A Salt Lake County jury has convicted former Salt Lake City Fire Department Captain Christopher David Burk of multiple felony sex crimes tied to his work as an EMT instructor, finding that what should have been lifesaving training turned into something far more predatory.
Jurors on Friday found Burk guilty of eight counts of second-degree forcible sexual abuse and one count of third-degree attempted forcible sexual abuse, while acquitting him on several other charges. The verdict followed a Third District Court trial where multiple women testified that Burk used hands-on lessons to isolate and assault students.
Prosecutors told jurors that several assaults happened during skills demonstrations, including one in October 2024 when Burk allegedly asked a student to stay after class and then assaulted her during a review. According to FOX13, other women described being groped during ride-alongs and company CPR courses, saying Burk pressed himself against them while pretending it was part of the instruction. Detectives testified that some victims hesitated to report what happened because Burk held a respected position in the fire department and the classroom.
DA Says Verdict Affirms Abuse Of Trust
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said Burk “abused his position of trust as an EMT teacher to assault multiple students,” calling the jury’s decision a measure of accountability, not a judgment on survivors’ courage. In a statement to KUTV, Gill thanked prosecutors and investigators and noted that seven women ultimately took the stand during the trial.
More Victims, More Charges
Burk was first arrested in January 2025 after an initial complaint, but the case did not stay small for long. Court records show prosecutors added more counts as additional women came forward, and filings were amended several times while investigators worked through new reports and testimony. As KSL reported, one attempted forcible sexual abuse charge was dismissed before jurors began deliberating, leaving the panel to decide the remaining allegations.
Training Rooms Turned Into Crime Scenes
Witnesses testified that the alleged abuse took place in EMT and CPR trainings tied to Salt Lake Community College and in off-site training spaces such as the Murray Police Training Center. Several women said Burk’s demonstrations strayed beyond the approved curriculum and that he used one-on-one instruction as cover for sexual contact that had nothing to do with emergency medicine.
According to court testimony and local reporting, some students said they felt singled out for extra attention that quickly turned sexual. Survivors told investigators the trauma was severe enough that some dropped out of classes or avoided the EMT program entirely afterward.
What The Convictions Could Cost Him
Under Utah law, a second-degree felony generally carries an indeterminate prison term of about one to 15 years and fines up to $10,000. A third-degree felony can bring up to five years in prison and fines up to $5,000, based on state code and legal summaries. Burk’s ultimate punishment will depend on statutory sentencing ranges, any applicable enhancements, and how the judge weighs the circumstances of the case.
A hearing to set a formal sentencing date has not yet been announced by court officials. For now, the convictions close one chapter in a case that grew as more women stepped forward, and they leave lingering questions about how closely hands-on health training is monitored in workplaces and community college programs. Local agencies and training providers have not issued new public statements beyond what they shared during the investigation and trial.
