Salt Lake district attorney declines to file charges against Tim Ballard, cites insufficient evidence
Nov 14, 2025, 5:51 PM
FILE — Operation Underground Railroad founder Tim Ballard discusses a documentary series on Dec. 22, 2022. (Business Wire via Associated Press)
(Business Wire via Associated Press)
SALT LAKE CITY — After allegations were made against Tim Ballard for sexual assault and misconduct, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday it would not file criminal charges against him.
Ballard, founder and former CEO of the anti-trafficking nonprofit Operation Underground Railroad, was first accused by several women employees in a 2023 lawsuit that was ultimately dismissed — the judge in the case ruled the evidence invalid after determining it was obtained illegally.
District Attorney Sim Gill said Friday that, after a thorough investigation, his office determined the evidence brought against Ballard was insufficient to meet the “legal burden of proof.”
Gill issued the following statement:
We want to begin by recognizing the bravery it takes to come forward and disclose deeply personal and traumatic experiences. We acknowledge the impact of these events and commend the courage it took to speak with investigators and participate in the process. In our justice system, the State carries the burden of proving criminal charges beyond a reasonable doubt. This standard is the highest in our law, designed to ensure fairness and prevent wrongful convictions. It does not mean that we disbelieve or diminish a survivor’s account, but rather that the law requires evidence strong enough to remove every reasonable doubt for a jury.
After a thorough investigation, we determined that there is insufficient admissible evidence to meet the legal burden of proof. While the survivors have provided important and compelling statements, critical corroborating evidence is unavailable, and certain necessary elements of the charges cannot be established with the certainty required by the law. This decision does not diminish the value of the survivors’ voices or the harm they have experienced. We remain committed to supporting survivors, connecting them with resources, and pursuing accountability whenever the evidence meets the legal and ethical standards. We also stand ready to revisit this matter if additional evidence becomes available.
