TOOELE — Third District Judge Mark Kouris sentenced admitted child molester Curtis Reed Crittenden to a prison term of six to 30 years behind bars Tuesday after terming the 33-year-old former youth leader "a human iceberg."
Crittenden pleaded guilty as part of a plea bargain to three counts of second-degree felony sexual abuse of a child and three counts of second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse involving boys whom Crittenden met and befriended through his leadership role in 4-H activities.
"You can't give back what you've taken away," the judge said. "I think we're seeing a human iceberg."
The case involved four boys, two younger than age 14 and two older than 14.
Each count carries a one-to-15-year sentence and Kouris ordered that they run consecutively, but Utah has a 30-year cap on such prison terms.
Kouris was particularly critical of the fact that Crittenden seemed to have sought out the families of Spanish-speaking youngsters since they might be afraid to report crimes.
Crittenden also has admitted molesting other boys while a student at Utah State University and in Guatemala while he was on a mission for the LDS Church.
Kouris said the case was fraught with contradictions that are hard to understand. Crittenden is clearly intelligent, Kouris said, since he has a master's degree and Crittenden also knew for years that he has impulses to molest children.
"Why didn't you seek help?" the judge asked.
"I thought about it," Crittenden replied, "but I was afraid of losing what I'm losing now."
Crittenden apologized to the victims and their families, as well as members of the community who placed their trust in him as a 4-H leader and youth soccer coach.
"I can't believe I would do something to hurt them," Crittenden said in a matter-of-fact voice speaking about the boys, "although I know that I have."
Crittenden said he "struggled with the problem that caused this," and added that one of his greatest losses is the fact that he will not be able to work with children again.
Denise Court, who was chosen by the families to speak on their behalf, said it will be difficult for the boys to trust others again. One boy told her, "How can I believe anything anyone says to me?" she said.
Holly Johnson, victim/witness coordinator, read a letter from one victim's father who once admired Crittenden's patience with children, but now is so shocked by this betrayal that it feels like "a pain like I had lost my own brother."
Tooele County Attorney Douglas Hogan later said the information Crittenden provided indicated Crittenden was sorry, but the evidence also shows his crimes were carefully planned.
"I believe, based on the way the information came forward, that he does have remorse," Hogan said. "I also believe he is incapable of controlling those behaviors on his own."
E-mail: lindat@desnews.com