Roland Edwin Westrup

Case report

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Roland E. Westrup was an LDS returned missionary who grew up in the Sacramento, California area.

He served a Mormon mission to the St. Louis, Missouri region, including Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, where he spent time in the Champaign 2nd ward.

On March 14, 2023, Westrup was arrested in Salt Lake County, Utah. He was charged on March 17, 2023 with 10 second-degree felony counts of child sexual exploitation.

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From a probable cause statement (Utah case number 231903072):

“I believe there is probable cause to charge the defendant with these charges because:

“I am a Detective working with the Attorney General’s ICAC Task force, received a complaint passed down to me through NECMEC that images of child pornography (cp), passed through the messaging application Discord.

“I viewed those images, (more that 10), submitted by Discord and found nude photos of a boy 8 to 12 years old in a lude position.

“Also included was the IP address those images were received from. I found the IP address was maintained by Comcast, I obtained a search warrant for those IP records held by Comcast and found the user assigned that IP address was Roland Westrup living in Salt lake County.

“I also wrote search warrants for gmail addresses associated with the Discord account and found that email address to be roland.e.westrup registered to this same address. I obtained a search warrant for Roland Westrup and his address. This warrant was served by the ICAC Task Force on March 14, 2023, and Roland was found to be home.

“Roland was read his Miranda warning, he agreed to talk to me without having his attorney present.

“Roland admitted to viewing, downloading, and sending thousands of CP images using his phones, electronic devices, and message applications. Roland provided the email addresses and screen names he used which matched the images and chats I had viewed from Discord.

“I believe these to be additional condition(s) for continued detention:

“The current offense is a felony. There is substantial evidence to support the charge, and through clear and convincing evidence that ? would constitute a substantial danger to any another individual or to the community, or is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the court if released on bail.

“Roland admits to fantasy’s about having sex with male children as young as infants to teens for many years. he has written about approaching juveniles in church’s and with family members, your affiant believes if released Roland may yet act on these urges and impulses.”

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from KSL on 2023-03-17:

“SANDY — A Sandy man was charged Friday with possessing child pornography and engaging in religiously-themed child sexual abuse conversations.

Ronald E. Westrup, 23, is charged in 3rd District Court with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony.

The Internet Crimes Against Children task force began investigating Westrup in December after suspected child pornography was uploaded on the Discord app. When questioned by investigators, Westrup claimed he had been viewing child pornography for over 10 years and “would seek out, find and download” it, according to charging documents.

Prosecutors say Westrup also “engages in sexually-charged fantasy conversations” and talks about “sexually abusing male children in his church congregation,” according to the charges. Furthermore, he has “engaged in religiously-themed sexual fantasies,” including missionaries sexually abusing children, the charges state.

“Mr. Westrup admitted that he has downloaded thousands of images” of child pornography over the years, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors have requested that Westrup be held without bail in the Salt Lake County Jail pending trial.”

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from ABC4 on 2023-03-17:

“SANDY, Utah (ABC4) — Sandy man faces 10 felonies for possessing child porn, some of it allegedly LDS themed.

Roland E. Westrup, 23, was charged in the 3rd District Court with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a 2nd-degree felony. He could be put away for up to 15 years for each charge, if that is the case, he could be in jail for life.
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He was allegedly using Discord to upload child porn. Law Enforcement was able to track Westrup down and question him about the alleged child porn. Westrup agreed to speak with law enforcement and confessed that he had been the person who possessed the child porn.

He reportedly would download child porn, and then delete it afterward, in what officers said was likely a practice to avoid discovery by law enforcement.

Westrup admitted to engaging in sexually-charged fantasy conversations where he discussed sexually abusing male children in his church congregation. He also said he engaged in religiously-themed sexual fantasies, such as LDS missionaries sexually abusing children.

Westrup admitted he had possessed animated child porn depicting a young Joseph Smith, founder of the LDS church in sexual situations.

Prosecutors have requested that Westrup be held without bail in the Salt Lake County Jail pending trial.”