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Photo: Apostle D. Todd Christofferson, brother of sexual predator Wade S. Christofferson; via Wikipedia.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported earlier today that federal prosecutors have charged the brother of a senior Latter day Saint leader with attempting to sexually exploit children in cases spanning Utah and Ohio.
Wade S. Christofferson, 72, was arrested last week in Utah and is being held in the Salt Lake County jail. According to a Tuesday announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Ohio, Christofferson has been charged with attempting to sexually exploit a minor as well as coercion and enticement. His older brother is D. Todd Christofferson, an apostle and member of the faith’s First Presidency.
Prosecutors say the investigation began when an alleged victim in Dublin, Ohio reported on Nov. 12 that Christofferson had sexually abused them more than a dozen times as a child. The news release did not disclose the victim’s gender or when the alleged abuse took place. Dublin police executed a search warrant at Christofferson’s home the same day the report was made. Investigators say a search of his phone revealed online searches for criminal defense attorneys in Ohio and the question: “In Ohio do clergy have to report child abuse confessions.”
Under Ohio’s 2025 law, clergy are required to report such abuse. Utah law is different. In Utah, clergy “may” report abuse disclosed in a confession but are not required to do so.
Federal prosecutors also allege Christofferson engaged in sexually explicit conversations with a Utah girl and sent her coded letters referencing sexual activity. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, “Christofferson also committed hands on sexual abuse of that child as well.” The girl was 7 years old when the conversations allegedly occurred. Prosecutors say Christofferson used code words such as “friends” to refer to nipples and asked to see her “friends” and other parts of her body during FaceTime calls.
During the search of his home, Dublin police say they found a modified attic crawl space accessed by a child size door labeled “H POTTER.” Prosecutors describe the interior as containing children’s writing on the walls and a mattress, pillows, and blankets on the floor.
Christofferson made his initial appearance in a Utah federal courtroom on Tuesday. Ohio prosecutors say he will be extradited to Ohio to face charges there.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints states that bishops have access to a 24 hour help line for guidance in situations involving potential abuse. 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 argue the help line is primarily designed to protect the church’s legal interests.
