Nibley man sentenced to prison for sexually abusing little girl | News

LOGAN – A 74-year-old Nibley man is going to prison for sexually abusing a little girl five years ago. Curtis D. Rudd was originally arrested in August 2022 following an investigation by Cache County Sheriff’s officials.

Rudd was sentenced on Monday, July 29, in Logans 1.^st District Court. He had previously accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony.

According to prosecutors, the victim’s father contacted police after Rudd told him about the crime. The defendant admitted to inappropriately touching the little girl in 2019 while caring for the child at home.

The father told Cache County sheriff’s officials that Rudd initially confessed to the crime to his church minister. Several family members later confirmed that the defendant had told them the same incident, “and said he made a big mistake and would probably go to jail.”

Officers concluded that the juvenile victim must have been a toddler at the time of the incident.

At the sentencing on Monday, defense attorney Wayne Caldwell asked the court for a lighter sentence, saying his client had reported the crime himself and had no other criminal history.

However, Cache County Assistant Prosecutor Ronnie Keller pointed out that Rudd initially only spoke with his religious leader and the victim’s family, not law enforcement. He called Rudd’s actions “outrageous” and pointed out that the defendant had been viewing child pornography for several years before the assault occurred.

Rudd said he took responsibility for his actions and would accept the court’s punishment.

Judge Spencer Walsh said Rudd’s actions showed how child pornography desensitises people and can lead to the sexual abuse of children. He wished the defendant had sought help sooner, then this might never have happened.

Rudd was sentenced to 10 years to life in the Utah State Correctional Facility. He was led out of the courtroom by bailiffs as his family watched from the gallery.