Ryan Pugh (2001 – ) was a former Mormon missionary and BYU-Idaho student in Rexburg, Idaho; arrested and charged in 2024 with sharing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online; orginally from Washington State; convicted in 2024, in prison in Idaho; earliest parole opportunity January 2027; will be required to register as a sex offender.

Ryan Pugh was a former Mormon missionary and BYU-Idaho student in Rexburg, Idaho.

Pugh went on a full-time mission for the LDS church in Minneapolis, Minnesota from 2019 to 2021.

Pugh was originally from Washington state, according to someone who knew Pugh.

In 2024, Pugh was arrested and charged with sharing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online.

CHARGED WITH:

-6 counts of: Child Sexually Exploitative Material Willfully Possess or Access by Any Means

CONVICTED OF:

-2 counts of: Child Sexually Exploitative Material Willfully Possess or Access by Any Means

SENTENCE:

Determinate: 2 Years 6 Months

Indeterminate: 6 Years

Concurrent with other charge – this case

According to Idaho Department of Corrections Pugh’s earliest possibility of parole is January 8, 2027.

Will be required to register as a sex offender.

Pugh is currently in prison in the Idaho Correctional Institute.

If you have any information about Pugh’s LDS membership history please contact us.

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Sources

  1. Former BYU-Idaho student allegedly traded child porn online, East Idaho News, March 12, 2024.
  2. CR33-24-0366 | State of Idaho Plaintiff, vs. Ryan Alan Pugh Defendant., Idaho Court Records, March 8, 2024.
  3. Ryan Alan Pugh, Idaho Department of Corrections, April 29, 2024.

  • 1. Former BYU-Idaho student allegedly traded child porn online

    • 20240312
    • News article
    • East Idaho News

    REXBURG – Court documents reveal new details about a 23-year-old former Brigham Young University-Idaho student who allegedly downloaded child pornography.

    Ryan Pugh was charged with three counts of willfully possessing child sexual exploitative material and three counts of felony distribution of child sexually exploitative material.

    On Jan. 23, a Madison County Sheriff’s deputy received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, saying they discovered two files of apparent child pornography that originated in Rexburg on the website Discord, according to court documents.

    RELATED | Rexburg man arrested for allegedly possessing child pornography

    Discord is a messaging and social platform using voice calls, video calls, text messaging, and the sharing of media and files.

    Discord provided account information, leading the deputy to Pugh. According to police reports, the files were sent on Dec. 18.

    The two photos showed young girls, one between the ages of 4 and 6, and the other between the ages of 10 and 12, in sexual positions.

    According to court documents, Pugh was listed as a current BYU-Idaho student at the time of the arrest. University spokesman Brett Crandall tells EastIdahoNews.com Pugh is now a former student.

    The deputy searched Pugh’s email and allegedly found another image of child pornography from Dec. 7, originating from Snapchat. This photo showed an unclothed girl between the ages of 5 and 7.

    On Feb. 13, the deputy received more information after sending a warrant to Discord, showing conversations between Pugh and other users discussing trading images of child pornography.

    According to court documents, Pugh sent a sexual photo of a young girl between the ages of 15 and 17. Another user asks Pugh, “Do you have younger?” and Pugh replies, “Yes. You?” The two then ask to trade photos.

    Pugh then responds with a video of two young girls between the ages of 13 and 16 acting in a sexual manner.

    When asked what types of videos he has, Pugh reportedly replied “teens” between the ages of 15 and 17. He then says, “I have a whole mega folder.”

    Other conversations show Pugh sharing multiple photos of nude girls between the ages of 15 and 17.

    On March 7, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office served a warrant at Pugh’s home and transported him to be interviewed.

    According to police reports, Pugh admitted he uses Discord, and the account reported was his. When asked if the account would contain child pornography, he reportedly replied, “Yeah, there will be some.”

    When asked about the ages of the children in the images and videos, he reportedly said they were between 14 and 18 years old. He also allegedly admitted to sending child porn to “unknown users.”

    He then told deputies that the youngest child he’d ever sent photos or videos of was “maybe 11 or 12.”

    Pugh was then booked into the Madison County Jail with a bond of $100,000. He is expected to appear for a preliminary hearing on March 20.

    If convicted, he could face up to life in prison.

  • 2. CR33-24-0366 | State of Idaho Plaintiff, vs. Ryan Alan Pugh Defendant.

    • 20240308
    • News article
    • Idaho Court Records

    Case Information

    CR33-24-0366 | State of Idaho Plaintiff, vs. Ryan Alan Pugh Defendant.

    Case Number
    CR33-24-0366

    Court
    Madison County District Court

    Judicial Officer
    Boyce, Steven W

    File Date
    03/08/2024

    Case Type
    Criminal

    Case Status
    Closed
    Party

    State
    State of Idaho

    Active Attorneys
    Lead Attorney
    Jorgensen, Kenneth Kurt

    Inactive Attorneys
    Attorney
    Garvin, Adam L

    Defendant
    Pugh, Ryan Alan

    DOB
    XX/XX/2001

    Active Attorneys
    Lead Attorney
    Lehtinen, Erik Richard

    Retained

    Inactive Attorneys
    Attorney
    Archibald, R. James

    Public Defender
    Charge
    Charges
    Pugh, Ryan Alan
    Description Statute Level Date
    1 Child Sexually Exploitative Material Willfully Possess or Access by Any Means I18-1507(2)(a) Felony 12/07/2023
    2 Child Sexually Exploitative Material Willfully Possess or Access by Any Means I18-1507(2)(a) Felony 12/18/2023
    3 Child Sexually Exploitative Material Willfully Possess or Access by Any Means I18-1507(2)(a) Felony 12/18/2023
    4 Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means I18-1507(2)(d) Felony 05/28/2023
    5 Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means I18-1507(2)(d) Felony 05/28/2023
    6 Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means I18-1507(2)(d) Felony 12/18/2023
    Bond Settings

    Setting Date
    3/8/2024
    3/20/2024
    Bond

    Bond Type Bond Number Bond Amount Current Bond Status
    Cash Bond $25,000.00 Converted/Exonerated
    Disposition Events

    04/29/2024 Plea

    Judicial Officer
    Tingey, Joel E.
    1
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material Willfully Possess or Access by Any Means

    Guilty
    4
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

    Guilty

    04/29/2024 Plea

    Judicial Officer
    Tingey, Joel E.
    2
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material Willfully Possess or Access by Any Means

    None
    3
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material Willfully Possess or Access by Any Means

    None
    5
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

    None
    6
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

    None

    07/22/2024 Disposition

    Judicial Officer
    Boyce, Steven W
    1
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material Willfully Possess or Access by Any Means

    Guilty (Plea Agreement)
    4
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

    Guilty (Plea Agreement)

    07/22/2024 Disposition

    Judicial Officer
    Boyce, Steven W
    2
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material Willfully Possess or Access by Any Means

    Dismissed on Motion of Prosecutor
    3
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material Willfully Possess or Access by Any Means

    Dismissed on Motion of Prosecutor
    5
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

    Dismissed on Motion of Prosecutor
    6
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

    Dismissed on Motion of Prosecutor

    07/22/2024 Felony Sentence
    1
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material Willfully Possess or Access by Any Means

    Felony Sentence

    Fee Totals

    $545.50

    $500.00

    $500.00

    Fee Totals

    $1,545.50

    Confinement

    Type: State Prison

    Facility: Idaho Department of Correction

    Effective Date: 07/22/2024

    Determinate: 2 Years 6 Months

    Indeterminate: 6 Years

    Concurrent with other charge – this case

    Pre-Sentence Credit for Time Served

    07/22/2024 Felony Sentence
    4
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means

    Felony Sentence

    Fee Totals

    $545.50

    $500.00

    Fee Totals

    $1,045.50

    Confinement

    Type: State Prison

    Facility: Idaho Department of Correction

    Effective Date: 07/22/2024

    Determinate: 2 Years 6 Months

    Indeterminate: 10 Years

    Concurrent with other charge – this case

    Pre-Sentence Credit for Time Served

    Events and Hearings

    03/08/2024 Video Arraignment

    Judicial Officer
    Hunt, David

    Hearing Time
    2:00 PM

    Result
    Hearing Held
    Parties Present

    State: State of Idaho

    Defendant: Pugh, Ryan Alan

    03/08/2024 New Case - Criminal

    03/08/2024 Criminal Complaint

    03/08/2024 Affidavit of Probable Cause

    03/08/2024 Conditions of Bail or Release

    03/08/2024 Court Minutes

    03/08/2024 Notification of Rights

    03/08/2024 Application for Attorney at Public Expense

    03/08/2024 Warrant/Det Order Issued - Arrest

    03/08/2024 Warrant Returned - Served

    03/18/2024 Miscellaneous

    Comment
    Initial Discovery Disclosure

    03/20/2024 Preliminary Hearing

    Judicial Officer
    Hunt, David

    Hearing Time
    1:30 PM

    Result
    Hearing Held
    Parties Present

    State: State of Idaho

    Defendant: Pugh, Ryan Alan

    03/20/2024 Court Minutes

    03/20/2024 Order Binding Defendant Over to District Court

    03/20/2024 Order of Commitment

    Comment
    Reducing bond to $25,000.00

    03/20/2024 Bond Posted - Cash

    03/20/2024 Felony Information Filed

    03/20/2024 Request for Discovery

    03/25/2024 Arraignment - District Court

    Original Type
    Arraignment - District Court

    Judicial Officer(s)
    Tingey, Joel E., Boyce, Steven W

    Hearing Time
    9:00 AM

    Result
    Hearing Held
    Parties Present

    State: State of Idaho

    Defendant: Pugh, Ryan Alan

    03/25/2024 Court Minutes

    03/27/2024 Notice of Hearing

    04/10/2024 Plea Agreement

    04/10/2024 Supplemental Response to Request for Discovery

    04/15/2024 Status Conference

    Original Type
    Arraignment - District Court

    Judicial Officer(s)
    Tingey, Joel E., Boyce, Steven W

    Hearing Time
    9:00 AM

    Result
    Hearing Held
    Parties Present

    State: State of Idaho

    Defendant: Pugh, Ryan Alan

    04/15/2024 Court Minutes

    04/15/2024 Notice of Hearing

    04/29/2024 Change of Plea

    Original Type
    Arraignment - District Court

    Judicial Officer(s)
    Tingey, Joel E., Boyce, Steven W

    Hearing Time
    9:00 AM

    Result
    Hearing Held
    Parties Present

    State: State of Idaho

    Defendant: Pugh, Ryan Alan

    04/29/2024 PSI Face Sheet

    Judicial Officer
    Tingey, Joel E.

    04/29/2024 Court Minutes

    04/29/2024 Order for Pre-Sentence Report (PSI)

    04/29/2024 Order for Psychosexual Evaluation

    04/29/2024 Notice of Hearing

    07/12/2024 Pre-Sentence Report

    07/22/2024 Sentencing

    Original Type
    Sentencing

    Judicial Officer
    Boyce, Steven W

    Hearing Time
    11:00 AM

    Result
    Hearing Held
    Parties Present

    State: State of Idaho

    Defendant: Pugh, Ryan Alan

    07/22/2024 Court Minutes

    07/22/2024 Order of Commitment

    Judicial Officer
    Boyce, Steven W

    07/22/2024 Case Closed

    07/23/2024 Bond Converted / Exonerated

    07/25/2024 Order Dismissing Charges on Motion of Prosecutor

    07/25/2024 Judgment of Conviction

    08/27/2024 Notice of Appeal

    08/27/2024 Motion for Appointment of Public Defender

    Comment
    State Appellate Public Defender

    08/29/2024 Order Appointing State Appellate Public Defender

    09/19/2024 Amended Notice of Appeal

    09/24/2024 Supreme Court Document Filed-Misc

    Comment
    Clerk's Record and Reporter's Transcripts Due Date Set

    10/08/2024 Appeal Cover/Title Page

    10/13/2024 Transcript Filed with the Trial Court

    Comment
    Change of Plea 04/29/24

    10/13/2024 Transcript Filed with the Trial Court

    Comment
    Sentencing Hearing 07/22/24

    10/13/2024 Notice

    Comment
    Of Lodging

    10/22/2024 Motion For Rule 35 Reduction/Correction

    10/28/2024 Clerk's Certificate of Service

    10/28/2024 Case Summary

    10/28/2024 Original Record(s) on Appeal Served or Transferred

    Comment
    Emailed Mr. Lehtinen and Mr. Jorgensen

    11/04/2024 Notice of Hearing

    11/18/2024 Motion for Rule 35

    Original Type
    Motion for Rule 35

    Judicial Officer
    Boyce, Steven W

    Hearing Time
    11:30 AM

    Result
    Hearing Held
    Parties Present

    State: State of Idaho

    Deputy Attorney General: Jorgensen, Kenneth Kurt

    Defendant: Pugh, Ryan Alan

    Public Defender: Lehtinen, Erik Richard

    11/18/2024 Court Minutes

    11/20/2024 Order Denying Motion for Reconsideration of Sentence

    12/31/2024 Notice of Transcript Deposit

    06/05/2025 Supreme Court Document Filed-Misc

    Comment
    Unpublished Opinion

    06/06/2025 Supreme Court Document Filed-Misc

    Comment
    Order Denying Petition For Review

    06/06/2025 Remittitur

    Financial

    Pugh, Ryan Alan
    Total Financial Assessment
    $2,591.00
    Total Payments and Credits
    $2,591.00
    7/23/2024 Transaction Assessment $1,545.50
    7/23/2024 Transaction Assessment $1,045.50

  • 3. Ryan Alan Pugh

    • 20240429
    • News article
    • Idaho Department of Corrections

    Ryan Alan Pugh
    IDOC #: 158661
    Status: In custody
    Age: 25
    Mailing Address
    Idaho State Correctional Institution Unit 11
    PO Box 14
    Boise, Idaho 83707

    Phone Number
    2083360740
    IDOC Sentence Information
    Data current as of: 5:05 am, Thursday, August 6, 2026

    The sentence information shown is for active sentences under the jurisdiction, custody and/or supervision of the Idaho Department of Correction only.
    Resident/Client Search Details for Ryan Alan Pugh Offense Sentencing County Case No. Status** Released to Supervision* Sentence Satisfaction Date
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material Willfully Possess or Access by Any Means Madison CR33-24-0366 Termer N/A 01/07/2033
    Child Sexually Exploitative Material-Knowingly Distributes by any Means Madison CR33-24-0366 Termer N/A 01/07/2037
    Parole Eligibility Date 01/08/2027

Documents

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Criminal case documents

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Civil case documents

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Timeline

  • 2001
    Born

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