Former Salt Lake City Fire Department battalion chief Kelly J. Carter arrested on child sexual exploitation charges

Former Salt Lake City Fire Department battalion chief Kelly J. Carter arrested on child sexual exploitation charges

On February 6, 2026, Kelly Jay Carter, a 51‑year‑old retired battalion chief of the Salt Lake City Fire Department in Utah, was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on ten counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second‑degree felony. Court documents state that the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force connected a cryptocurrency account to Carter after a report was filed to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding a transaction linked to a website known to sell child sexual abuse material. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

According to investigators, Carter admitted to purchasing a subscription to the site with the intent to view the material and told law enforcement that he viewed the material on his phone while working on duty. A forensic search of his phone allegedly revealed hundreds of files of child sexual abuse material, with at least one file dating back to 2020. The charges allege that the possession and viewing occurred over a multi‑year period. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Carter retired from the fire department on December 15, 2025, after approximately 25 years of service. The Salt Lake City Fire Department issued a statement saying it would cooperate with law enforcement during the investigation. Prosecutors have requested that Carter remain in custody without the possibility of posting bail pending trial. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}