Ex-judge sentenced to prison on 3 felony charges in sexual misconduct case

OGDEN — A former justice court judge from Box Elder County has been sentenced to prison time in his sexual misconduct case.

Judge Catherine Conklin on Monday sentenced Kevin Robert Christensen, 65, to prison terms of zero to five years on each of the three counts he pleaded guilty to last April, enticing a minor on the internet and two counts of dealing in materials harmful to a minor. They are all third-degree felonies.

Departing from the more lenient recommendation from Christensen's attorney and the Utah Attorney General's Office, which prosecuted the matter, Conklin ordered that the three prison terms be served consecutively, not concurrently. Christensen has already been jailed for 459 days.

Conklin noted that Christensen had no prior criminal history and had held a position of trust as a Box Elder County Justice Court judge in Brigham City.

"His true character, though, was revealed in the online chats that demonstrated a sexual deviancy and interest in female children. Maintaining the public facade while living this secret life speaks volumes about Mr. Christensen's true character," she said. "As to his rehabilitative needs, he clearly needs treatment."

Christensen, shackled and wearing black-and-white striped Davis County jail garb, addressed Conklin before sentencing, expressing sorrow for what happened.

"The sorrow I feel is truly beyond words. It's not me feeling sorry for myself. It's feeling sorrow for those I've hurt and betrayed. I'm so sorry for the hurt I've caused any victims or potential victims out there," he said. "The chats I initiated and participated in were truly awful."

Christensen's attorney, Ryan Bushell, had argued for his release on bail, given the 459 days he has already served in line with a sentencing report in the case.

Christensen served as a justice court judge in the Box Elder County Justice Court in Brigham City in March 2025 when he was arrested on the varied charges. He resigned shortly after being charged, and his case was moved from 1st District Court to 2nd District Court in Ogden. In October, a judge denied bail for the man, and he has remained at the Davis County Jail.

Christensen engaged in sexually graphic online chats with a 13-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl, who haven't been identified, according to charging papers. He sent a graphic video of himself to the 13-year-old and possibly sent a graphic photo of himself to the older girl, according to the charges. The documents also say he sought child sex abuse material from the 16-year-old, tried to get child sex abuse material from others and deleted chats on his electronic devices related to the varied communications.

Christensen initially faced five additional felony charges in the case, but they were dropped as part of the April plea deal.

This story will be updated.

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