Brother of LDS apostle pleads guilty to sexually abusing, enticing minors in Ohio and Utah

ABC News 4, Utah/Jul 9, 2026 

By Jordan Thornblad

Columbus, Ohio — The brother of an apostle for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pled guilty in a federal court in Ohio on Thursday, admitting that he coerced and enticed a minor, an offense that carries a mandatory-minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison. 

Wade Christofferson, 73, admitted to coercing and enticing two minors under the age of 10-years-old in Ohio and Utah. He also reportedly committed hands-on sexual abuse of the child in Utah and the second victim in Ohio approximately 20 times. 

In November 2025, Christofferson was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on a warrant from the Federal Bureau of Investigations. He was overheard on a sexually explicit FaceTime call with a minor victim. He had also sent coded letters to the victim’s Utah home that referenced sexual activity for approximately six months.

A few weeks after the FaceTime call, police in Dublin, Ohio received a report regarding the alleged sexual abuse of an Ohio minor by Christofferson that occurred when the victim was approximately 7 and 8 years old.

The defendant reportedly committed hands-on sexual abuse of the child in Utah and the second victim in Ohio approximately 20 times. 

Christofferson also wrote the victim “Top Secret” hand-written messages and advised they were only for the victim to read, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Southern Ohio.

In the letters, Christofferson reportedly used code words for sexually explicit activity. For example, “SS” is believed to indicate “Secret Spanks,” and “Snow” was a codeword for female genitalia

Dublin police executed a search warrant at Christofferson’s home in mid-November and seized his electronic devices as well as completed a forensic examination of his phone. They discovered a search history consisting of “criminal defense attorneys sex crimes Columbus Ohio” and “In Ohio do clergy have to report child abuse confessions” as well as information about leaving the country.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Dublin Police Chief Justin Paez and other members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.

Christofferson’s brother is D. Todd Christofferson, who is a Latter-day Saint apostle and a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ABC4.com reached out to the church for comment on the arrest of Wade, but they responded saying that they have no comment.