Ross LeBaron, 82, Kane County, Utah, was sentenced to five years to life in prison in a sentencing hearing on Thursday, September 26. LeBaron was found guilty of five counts of felony rape in the Sixth District Court on May 24, 2024, and had been incarcerated at the Kane County Jail since 2022. With this ruling, LeBaron will be transferred to the Utah State Correctional facility.
The sentencing hearing included statements from a number of individuals connected to the case, some written and some read via video call. The victim - LeBaron’s daughter - wrote in a letter to the court, “With Ross incarcerated, the world is a safer place … particularly for his daughters and granddaughters … from him and the people he manipulates and controls. May more of those who use indoctrination for personal, private and sexual gain be held accountable. I have never heard him make any statement to acknowledge or express regret … one of my brothers told me Ross had told him to stop helping me so I would get back in line and come back … another brother told me that whatever evil Ross had done to me, it was nothing compared to the evil I was doing by going against him. One brother told me that if I had any integrity, I would come back to the ranch and work for him … even if it meant leaving [my child] behind.”
The victim listed a series illnesses and conditions her children by Ross have due to genetic defect and congenital issues associated with incest, as well as medical neglect in their early childhood owing to the isolation imposed by Ross and his refusing medical treatment. The victim offered her thanks to the judge, jury and other officers and participants in the justice system.
The victim’s husband presented his statement by audio, thanking Judge Bagley for, “being the guiding part of this case.” He thanked the attorneys present and expressed his love and support for the children his wife brought into their marriage. He stated, “As they grow and realize that grandpa and dad are not supposed to be the same person, it provides them the opportunity to process all this, something a kid should never have to do … I have a greater piece of gratitude that these seven kids are here with me, and not with you.” He detailed how their youngest daughter had died at age six, and recounted how LeBaron had blamed the victim, telling her the death of her little girl was her fault for “not following God’s will.” The victim’s husband then concluded by supporting the maximum punishment, consecutive sentences without parole.
The final two statements were offered by two of LeBaron’s children - one of whom was his daughter and granddaughter with the victim. Both supported a prison sentence for LeBaron. Said his daughter with the victim, “Judge Bagley, thank you for being there and going through this with my family … thank you especially for being there for my mother. Dad doesn’t know the true me, because I was afraid dad would be upset if I told him anything he wouldn’t like. I learned who I am - I am never going to let my dad or anyone else tell me who I am or else I can’t be myself … one of the reasons I wrote this is because I can finally say it, and dad just has to be quiet and listen.”
There were further statements submitted both in support of a prison sentence and against it, but none were read in the hearing, instead being read and acknowledged by the judge before the hearing began.
LeBaron was then given the opportunity to speak for himself. He began an anecdote describing a marriage of a local to the Cedar City area, a romantic pursuit that his family had supported but which had been criticized by others who knew the individual - apparently illustrating a pattern of LeBarons being discriminated against despite being in the right by their own judgment. Said LeBaron, “People believe I am a bad person because I married my daughter - and the way the world sees things I can see why they think that.” He repeated his claims that he had found historical information that exonerates his “biblical beliefs.” LeBaron accused his family of stealing millions from him, and it was about this time that his attorney cut him off with a request to the judge that attorney and client be allowed to speak in a private breakout.
Court returned to session after about ten minutes, at which point LeBaron’s attorney made a series of statements on LeBaron’s behalf, after each of which LeBaron replied simply “Yes.” These statements included an apology to the victim for coercive behavior and opportunities limited or lost, and expression of regret for the schism in the family and an agreement to pay restitution. There was a single statement LeBaron refused to agree with: an apology to his children/grandchildren with the victim for coercive behavior or opportunities limited or lost, with LeBaron arguing, “I never tried to limit their opportunities, I encouraged them.”
When the time came for Judge Bagley’s comments on the case, the judge clarified a few points with LeBaron, asking, “You claim to be a law-abiding citizen … Did you not know what you were doing was illegal? You tried to hide her from law enforcement, what were you hiding?”
Judge Bagley went on, “I have had a lot of time to consider this case … the bottom line is there are some types of cases and jury decisions where you can’t do anything other than send a person to prison. What we have is five jury verdicts: first degree felony rape …”
The judge recounted one of the testimonies mailed in, this time on behalf of the witness and arguing against prison, which read, “Not one of his children is volunteering to live near him … I don’t know that his life would be any better outside of prison. His god-arrogance is none of our priorities.” When the judge concluded this reading, LeBaron asked which of his sons wrote it - Bagley instructed him to check the records, that he would not repeat who wrote that statement and that he didn’t say it was any of LeBaron’s family.
During the judge’s final comments LeBaron spoke over the judge a number of times, with his lawyer correcting him “Ross, when the judge is talking, it is time to be quiet and listen. Let Judge Bagley talk.” Despite this recommendation, LeBaron made multiple claims that the victim was the one who initiated sexual contact, stating, “[She] was pushing for it more than I was.” LeBaron accused the victim of making him a scapegoat, defended his actions citing biblical precedent for incest and again blaming the victim for sexual conduct.
Judge Bagley stated to the defendant, “None of this is helping you, it is only reinforcing that you show no remorse for your decision … it is proof that you know what you were doing was wrong because you tried to hide it, society requires a consequence … I still have concerns that if you are not incarcerated, you will have the opportunity to manipulate and influence your grandchildren and your children. There were gestures you made at trial, I saw them … those daughters and granddaughters, they are vulnerable … you have wonderful kids, I don’t belittle that, I champion them. They are vulnerable. Some of them have physical problems, some of them have mental or emotional problems and I hold you accountable for that … there is no other ruling I can make in good conscience.” To this, LeBaron responded, “Well, then God will be a witness to what happens.”
Bagley finished, “The only thing I can do is sentence you to prison. I don’t cherish that. You’re an old man, you’ve been there a long time already, but it’s clear to me you haven’t demonstrated any remorse and that you’re still a risk … you’re sentenced to serve five years to life concurrently. I recommend you be given credit for time served. I do hope there is a time you can be released, I don’t think you need to die in prison, but you’re not ready to be out … there may be a time you do get out, but I hope the board of pardons is sufficiently satisfied you will not be a risk.”
The judge concluded by addressing LeBaron’s other family members, including the victim and her children, “You are very courageous. This is not your fault. The evidence shows you did not have a choice. To all of the family members, all of you are victims … and my heart goes out to you. All of you have the ability to go forward and live a good life.”
LeBaron was remanded back to the custody of the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, to begin the process of transferring to the Utah State Correctional Facility.
