Major Headlines

The Utah legal stories that matter this week, with the documents and reporting behind them.

Oct. 7, 2026

Summit County

Grand jury indicts two sheriffs over the Kouri Richins case

A grand jury charged Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby with obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, and making a written false statement, a class B misdemeanor. Former Summit County Sheriff Dave Edmunds is charged with third-degree felony obstruction. Both pleaded not guilty.

The indictments were returned Sept. 24 and partly unsealed Oct. 7. Court filings tie the charges to an anonymous letter and to the prosecution of Kouri Richins, who was sentenced in May to life without parole for poisoning her husband. Rigby has since taken voluntary administrative leave. Richins' lawyers have asked the court to hold off on her motion for a new trial while they look into the allegations.

Sources: Utah News Dispatch; KPCW; KSL; KUTV.

Oct. 6, 2026

Sentencing

Sentencing Commission votes to recommend prison for three sex offenses

The Utah Sentencing Commission voted to change its guideline for enticement of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor and forcible sexual abuse from presumptive jail to presumptive prison. Judges would keep discretion in many of these cases, though not where the law sets a mandatory minimum.

The change does not take effect on the commission's vote. It needs a resolution passed by both the House and the Senate. The Department of Corrections projects more than $20 million in added prison costs over 10 years. Victims pressed for the change at a September commission meeting after a man convicted of forcible sexual abuse was paroled after four months.

Sources: KUTV, Oct. 6, 2026.

Sept. 28, 2026

Salt Lake City

Former Rep. Trevor Lee charged with mortgage fraud, resigns

The Utah Attorney General's Office charged the Layton Republican with communications fraud and mortgage fraud, both second-degree felonies, and with forgery and possessing a forgery device, both third-degree felonies. Prosecutors allege he used a false employment contract and income figures, including a forged signature, to get a $1 million home loan.

Lee resigned his House seat the day he was charged. He made his first appearance Oct. 28, and the court set his next date for Nov. 23 before the judge assigned to the case.

Sources: KSL; KUTV; KUTV.

Oct. 26, 2026

Federal court

Federal judge dismisses Justice Department suit for Utah's voter list

U.S. District Judge David Barlow dismissed, with prejudice, the Justice Department's lawsuit against Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson. The department wanted Utah's complete voter list, including names, birth dates, addresses and partial identification numbers.

Barlow ruled the list is not the kind of record federal civil rights law requires an election official to make available to the department. The Justice Department did not say whether it will appeal.

Sources: Deseret News, Oct. 26, 2026.