Crime: 2020s, 
Crime county:
UT - Davis, - Crime state:
Utah,
- Convicted:
2026,
LDS positions: Missionary, Youth leader, - During crime: Youth leader,
- LDS mission:
Philippines - Philippines Quezon City 2004-2006
- Alleged:
Multiple victims, Unknown number of victims,
- Alleged crime scenes:
Online/computer/phone,
Criminal case(s): Convicted, Ongoing, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, - Alleged church actions: Unknown church action,
updated Jun 9, 2026 - request update | add info
Crime: 
Crime county:
Crime state:
LDS positions: 
Alleged:
Alleged crime scenes:
Criminal case(s): 
UPDATE: June 9, 2026
On June 3, Buckley pleaded guilty to:
-PRODUCING CSAM
-DISTRIBUTING CSAM
-POSSESSING CSAM
“In his plea, he admitted that he created a group on an end-to-end encrypted chat application, specifically for parents to share content involving their own daughters under the age of 10.
“The express purpose of the group was for users from around the world to engage in the sexual abuse of their own children and share that with users of the group,” Buckley wrote in his plea. “For the group, I created flyers which stated: ‘This group is for parents who have little girls ages 0-9 only.’ I required three steps of verification to join the group.”
He confessed that he encouraged the users in that group to create types of abusive content he wanted to see. There was no mention of any in-person crimes related to children at the schools where he worked.” KSL
Buckley is due back in court on June 17, for sentencing. His sentencing will run concurrently with any other sentencing he receives in the Utah State case.
—
Jared Buckley was a Mormon church member and charter school director (Leadership Learning Academy) in Clearfield, Utah.
Buckley was a Mormon missionary in the Philippines from 2004 to 2006 (Quezon City Mission).
On April 22, 2025, Buckley was arrested on suspicion of child sexual exploitation.
At the time of his arrest, Buckley was a stake young men’s president, according to multiple sources familiar with the case.
Thanks to your donations, FLOODLIT has obtained a copy of a police probable cause affidavit in Buckley’s case. It states in part:
“Law Enforcements Officers in New York State sent a lead to Law Enforcement Officers in the State of Utah for assistance in identifying the user of an internet account that was selling and distributing child sexual abuse material. The New York Law Enforcement Officers believed the account and associated device to be located in Utah.
“On or about October 16, 2024 the New York Law Enforcement Officers received from the suspect internet account a video of an approximately 8 year old prepubescent female [redacted by FLOODLIT]. They also received an image of a prepubescent female child with dark hair, wearing a green shirt, [redacted by FLOODLIT]. Preliminary information, collected by the investigators who received this material, also suggests that the suspect could be involved in the production of child sexual abuse material involving children outside of the United States.
“Law Enforcement Officers in the State of Utah were able to identify the owner of the device, which was a cellular phone, as Jared Dallan Buckley.
“On April 22, 2025, pursuant to a search warrant for Buckley’s person, vehicle and home, the device was located in Buckley’s possession, and Buckley was taken into custody.
“During a preliminary forensic examination of the device found in Buckley’s possession, multiple files depicting the sexual abuse of children were located.
[…]
“The current offense is a felony. There is substantial evidence to support the charge, and through clear and convincing evidence that [Buckley] 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.
“BUCKLEY is currently the Lead Director of the Leadership Learning Academy, which is a K-6 charter school with two campuses in Layton and Odgen. BUCKLEY also appears to be involved with various local youth sports organizations. Due to BUCKLEY’s efforts to conceal his online activities, investigators have been unable to positively identify him until just days prior to his arrest. Preliminary information collected by investigators also suggests that BUCKLEY could be involved in the production of child sexual abuse material involving children outside of the United States. Based on the efforts investigators believe BUCKLEY has gone to hide his illegal activity combined with his job and involvement with local youth, investigators believe that BUCKLEY is a clear and substantial danger to any individual and to the community.”
As of April 23, 2025, Buckley is being held without bail at the Davis County Jail.
FLOODLIT is seeking more information in this case. If you knew Buckley, please contact us.
Have any info on this case? Contact FLOODLIT.
Sources
- Biography,
- Head of Utah charter school arrested on several counts of child sexual exploitation,
- Philippines Quezon City Mission Alumni,
- Inmate Roster,
- Former charter school director pleads guilty to producing child sex abuse materials,
- Utah charter school director arrested, accused of distributing child sexual abuse material online,
-
1. Biography
Biography
Jared Buckley
Lead DirectorI am Mr. Buckley, and I am honored to introduce myself to you as the Campus Director of Leadership Learning Academy Layton. I have been with LLA since 2014 and have developed a love for our school and the culture we share.
My path into education started with a desire to help every individual succeed. I received my Bachelor's degree from Weber State in Special Education. After teaching as a special education teacher, I decided to further my education and went on and received my Master's degree in Educational Leadership. I can’t wait to get to know each of you as well and start building new relationships. Together, we can build a strong community that will help our children grow as leaders and become the best they possibly can be.
-
2. Head of Utah charter school arrested on several counts of child sexual exploitation
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (KUTV) — The lead director of the Leadership Learning Academy, a K-6 charter school, was arrested on several counts of child sexual exploitation.
Jared Dallan Buckley, 40, was arrested on two first-degree felony counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and one second-degree felony count of sexual exploitation of a minor.
The affidavit states that law enforcement officers in New York reached out to officers in Utah about a man selling and distributing child sexual abuse material.
They believed the man was operating out of Utah.
"Preliminary information, collected by the investigators who received this material, also suggests that the suspect could be involved in the production of child sexual abuse material involving children outside of the United States," the affidavit states.
Officers with the West Valley Police Department were able to identify the owner of the device, Jared Buckley.
They obtained a search warrant for Buckley's person, vehicle, and home, and found the device. He was taken into custody on Tuesday.
The charter school has campuses in Layton and Ogden.
-
3. Philippines Quezon City Mission Alumni
Elder Jared Dallan Buckley
Presidents:
L. Michael Keone (2001 - 2004) | David R. Labrum (2004 - 2007)Served: 2004 - 2006
Language(s) spoken:Tagalog
Areas Served:
Navotas, Fairview, Cainta, Marikina, Tabang, NavotasCompanions:
[redacted by FLOODLIT]Your Occupation: Sales Rep
Created: 12 Apr 2008 Modified: 12 Apr 2008
Last Login: 12 Apr 2008 12:05:37 PM -
4. Inmate Roster
Jared Buckley
Name Number : 5036087
Booked : 4/22/2025 5:15:21 PM
Age : 40
Gender : M
Arresting Agency : Kaysville Police DepartmentCharges
Description State Statute Counts Disposition
Aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor 76-5B-201.1(2)+(3A) 1
Aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor 76-5B-201.1(2)+(3A) 1
Sexual exploitation of a minor 76-5B-201 1Bonds
Type Amount
No Bail $0 -
5. Former charter school director pleads guilty to producing child sex abuse materials
SALT LAKE CITY — A former Utah charter school director has entered a guilty plea to three federal charges after admitting he created a chat group for parents to share images abusing their children.
Jared Buckley from West Point, 41, was the lead director at Leadership Learning Academy in Layton and Ogden for seven years until April 2025, when he was taken into federal custody for having “well over” 10,000 inappropriate images and videos of kids.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, FBI agents started investigating in October 2024 after they got wind of a user representing that “he had original child sexual abuse material that he could produce and distribute to others for a price.” Through the investigation, FBI agents were able to connect that user to a telephone number that was associated to Buckley.
On Wednesday, Buckley entered a guilty plea to producing, distributing, and possessing child sex abuse materials. In his plea, he admitted that he created a group on an end-to-end encrypted chat application, specifically for parents to share content involving their own daughters under the age of 10.
“The express purpose of the group was for users from around the world to engage in the sexual abuse of their own children and share that with users of the group,” Buckley wrote in his plea. “For the group, I created flyers which stated: ‘This group is for parents who have little girls ages 0-9 only.’ I required three steps of verification to join the group.”
He confessed that he encouraged the users in that group to create types of abusive content he wanted to see. There was no mention of any in-person crimes related to children at the schools where he worked.
As part of the plea, he agreed to a stipulated sentence of 30 years in prison, followed by supervised release. He waived his right to seek early termination of his supervised release until he has served at least 20 years. He will also be forced to register as a sex offender and pay his victims restitution.
His sentence will run concurrently with any sentence imposed during the state case against him. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for June 17.
-
6. Utah charter school director arrested, accused of distributing child sexual abuse material online
BY MARY CULBERTSON
KSLNewsRadio
LAYTON — The director of an elementary charter school in Layton was arrested and booked on charges Tuesday, accusing him of owning child sexual abuse material and exploiting children, according to court documents.
Law enforcement officials in New York began the investigation when they encountered multiple sexually explicit videos of young girls, estimated to be approximately 8 years of age. The New York officials sought help from officers in Utah to identify the suspect who owned the footage and had been selling and distributing it online.
Utah officials were able to identify the owner of the device linked to the footage, which was a cellular phone belonging to Jared Dallan Buckley, 40.
Buckley worked as the lead director of the Layton campus of Leadership Learning Academy, according to the school’s website. The affidavit also said Buckley “appears to be involved with various local youth sports organizations.”
The school’s biography of Buckley said he had been with the school since 2014, and had received a bachelor’s degree from Weber State in special education. He then received a master’s degree in educational leadership.
“Preliminary information, collected by investigators who received this material, also suggests that the suspect could be involved in the production of child sexual abuse material involving children outside of the United States,” the affidavit said.
On Tuesday, a search warrant granted officers access to search Buckley, his home and his car. The device in question was found in his possession, according to the affidavit, and officers confirmed it had multiple files of child sexual abuse material on it.
The document noted that Buckley’s efforts to conceal his online activities prevented investigators from positively identifying him until just days before his arrest.
Buckley was booked on two first-degree felony charges of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor for the footage found in October of 2024. He also faces another second-degree felony charge of sexual exploitation of a minor for another offense on his arrest date.
KSL TV contacted the school on Wednesday; the school declined to comment.
Documents
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Criminal case documents
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