her “that she would like it when she got older,” according to the charges.

Christofferson also allegedly admitted to the Ohio father that he sexually abused his young daughter several years ago more than a dozen times, the documents say. Christofferson has not been charged in state courts in Utah or Ohio in connection to these allegations as of Thursday.

The docket in the federal case in Ohio has been under seal, and there’s no defense attorney listed in Utah records for Christofferson.

Christofferson allegedly admitted abusing the two girls to their fathers, according to the charging document. The charging documents also say that Christofferson had indicated he wanted to start the repentence process with his bishop.

Latter-day Saint bishops, or lay leaders of congregations, all have access to a 24/7 help line, which the church encourages them to use in cases of suspected abuse.

For its part, the church says “when abuse occurs, the first and immediate responsibility of church leaders is to help those who have been abused and to protect vulnerable persons from future abuse.”

Critics have countered, however, that the help line — staffed by attorneys for the church’s Salt Lake City law firm, Kirton McConkie — is mainly designed to shield the church from lawsuits.

Police in Dublin, Ohio — where Christofferson lives — searched his home in November, and a review of his phone allegedly revealed a search history for criminal defense attorneys in Ohio and Utah, as well as the phrase, “In Ohio do clergy have to report child abuse confessions.”

The answer in Ohio, according to a 2025 law, is that it depends on how the clergy learned of the abuse. In Utah, the law says clergy “may” report abuse obtained through a confession, but it does not require them to do so.

Christofferson also looked online about leaving the United States, the charging document says, and texted a family member in Arizona on Nov. 11 to ask if he could come there for “an open-ended stay” starting on Nov. 13.

It’s not clear why Christofferson was in Utah by Nov. 20, where he was booked into the Salt Lake County jail. Utah’s court docket does not indicate where he is at in the extradition process back to Ohio, which was ordered Nov. 25 by a Utah federal judge.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/12/05/ ... other-top/

I feel sick.

[Limnor]

I was in full Cassius U parody mode three minutes ago, but that Tribune article snapped me out of it fast.

It’s hard to joke when the reality is that serious harm was happening.