Cortney Ted Andrew

Cort Andrew was an LDS church member from Cache County, Utah. He was married in the Bountiful, Utah Mormon temple in May 2013.

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from Cache Valley Daily:

“LOGAN — A former local leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is facing criminal charges for allegedly sexting with a teenage girl in his congregation. Cortney Ted Andrew, a 38-year-old Trenton man is facing four counts of enticing a minor by internet or text, a second-degree felony.

Cache County Sheriff’s Lt. Doyle Peck said the crimes allegedly occurred between June 10 and July 14, 2021. Andrew was then reportedly serving as a counselor in the ward’s bishopric with a bishop and another counselor. The three men would oversee the operations of the congregation, including the records, finances and caring for those in need.

Sheriff’s Lt. Mikelshan Bartschi said the alleged victim told detectives how she originally began communicating with Andrew to receive counseling. Andrew would text the teen girl religious advice.

the texts turned inappropriate and very sexually graphic

As the communications went on though, “the texts turned inappropriate and very sexually graphic,” said Bartschi.

The alleged victim’s mother reported the actions to the bishop, who reportedly removed Andrew from his position in the ward. She later notified and spoke to law enforcement after the bishop allegedly failed to report the crimes.

Peck said it appears from the evidence, Andrew was attempting to groom the girl to have sex with him. The communications ended supposedly before the relationship became physical.

According to court records, Andrew made his initial appearance Monday afternoon in 1st District Court. He had previously been arrested and booked temporarily into the Cache County Jail.

Church officials did not issue a statement when asked for comment regarding Andrew’s arrest. In October 2022, Church President Russell M. Nelson said “any kind of abuse of women, children, or anyone is an abomination to the Lord…Those who perpetrate these hideous acts are not only accountable to the laws of man but will also face the wrath of Almighty God.”

Andrew remains out of jail on pretrial supervision. He could face up to 15 years in prison, if convicted.”

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As of 2023-04-11, the Cache Valley Daily article quoted above changed its article to read:

“Editors note: This story was updated Tuesday morning after receiving information from a spokesperson from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

LOGAN — A former local leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is facing criminal charges for allegedly sexting with a teenage girl in his congregation. Cortney Ted Andrew, a 38-year-old Trenton man is facing four counts of enticing a minor by internet or text, a second-degree felony.

Cache County Sheriff’s Lt. Doyle Peck said the crimes allegedly occurred between June 10 and July 14, 2021. Andrew was then reportedly serving as a counselor in the ward’s bishopric with a bishop and another counselor. The three men would oversee the operations of the congregation, including the records, finances and caring for those in need.

Sheriff’s Lt. Mikelshan Bartschi said the alleged victim told detectives how she originally began communicating with Andrew to receive counseling. Andrew would text the teen girl religious advice.

the texts turned inappropriate and very sexually graphic

As the communications went on though, “the texts turned inappropriate and very sexually graphic,” said Bartschi.

The alleged victim reported the actions to the bishop, who reportedly removed Andrew from his position in the ward, according to Bartschi.

Peck said it appears from the evidence, Andrew was attempting to groom the girl to have sex with him. The communications ended supposedly before the relationship became physical.

According to court records, Andrew made his initial appearance Monday afternoon in 1st District Court. He had previously been arrested and booked temporarily into the Cache County Jail.

Church spokesman, Sam Penrod said the Church reported these allegations to authorities on behalf of the bishop in February 2022, when he first learned of the situation. This individual was immediately released from serving as a counselor in the bishopric. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind and is awaiting the outcome of this case in the court system before commenting any further.

In October 2022, Church President Russell M. Nelson said “any kind of abuse of women, children, or anyone is an abomination to the Lord…Those who perpetrate these hideous acts are not only accountable to the laws of man but will also face the wrath of Almighty God.”

Andrew remains out of jail on pretrial supervision. He could face up to 15 years in prison, if convicted.”

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from Cache Valley Daily on May 23, 2023:

“LOGAN — A former local leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is being bound over for trial on charges of sexting with a teenage girl in his congregation. Cortney Ted Andrew, a 38-year-old Trenton man, pleaded “not guilty” to the six counts of enticing a minor by internet or text, three second-degree felonies and three third-degree felonies.

According to court records, Andrew appeared for a preliminary hearing Monday morning in 1st District Court. Following prosecutor’s calling the lead investigator in the case to testify and showing a statement from the alleged victim about the allegations, Judge Angela Fonnesbeck determined there was sufficient evidence to bind the defendant over for trial.

Cache County Sheriff’s deputies report the crimes allegedly occurred between June 10 and July 14, 2021. Andrew was then reportedly serving as a counselor in the ward’s bishopric with a bishop and another counselor. The three men would oversee the operations of the congregation, including the records, finances and caring for those in need.

The alleged victim told detectives how she originally began communicating with Andrew to receive counseling. He would text the teen girl religious advice.

As the communications went on, though, the texts turned inappropriate and sexually-graphic in nature.

The alleged victim reported the actions to the bishop, who reportedly removed Andrew from his position in the ward.

Investigators suspect Andrew was attempting to groom the girl to have sex with him. The communications ended supposedly before the relationship became physical.

At the time of Andrew’s arrest, Church spokesman Sam Penrod said the Church reported the allegations to authorities on behalf of the bishop in February 2022 when he first learned of the situation. Penrod explained, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind and is awaiting the outcome of this case in the court system before commenting any further.

Andrew remains out of jail on pretrial supervision. He is scheduled to appear again in court June 26 for a pretrial conference, and could face up to 15 years in prison, if convicted.”