On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, HJ News reported that the Brigham City Police Department has transferred a significant child exploitation case involving former Tremonton Fire Department Chief Ned Brady Hansen and former Box Elder County Judge Kevin Christensen. This decision was made to address a potential conflict of interest, as noted in the department’s official announcement.
The case transfer coincided with Hansen’s first court appearance on March 17, where Second District Judge Reuben Renstrom recused himself from presiding over Hansen’s case. Renstrom had previously recused himself from Christensen’s case, citing concerns over impartiality. Although he did not personally know Hansen, he chose to step down from the case to maintain the integrity of the judicial process. Renstrom stated, “I’ve never met Mr. Hansen… but where I’ve recused on what may become a co-defendant, I don’t know that I feel comfortable doing much on this case today.”
Following Renstrom’s recusal, the case was reassigned to Second District Judge Joseph Bean. Hansen’s attorney, Shannon Demler, indicated plans to argue for bail on behalf of his client during the upcoming session.
The Brigham City Police Department became involved in the investigation on January 21, when they were contacted by the Tremonton-Garland Police Department regarding allegations against Hansen. As the investigation progressed, connections between Hansen and Christensen were uncovered, prompting concerns about conflicts of interest. To ensure an unbiased investigation, the Brigham City Police Department sought assistance from an external agency unlinked to Box Elder County or the First Judicial Court District of Utah.
The police department emphasized that it has not participated in the investigation since the transfer and pledged to fully cooperate with the ongoing legal process. Both cases have since been handed over to the Davis County Attorney’s Office and the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
In a statement, the Brigham City Police Department expressed their commitment to the victims of the alleged crimes and reaffirmed their dedication to community safety. They underscored their mission to pursue all perpetrators of crime vigorously, asserting their obligation to enforce the law with impartiality and fairness, regardless of the suspect’s background or status within the community.
Source: HJ News
