Already serving time for a string of sex crimes, 30-year-old Joshua Homer is now facing a fresh wave of felony charges that prosecutors say he picked up while in custody. Newly filed cases accuse him of distributing a controlled substance inside a correctional facility, assaulting a cellmate, and helping move contraband behind bars. He remains locked up as the new counts work their way through the courts.
New felony cases while in custody
According to KSL, court filings show Homer has been charged in three new felony cases during his incarceration. The filings include an allegation that he distributed or arranged to distribute a controlled substance while in prison, filed in March 2026, along with a count of assault by a prisoner tied to an alleged February 2026 incident at the Tooele County jail. Both the drug-distribution and assault cases are still pending.
Investigation that prompted renewed prosecutions
The latest charges come on the heels of investigative reporting that pushed law enforcement agencies to revisit long-quiet complaints. As reported by Deseret News, KSL's 2022 "Failure to Protect" series laid out allegations spanning roughly a decade and prompted several Utah jurisdictions to reopen previously closed cases. Survivors and advocates told reporters that the coverage helped jump-start stalled investigations.
Contraband, prior pleas and prison timeline
KSL also reported that forensic testing detected synthetic cannabinoid residue on paper Homer allegedly passed to another inmate at the Utah State Prison, and that court records show he later entered pleas to lesser misdemeanor charges in a related contraband case. The outlet notes Homer is serving two up-to-life sentences and, in a separate Davis County case, received a sentence of five years to life, with an initial parole-board hearing listed for October 2029. KSL's legal analyst Greg Skordas explained that under Utah's indeterminate sentencing system, the Board of Pardons and Parole ultimately decides how long an inmate actually serves.
What’s next
Prosecutors are expected to set additional hearings as the new cases move forward and evidence is exchanged. Earlier national coverage indicates that KSL's original 2022 reporting led to arrests and renewed scrutiny of older reports, according to Newsweek. For now, the new felony counts remain unresolved and could play a role in any future decisions about parole or release.
Legal outlook
Because many Utah sentences are indeterminate, courts set a minimum and maximum term and the Board of Pardons and Parole has wide discretion over when someone actually gets out, per Utah law. Any additional convictions or serious prison infractions could further complicate Homer's path to release. The new filings are allegations at this stage and will have to be resolved in court.
