In a jaw-dropping decision that’s got Utah fuming, a state judge has let a convicted child exploiter walk free with no additional prison time, prompting a top lawmaker to demand the judge step down.
The Post Millennial reported that Aidan Hoffman, a 22-year-old from Utah, was convicted of two felony counts of sexually exploiting a minor, yet Judge Don Torgerson opted for probation over further incarceration, a ruling that has ignited fierce backlash from Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz and Grand County Attorney Stephen Stocks.
Let’s rewind to last August when Hoffman was first charged with multiple felony counts related to the exploitation of minors.
Court records reveal Hoffman distributed and possessed horrific images of children enduring sexual abuse and rape, charges that should carry a heavy consequence.
After spending four months behind bars, Hoffman was released in December under strict conditions, only to face sentencing this week on Tuesday.
At the hearing, Judge Torgerson dropped 10 felony charges, focusing on just two counts, and then—astonishingly—chose not to impose any further jail time or fines.
Instead, Hoffman received a suspended sentence and four years of probation, meaning he’ll only see a cell again if he breaks the rules. Talk about a slap on the wrist when the safety of children is at stake.
Judge Torgerson, after viewing some of the vile content Hoffman possessed, remarked he’d “seen worse.” If that’s the bar for justice, one wonders how low it can go before we’ve lost all sense of right and wrong.
The judge also noted, “112 days is a lot of jail time,” adding it’s significant “for someone your age who comes from some level of privilege.” Since when does a privileged background excuse the exploitation of vulnerable kids?
Grand County Attorney Stephen Stocks, who’s been in office since 2023, didn’t hold back, saying he was stunned by the leniency and the judge’s reasoning.
“We should look at defendants and the actions that they’ve done and not make it lesser because of their affluent status or privilege,” Stocks argued. He’s right—justice should be blind, not swayed by a defendant’s bank account.
Stocks also described the children in the images as “victims of horrendous sexual acts,” underscoring the gravity of Hoffman’s crimes. Failing to speak out, he added, would be a disservice to those kids. It’s a gut punch to think their suffering could be so easily dismissed.
Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, representing the 12th district, went even further, calling for Judge Torgerson’s resignation. “Judge Torgerson’s decision is a failure of justice, and it cannot be ignored,” Schultz declared. He’s not wrong—when the judiciary seems to prioritize the offender over the victims, public trust crumbles.
Schultz didn’t stop there, stating, “To restore public trust and uphold the integrity of the judiciary, he must resign.”
He even hinted at impeachment as a potential next step if resignation doesn’t happen. Turns out, actions—or in this case, inactions—do have consequences, even for those on the bench.
This ruling isn’t just a one-off; as Schultz put it, it’s “indicative of a broader pattern within the judiciary.” When decisions like this become the norm, it’s not just a failure of one judge—it’s a systemic problem that needs a hard reset. We can’t afford to let progressive leniency override the protection of our most vulnerable.
Stocks echoed the sentiment, admitting the decision “shocked my conscience so much.” It’s a rare day when both a prosecutor and a lawmaker stand united against a judge’s ruling, but here we are. The outrage is palpable, and rightfully so.