The Utah County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Tuesday that an investigation is ongoing regarding allegations of ritualistic child sexual abuse and child sex trafficking that have occurred in Utah County and throughout the state.

According to Sgt. Spencer Cannon, the sheriff’s office became involved in the investigation in April 2021. In that time, the sheriff’s office discovered other victims who reported similar forms of sexual abuse and trafficking that occurred in Utah, Juab and Sanpete counties from 1990 through the 2010s.

“Typically, we get involved when someone reports something to us,” Cannon said. “Either someone is a victim or knows a victim and is reporting it to us in that way. That is no different in this case. It was brought to our attention, when we are aware of allegations, we are obligated to investigate those and take them wherever they will go.”

UCSO recently began working on the investigation with special victim unit detectives and investigators from those counties.

“We are pleading with the public and encourage victims, or individuals with knowledge of these crimes, to contact the Utah County Sheriff’s Office Special Victim’s Unit, so that they can be offered all the assistance possible,” reads the press release. “We understand that there are individuals who have concerns for their safety and/or well-being, who have been silenced. We need your help.”

Members of the public can call the Utah County Sheriff’s Office at (801)-851-4010.

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