First District Courthouse in Logan.
LOGAN — A former local leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is being bound over for trial on charges of sexting with a teenage girl in his congregation. Cortney Ted Andrew, a 38-year-old Trenton man, pleaded “not guilty” to the six counts of enticing a minor by internet or text, three second-degree felonies and three third-degree felonies.
According to court records, Andrew appeared for a preliminary hearing Monday morning in 1st District Court. Following prosecutor’s calling the lead investigator in the case to testify and showing a statement from the alleged victim about the allegations, Judge Angela Fonnesbeck determined there was sufficient evidence to bind the defendant over for trial.
Cache County Sheriff’s deputies report the crimes allegedly occurred between June 10 and July 14, 2021. Andrew was then reportedly serving as a counselor in the ward’s bishopric with a bishop and another counselor. The three men would oversee the operations of the congregation, including the records, finances and caring for those in need.
The alleged victim told detectives how she originally began communicating with Andrew to receive counseling. He would text the teen girl religious advice.
As the communications went on, though, the texts turned inappropriate and sexually-graphic in nature.
The alleged victim reported the actions to the bishop, who reportedly removed Andrew from his position in the ward.
Investigators suspect Andrew was attempting to groom the girl to have sex with him. The communications ended supposedly before the relationship became physical.
At the time of Andrew’s arrest, Church spokesman Sam Penrod said the Church reported the allegations to authorities on behalf of the bishop in February 2022 when he first learned of the situation. Penrod explained, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind and is awaiting the outcome of this case in the court system before commenting any further.
Andrew remains out of jail on pretrial supervision. He is scheduled to appear again in court June 26 for a pretrial conference, and could face up to 15 years in prison, if convicted.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.