Former Utah judge pleads guilty to sexual battery, drug charges

"A former Utah judge has pleaded guilty to criminal charges of sexual battery and attempted distribution of a controlled substance, class A misdemeanors, as part of a plea in abeyance deal. 3rd District Judge William Kendall, who resigned in April after the allegations surfaced, pleaded guilty to the reduced charges earlier this week. The district covers Salt Lake, Tooele, and Summit counties, according to Utah's online news site, KSL.com. site."

"The charges against Kendall, 54, will be dismissed in 18 months rather than be entered as convictions if he meets certain conditions. They include committing no other law violations, having no contact with the victim and must write a "sincere apology letter," and continued counseling. He also agreed to pay a plea in abeyance fee of $1,000, according to the story."

William Kendall pleaded guilty to reduced misdemeanor charges of sexual battery and attempted distribution of a controlled substance as part of a plea in abeyance. He resigned from his position as a 3rd District judge after allegations emerged in April. The charges will be dismissed in 18 months if he commits no other crimes, maintains no contact with the victim, writes a sincere apology letter, undergoes continued counseling, and pays a $1,000 plea-in-abeyance fee. Authorities allege he touched a woman inappropriately over her clothing at a party in his home on Feb. 21, 2025, and provided a "weed pen" to another woman. Original felony charges and some misdemeanors were reduced or dismissed under the deal.

Read at ABA Journal