GOP Senator Changes Child Rape Law in Utah to Benefit Family Member

Salt Lake City, UT — Public scrutiny is intensifying in Utah following revelations that a relative of Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams avoided jail time and sex offender registration after pleading guilty in a case involving a 13-year-old victim—coinciding with a legislative change that lessened penalties for similar offenses.

The 18-year-old defendant, related to President Adams, was originally facing a potential child rape charge— a first-degree felony punishable by six years to life in prison and mandatory registration as a sex offender. However, after pleading guilty to reduced charges, the teen received no additional jail time beyond an initial week served and was spared registration—circumstances prosecutors attributed to a major legislative change passed in 2024.

Background on SB213
Senate Bill 213, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, was signed into law in March 2024. It allows 18-year-old high school students to face third-degree felony charges—rather than first-degree rape charges—for consensual sex with minors under certain conditions, aligning with previous allowances for 17-year-olds.

The law explicitly does not apply retroactively. Yet during court proceedings, both prosecutors and defense attorneys acknowledged that the existence of the new statute significantly influenced the plea deal.

Allegations of Political Influence
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Senate President Adams privately confided to lawmakers that the law connected to his relative’s case should be reviewed. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Cullimore, later told reporters that Adams had asked that the case be considered during the legislative process. Adams, however, denied exerting influence.

“Some have suggested this change was made to benefit the case I was made aware of involving the high school senior. That is simply not true,” Adams told The Salt Lake Tribune. “I did not request the legislation and did not intervene or give input on the drafting of the bill.”

Critics, including the victim’s mother, have alleged preferential treatment, pointing to the high-profile political connection and the timing of the legislative change.

“I feel like a law is the law, regardless of who you are,” the mother told The Tribune. “But that wasn’t what was going on here. I feel like [the 18-year-old] just got special treatment… and nobody was going to say anything about it.”

Calls for Transparency and Accountability
The case has sparked bipartisan concerns over legislative ethics, judicial independence, and victim protections.

Advocacy groups and legal experts are urging an independent review of the circumstances surrounding SB213’s passage, as well as the use of prosecutorial discretion in cases involving politically connected defendants.

“This is about public trust,” said Laura McKenzie, policy director at Utah Justice Advocates. “When new laws appear to conveniently benefit the relatives of top officials—even indirectly—it erodes faith in the rule of law.”

What Happens Next
SB213 remains in effect and will govern future cases involving teenage defendants and sex offenses. However, public pressure is mounting for legislators to revisit the law’s scope and implementation, particularly in light of this case.