Father Who Tried To Ban LGBTQ+ Books From Missouri Schools Is Charged With Molesting A Child

Before appearing in court on Thursday at the Clay County Courthouse, Utterback had pled not guilty and was out on bond.

According to KMBC, Utterback sexually molested a kid under the age of 12 in December 2020, according to a probable cause statement.

Utterback made physical contact with a 14-year-old in a different incident in 2020, and the teen said it was "uncomfortable" and they "didn't like it at all."

Utterback allegedly displayed pornographic cellphone footage to a 4-year-old child, according to another probable cause statement.

According to the news station, Utterback attended multiple school board meetings lobbying for the prohibition of some books with LGBTQ+ content, which he referred to as "sexual material" inappropriate for children.

In November, Utterback attended one of these meetings, when students spoke out in support of not banning books with the content.

He informed the news organization at the time that he understood the students' concerns but remained committed to the book ban.

"You know, I understand their struggles. It's not lost on me."

"Those conversations are to be had at home and only I have the intimate understanding of what is and isn't appropriate for my children."

On October 26, 2021, Utterback appeared at another school board meeting as part of a presentation against the school's decision to maintain Alison Bechdel's bestselling LGBTQ+ graphic memoir, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, in the library.

He appeared in a video alongside Northland Parent Association President James Richmond at a public meeting, holding two posterboard signs containing pages from the book.

Richmond recalled his presentation to the school board on Friday but distanced himself from Utterback's allegations.

"Ryan was an attendee at the board meeting, I needed help holding a presentation and he helped," he told the news station.

"I can't comment on the alleged charges against him because I have no knowledge about them and they have nothing to do with me or the Northland Parent Association."