Honk News (Tremonton, UT) – The ex-Tremonton Fire Department Chief, facing several charges related to child sex crimes, appeared in court for the first time on Monday, though the session yielded little progress.
Ned Brady Hansen, 54, joined the hearing virtually before Judge Reuben Renstrom, who quickly announced his recusal from the case.
Hansen, arrested in late January on suspicion of possessing child pornography, has been tied to alleged offenses involving former Justice Court Judge Kevin Christensen. Court filings reveal that the pair reportedly exchanged explicit discussions about child sex abuse materials and were allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with each other. Christensen, 64, was taken into custody earlier this month and resigned from his role a week later.
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Although Hansen and Christensen are presently facing separate trials, Judge Renstrom suggested they might eventually be tried together as co-defendants, a prospect that gave him pause about handling even procedural aspects of the case.
Hansen’s hearing was postponed to Thursday, March 20, where it will be overseen by Judge Joseph Bean, who is also handling Christensen’s case. At that time, Hansen’s lawyer, Shannon Demler, is expected to argue for his release on bail.
Christensen is slated to make his first in-person court appearance before Judge Bean on the same day, Thursday.