Jury finds Darger guilty of six counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, one count Forcible Sexual Abuse, two counts Lewdness Involving a Child; sentencing set May 5, 2025

A jury trial of Utah’s Sixth Judicial Court, held March 31 to April 2, 2025, found Brigham Daniel Darger guilty of multiple counts of sexual abuse of five minors, over whom he had a position of special trust in relation as a family member.

According to reports from the Kanab City Police Department, in early January 2023, Darger, at his family’s insistence, contacted an officer and voluntarily came to the department to describe his actions, filling out a statement describing incidents of touching his underage nieces.

Following the determination that the locations of these incidents occurred outside of Kanab City limits, Kane County’s Detective Dathan Chamberlain assumed responsibility for the case, interviewing the victims and the rest of the defendant’s family, with the victims describing Darger’s inappropriate sexual conduct in detail to Detective Chamberlain. Per the victims’ parents, Darger had previously admitted the victims’ descriptions of events were accurate, ascribing his behavior to “intoxication,” and “curiosity,” though no evidence of intoxication was presented later at trial. The admission prompted them to insist Darger come forward with his actions. Darger was given specific instructions to have no contact with the victims, their homes or families pending the trial. He was charged with seven felonies and three class A misdemeanors.

Darger pleaded not guilty, and filed multiple attempts to have the case dismissed. He refused to allow the court to appoint him a public defender, instead insisting on representing himself. Darger made repeated claims that the evidence against him was exaggerated, that the court had violated his constitutional rights, that the arresting officers and prosecuting courts had no jurisdiction over him and that Utah’s court process induced a conflict of responsibility by holding an attorney’s responsibility to the court higher than their responsibility to the client, “therefore attorneys do not even have a duty to the client.” Darger ultimately withdrew his motion to dismiss the case based on lack of evidence.

Kane County Attorney Jeffrey Stott described the context and the trial in a statement: “In January of 2023, five girls, ranging from 8 to 14 years old, were interviewed at the Kane County Children’s Justice Center, where they each revealed that they had been independently sexually abused by Brigham Darger. At the jury trial last week, all five testified bravely. These girls are not defined by what happened to them; yet their courage and commitment to justice is inspiring. The Kane County Attorney’s office commends these incredible girls, thanks the Kane County Sheriff’s office for their diligent work, and thanks the members of the jury for carefully and thoroughly deliberating. Protecting children from abuse, and uncovering abusive behavior, is a community effort to which our local law enforcement and attorney’s office is dedicated.”

Darger’s sentencing is currently set for May 5, 2025; Darger was found guilty of all seven felony charges and two of the misdemeanor charges. The felonies carry a sentence of fifteen years to life, with imprisonment mandatory.