Former Salt Lake City Fire Battalion Chief Arrested on Child Exploitation Charges
A recently retired battalion chief with the Salt Lake City Fire Department has been arrested and charged with multiple felony counts related to child sexual abuse material, according to Utah news reports.
Kelly J. Carter, 51, was taken into custody and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on 10 counts of second-degree felony sexual exploitation of a minor. Carter served as a battalion chief with the Salt Lake City Fire Department and reportedly retired in December 2025 after approximately 25 years of service.
According to investigators, the case originated when a cryptocurrency company submitted a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding a suspicious transaction linked to a website known to sell child sexual abuse material. Detectives traced the account to Carter.
Court documents indicate that investigators interviewed Carter on February 5, 2026. During that interview, Carter allegedly admitted owning the cryptocurrency account and using it to purchase illegal images. Investigators reported that Carter told them he viewed the images only while working his assigned shifts.
Following the interview, authorities executed a search of Carter’s phone. Investigators reported discovering hundreds of files depicting children in various stages of undress, with at least one image allegedly dating back to 2020. Carter was arrested on February 6, 2026, based on the possession of the material.
The Salt Lake City Fire Department issued a statement acknowledging the arrest and indicating it would cooperate with law enforcement requests as the investigation proceeds. The department stated it remains committed to maintaining public trust and emphasized its focus on accountability and transparency. More on the story from ABC Channel 4, and KUTV Channel 2.
