DUBLIN (OH)
WCMH [Columbus OH]
November 30, 2025
By Adam Conn
A Dublin man who reportedly had a concealed crawl space in his home has been arrested in Utah after being accused of sexually abusing two children in both states.
According to federal prosecutors, Wade Christofferson, 72, appeared in U.S. District Court in Utah on Tuesday after being federally charged with attempting to sexually exploit a minor, and coercion and enticement in Dublin, Ohio.
Charging documents state that Dublin police received a report this month alleging the sexual abuse of 7- or 8-year-old by Christofferson, who reportedly assaulted the child 15-20 times and faces at least 20 charges.
It is also alleged that Christofferson sexually abused a child in Utah and engaged in sexually explicit FaceTime call with the minor. The call reportedly referred to sexual activity with code words for body parts and other sexual content.
Additionally, a criminal complaint said Christofferson wrote the Utah victim a letter with “top secret” messages, including one that read “Good for one * game with me!! You get to choose the game!” Police believe the asterisk meant “naked.”
A search of his Dublin home discovered an area accessible by a child-sized door with “H POTTER” written on it. Inside the modified attic crawl space area were a mattress, pillows and blankets on the floor, and children’s writings on the walls.
An investigation revealed Christofferson’s phone included a search history for “criminal defense attorneys sex crimes columbus ohio” and “In Ohio do clergy have to report child abuse confessions.”
Christofferson, who, according to NBC4’s sister station in Salt Lake City, is the brother of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was arrested last week and will be extradited from Utah to Ohio.