The district attorney for Salt Lake City has announced he will not be filing criminal charges against Tim Ballard, the anti-child-trafficking activist whose work inspired the 2023 film Sound of Freedom.
This decision comes in response to sexual assault allegations made by several women in civil lawsuits.
The District Attorney's Rationale
In an official statement released on Friday, District Attorney Sim Gill explained the reasoning behind the decision. He cited "insufficient admissible evidence" to proceed with a criminal prosecution against Ballard.
Gill was careful to clarify that this legal conclusion does not imply a disbelief in the accounts of the accusers. "It does not mean that we disbelieve or diminish a survivor's account," he stated, "but rather that the law requires evidence strong enough to remove every reasonable doubt for a jury."
Details of the Civil Lawsuits
Despite the lack of criminal charges, Ballard remains entangled in civil legal battles. The allegations against him stem from two separate lawsuits.
Women involved in these cases have accused Ballard of exploiting his prominent position as the founder of Operation Underground Railroad. They claim he manipulated their genuine desire to help combat child trafficking to subject them to abuse.
The status of these lawsuits is currently mixed. One lawsuit has been dismissed, though an appeal is pending. The other civil case remains active and is proceeding through the legal system, as reported by the Salt Lake Tribune.
Reactions and Fallout
Ballard's legal team has welcomed the district attorney's decision. Mark Eisenhut, an attorney representing Ballard, stated, "Tim Ballard is innocent so the fact that there will be no charges makes absolute sense." Eisenhut went further, suggesting that authorities should consider bringing charges against those he described as "false accusers."
The scandal has already had significant professional consequences for Ballard. He resigned from his role at Operation Underground Railroad last year when the sexual assault allegations first came to light.
The premiere of the film based on his work, Sound of Freedom, was held on 28 June 2023 in Vineyard, Utah, an event Ballard attended amidst the growing controversy.
