The 18-year-old relative of Utah Senate President Stuart Adams who was charged with raping a 13-year-old—and later received a markedly lighter outcome after Adams advanced a change to Utah law—is his step-grandchild.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that in 2023 an 18-year-old high school student was charged with two counts of rape of a child and two counts of sodomy on a child - both first-degree felonies - after having sex with the 13-year-old.
At the time, Utah law allowed 17-year-olds who had sex with 13-year-olds to be charged as juveniles with a third-degree felony (unlawful sexual activity). Anyone under 14 cannot legally consent.
According to the Tribune report, during the 2024 legislative session, Adams proposed a change allowing prosecutors, in limited circumstances, to treat 18-year-old high school students accused of child rape as minors—exposing them to lesser charges instead of first-degree felonies.
Although the law was not made retroactive, the prosecutor, judge, and defense attorney in the case all acknowledged that it was a major factor in their decision to offer the 18-year-old a plea deal, resulting in guilty pleas to second-degree felony aggravated assault and three misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. The deal also spared the 18-year-old from sex-offender registration.
Utah Political Watch has confirmed that the perpetrator is Adams’ step-grandchild.
A spokesperson for President Adams did not respond to messages seeking comment or an interview with Adams.
Adams has come under fire for the perception that he leveraged his position to influence the case and help a member of his family facing serious legal trouble. Adams has fiercely denied those allegations.
On Friday, Democratic Sen. Nate Blouin publicly called on Adams to resign for allegedly abusing his position. Blouin said the newly disclosed family tie does not change his view.
“President Adams weighed in on a judicial decision to unduly influence the outcome of a criminal case. That’s extremely problematic and calls into question his competence to serve in a leadership position in the legislature,” Blouin said.
“Whether it was a grandchild or a far-flung relative, we should not be privileging them by running a law like this. To do so in such an opaque way reflects poorly on the Senate.”
