Northern Utah judge steps down amid disturbing allegations.
According to KSL.com, First District Justice Court Judge Kevin Christensen resigned from his position on Monday after facing eight felony charges related to enticing minors and sexual exploitation.
The resignation comes amidst shocking revelations about Christensen's alleged involvement in sexually explicit conversations about children, which also implicated former Tremonton Fire Chief Ned Brady Hansen in similar criminal activities.
Dual investigation uncovers disturbing connections
The investigation began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip about Hansen's account distributing child exploitation materials in November. After obtaining search warrants, investigators discovered extensive sexually explicit conversations between Hansen and Christensen discussing the abuse of minors.
FBI investigators later found that Christensen had been using an online account to engage in inappropriate sexual conversations with individuals who identified themselves as minors aged 13 and 16. The former judge allegedly shared personal information and explicit photographs through the messaging platform.
The relationship between the two public officials extended beyond their disturbing online communications. Court documents revealed that Christensen and Hansen, 54, were involved in a sexual relationship while both held positions of authority in their community.
Criminal proceedings and community impact
Both cases have been transferred from Brigham City District Court to Ogden due to the sensitive nature of the proceedings. Christensen, 64, is scheduled to make his first court appearance on March 20, while Hansen's hearing is set for March 17.
In January, before his own arrest, Christensen used his judicial position to deny a request from Brigham City police to keep Hansen in custody. Law enforcement had argued that Hansen posed a potential risk to children in the community following the execution of a search warrant at his residence.
The charges against Christensen include two counts of enticing a minor, two counts of dealing in materials harmful to a minor, three counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, and one count of obstruction of justice.
Community struggles to rebuild trust
Tremonton city manager Bill Cobabe shared his perspective on the impact of these revelations, stating:
Our whole community is kind of reeling on this. We're just trying to make sense of everything. This is a tough day.
The city took immediate action by terminating Hansen's employment as fire chief on Monday after learning of his arrest. Local officials are now focused on helping the community heal while working to restore faith in public institutions.
The charges against Hansen are particularly severe, as he faces eight counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, all first-degree felonies. During the investigation, Hansen reportedly admitted to possessing illicit videos and maintaining a subscription to the application used to distribute the material.
Justice system confronts unprecedented scandal
A Box Elder County judge and fire chief face serious criminal charges that have shaken the northern Utah community's trust in public officials.
Kevin Christensen resigned from his position as First District Justice Court judge after being charged with multiple felonies related to enticing minors and sexual exploitation, while former Tremonton Fire Chief Ned Brady Hansen faces first-degree felony charges for aggravated sexual exploitation of minors.
Both men await their initial court appearances in Ogden, where the criminal proceedings will determine their fate, and the community seeks to rebuild its fractured confidence in local leadership.
