A former school resource officer with the Ogden Police Department has received a suspended prison sentence and a short jail term after pleading guilty to multiple felony charges involving child sexual abuse material and a separate sexual abuse offense.
On Friday, Second District Court Judge Catherine Conklin sentenced Colten Scott Johansen, 56, a former Ogden police officer, to prison terms that were largely suspended. Johansen must serve 30 days in the Weber County Jail, followed by 60 days of home confinement and four years of probation, according to court proceedings.
Johansen had previously worked as a school resource officer at Ogden High School before his arrest in 2024.
Charges and Guilty Plea
Court records show Johansen pleaded guilty on Dec. 4 to three felony counts:
- Two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor for viewing or possessing child pornography (second-degree felonies)
- One count of forcible sexual abuse (second-degree felony)
Judge Conklin sentenced Johansen to one to 15 years in prison on each count, but suspended the majority of the sentence.
Under the court’s order:
- Johansen must serve 30 days in the Weber County Jail
- He received two days credit for time previously served
- He may receive credit for good behavior during the jail term
- After jail, he must complete 60 days of home confinement
- He will remain on probation for four years
Johansen was ordered to report to the Weber County Jail on Monday, March 2, to begin serving the sentence.
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Background of the Investigation
According to authorities, Davis County Sheriff’s Office investigators arrested Johansen on Oct. 23, 2024.
Investigators learned Johansen had child sexual abuse material stored at his home in Huntsville, Utah, which had been retained as evidence from criminal investigations.
The material came to the attention of investigators during a polygraph examination conducted while Johansen was applying for another law enforcement job, according to reporting on the case.
During the polygraph process, Johansen reportedly disclosed:
- That child sexual abuse material connected to criminal cases was stored at his residence
- A sexual act involving an infant that allegedly occurred in 1994 when he was 24 years old
The second disclosure led to the forcible sexual abuse charge included in the case.
Statements Presented at Sentencing
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Conklin acknowledged Johansen’s long law enforcement career.
“I don’t think Mr. Johansen is a danger to the community in any respect,” Conklin said during the hearing.
However, the judge also stated that one of the criminal acts described in the case was “heinous”, and that consequences were necessary to serve as a deterrent to others and to demonstrate accountability.
Johansen began his law enforcement career in 1994 with the Weber County Sheriff’s Office, later joining the Ogden Police Department in 2002.
He remained with the department until his arrest in 2024.
Testimony from Former Police Chief
Randy Watt, the former chief of the Ogden Police Department, testified on Johansen’s behalf before sentencing.
According to Watt, Johansen had assisted with a task force investigating sex crimes during his career.
Watt testified that:
- Officers had difficulty finding a secure location to store child sexual abuse material used as evidence
- Johansen ultimately stored boxes containing evidence in the garage of his Huntsville residence
Watt told the court Johansen “could be trusted with anything we asked him to do.”
Defendant’s Statement to the Court
During sentencing, Johansen addressed the court and disputed aspects of the allegations connected to the exploitation charges.
He stated that he did not intentionally view child sexual abuse material, claiming he only viewed adult pornography that had been mixed among the materials he stored.
“It was a one-time deal,” Johansen said.
Johansen also described the impact the criminal case had on his personal life.
According to his statement:
- He lost employment and friendships following his arrest
- He experienced financial problems
- He said he had been forced to leave certain living arrangements
Johansen told the court he had received 31 awards during his law enforcement career, but said he had thrown away all but two after the case began.
“My whole goal in life was to protect and serve my community,” Johansen said.
Current Status
As of the latest available court information:
- Johansen must report to Weber County Jail on March 2
- He will serve a 30-day jail sentence with possible credit for good behavior
- Following jail, he must complete 60 days of home confinement
- He will remain on supervised probation for four years
No additional court hearings have been publicly reported following sentencing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Colten Scott Johansen?
Colten Scott Johansen is a former Ogden Police Department officer who also served as a school resource officer at Ogden High School before his arrest in 2024.
What charges did Johansen plead guilty to?
He pleaded guilty to:
- Two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor
- One count of forcible sexual abuse
All charges were second-degree felonies.
How much jail time was ordered?
Johansen must serve 30 days in jail, though the court imposed prison sentences of one to fifteen years that were largely suspended.
What happens after the jail sentence?
After completing the jail term, Johansen must serve 60 days of home confinement and remain on probation for four years.
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