was an LDS church member and chief information officer (CIO) of Central Valley Medical Center in Nephi, Utah; accused in 2023 of child sexual exploitation; pleaded guilty in February 2024 to two felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor; sentencing scheduled for March 19, 2024

Case Summary

Ken Richens was an LDS church member and chief information officer (CIO) of Central Valley Medical Center (CVMC) in Nephi, Utah.

He also worked for a time as vice president (VP) of Rural Health Management Corporation (RHMC).

Richens pleaded guilty to two felony counts of child sexual exploitation on Feb. 6, 2024.

Eight other felony charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal.

Richens is the owner of “an international charity organization that provides educational support for children in Cambodia and the Philippines,” according to charging documents.

Prosecutors said his work in the charity would “bring him into contact with children particularly susceptible to sexual abuse.”

He was caught in possession of child sexual abuse material, or CSAM. It’s what used to be more commonly called “child pornography.”

FLOODLIT has communicated regularly with a victim of the accused.

We’re seeking more information about his past in the Mormon church, including whether he held any leadership callings. Also, if you have any information about this case, please let us know.

View all ongoing criminal cases involving defendants who were active LDS church members at the time of their crimes or alleged crimes.

Kenneth Richens served a full-time mission for the LDS church (Mormon church) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from 1982 to 1984.

Thanks to your support, FLOODLIT has obtained court documents in this case.

As of May 7, 2023, FLOODLIT is seeking information to confirm whether Richens was found guilty of forcible sex abuse, a third degree felony, in Utah in October 1989. Possible case number: 53611. Possible other case number: 19857.

As of May 7, 2023, Richens had been taken into police custody at the Purgatory Correctional Facility in Hurricane, Washington County, Utah. ID Number 650413.

A profile on Richens at an LDS missionary alumni website says: “Served in Dryden, Saskatoon and Winnepeg. Taught Canada bound Missionaries from 1982 through 1983 at the MTC.”

Sources
  1. Ken Richens
    view source details | 9 Feb 2024 | Mission.net
  2. EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM
    view source details | 9 Dec 2022 | Central Valley Medical Center
  3. Utah man who works with global charity for children, charged for involvement in 'sex tourism'
    view source details | 5 May 2023 | KSL TV
Sources excerpts
  • Ken Richens
    Source type: Website
    Publisher: Mission.net
    Date published/accessed: 9 Feb 2024
    archive 1 | archive 2

    Served in Dryden, Saskatoon and Winnepeg. Taught Canada bound Missionaries from 1982 through 1983 at the MTC.

    Currently live in Nephi, Utah working as VP for Rural Health Management Corporation.

  • back to online sources list
    EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM
    Source type: Website
    Publisher: Central Valley Medical Center
    Date published/accessed: 9 Dec 2022
    archive 1 | archive 2

    Ken Richens – Chief Information Officer

  • back to online sources list
    Utah man who works with global charity for children, charged for involvement in 'sex tourism'
    Source type: News article
    Publisher: KSL TV
    Date published/accessed: 5 May 2023
    archive 1 | archive 2

    NEPHI, Utah — A Utah man has been charged with multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a minor on suspicion of his involvement in sex tourism and distribution of child pornography.

    The man, identified by court documents as Kenneth Richens, has been charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

    Richens has not been taken into custody.

    According to court documents, on March 30, law enforcement had “reason to believe” that Richens was involved in sex tourism.

    Sex tourism is criminal conduct when a person travels to another nation where children are commonly trafficked for sexual abuse with the purpose of sexually abusing children in those nations.

    Richens arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle Washington, returning from a trip to the Philippines and was searched at the border at which time a phone was seized from him.

    Law enforcement searched the device and discovered “child sex abuse material” according to court documents.

    The metadata of the photo files shows that Richens possessed them in Nephi, Utah prior to travelling to the Philippines.

    According to the indictment, Richens has “traveled to the Philippines 49 times since 2011. The Philippines is a nation where sex tourism is not uncommon.”

    The indictment identified Richens as being an active participant in “an international charity organization that provides educational support for children in Cambodia and the Philippines.” His work within that charity would “bring him into contact with children particularly susceptible to sexual abuse.”

    On May 4, law enforcement served a warrant at Richens’ home but Richens was not there. It is believed he is still within Utah.

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