A 40-year-old Kearns man and former Granite School District teacher has been charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with three counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, according to KSL.com. Prosecutors allege he used his position of trust as an elementary school teacher to target victims.
According to KSL News, Christoffersen was listed as a teacher at Arcadia Elementary in Taylorsville. Charging documents allege the touching occurred under the guise of giving hugs, and that he touched victims' buttocks multiple times during school, at recess, and in a hallway, in addition to touching one student's thigh or waist during hugs.
The Granite School District said it and law enforcement investigated the allegations in April, and that Christoffersen had been on leave since the investigation began; he was placed on leave in April 2026 and has since been separated from his employment with the district, as reported by ABC4 Utah, effectively fired.
How the Allegations Surfaced
The case reportedly began after Granite School District police investigated a report from an 11-year-old girl, who said Christoffersen asked for hugs and touched other parts of her body. The girl reported that he picked her up and touched her buttocks, then pretended the contact was accidental, per the same account.
A second student came forward to report that she and other students were inappropriately touched by Christoffersen, alleging he boosted a student by the buttocks and squeezed another student's buttocks. A third student reported that Christoffersen asked her for a hug every day and that she ended up hugging him multiple times a day; the same student said he acted sad whenever a student did not want to hug him. The alleged incidents reportedly date back to the previous school year.
Alleged Comments and Behavior Toward Students
Investigators allege Christoffersen found reasons to hug victims and talked to girls he considered attractive and unattractive. He is also accused of telling one student that her leg was sexy. Christoffersen reportedly admitted that he asks students for hugs, but said female students are more huggers than male students, the report notes.
Christoffersen has denied inappropriately touching any student and said the students were lying and were attention seekers, the outlet reports. He is also accused of contacting witnesses and victims' families and requesting that they speak on his behalf, and of requesting that a cease-and-desist letter be sent to a victim. Prosecutors further allege that victims were harassed by family members of Christoffersen.
Charges and What Comes Next
Three counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child is a first-degree felony under Utah law. Prosecutors contend Christoffersen used his position of trust as an elementary school teacher to prey upon victims, according to the same reporting.
The full charging documents were not made available, and it remains unclear whether Christoffersen has entered a plea, appeared in court, or retained an attorney. The names of the alleged victims and their families have not been disclosed.
