Politics - News Analysis

Missouri Man Who Fought to Ban LGBTQ Book From Schools Charged with Child Molestation

Ryan Utterback is a 29-year-old Missouri man who has been charged with child molestation, a big red flag for the group that he helped represent at a meeting where they argued that certain LGBTQ books are inappropriate for children. Now Utterback has been exposed for an act of pedophilia he committed in December 2020 while in bed with a child confirmed to be younger than 12 years old.

Utterback is facing one count of second-degree child molestation and was also charged with misdemeanors for attempting to furnish pornographic material to a minor. In collaboration with Northland Parents Association President Jay Richmond, the meeting he presented at took place in October 2021, hosted by the North Kansas City School District Board of Education.

At that meeting, Richmond highlighted sexual excerpts of LGBTQ books and argued that “If I were to hand this material out to a minor, or read or give any of these books to a minor, I would be charged with solicitation of a minor.”

This statement that Utterback supported is in sharp contrast to his alleged actions, such as the fact that he began showing one child sexual videos on his phone around the age of 4 years old. However, Richmond maintains that Utterback’s actions are not a reflection of his group or their ideals.

When questioned about the charges brought against the member of his group, Richmond emphasized that Utterback had been an “attendee” at the board meeting and not someone he was associated with. The students who also came to the same session were against banning the books that the Parents Association wanted to get rid of, saying they were mature enough to handle such content.

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Veronica O'Brien
meet the author

Veronica O'Brien is a Massachusetts-based freelance writer. She graduated from Framingham State University with a B.A. in English.

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