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BOISE — A 10-year-old neighbor of Rep. Brandon Hixon’s tried for more than a year to get adults to listen to her concerns that Hixon “is a bad man.”
Some adults did the right thing. Others did not. And for that year she slipped through the cracks until finally, she became concerned that Hixon, who had started dating her friend’s mom, would molest her friend.
The girl went to her school’s counselor and resource officer, told them what Hixon had done to her, and said she did not want him to do that to her friend. The counselor and resource officer took action; within days, the Caldwell Police Department began an investigation.
That series of events is among the many allegations laid out in investigation records released Wednesday by the Idaho Attorney General’s Office. Hundreds of pages, compiled since spring 2017, suggest the former state lawmaker touched, abused or had sex with two young girls — one a young female relative — in repeated incidents across many years. They also establish that investigators and Hixon’s family worried he was a danger to himself long before his death from a self-inflicted gunshot in early January.
Investigators believed they had enough evidence to take the allegations to a grand jury. But the three-term Republican lawmaker was never officially indicted before his death.
It’s unknown how Hixon would have responded to the allegations once the matter moved to a courtroom. His attorney, Gabriel McCarthy, had not seen the new documents Wednesday, but said he was still bound to keep his conversations with his former client confidential and thus could not expand on Hixon’s defense.
To read the full story, visit the Idaho Statesman.
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online: udvc.org. The statewide child abuse and neglect hotline is 1-855-323-DCFS (3237).
- The Utah Division of Child and Family Services offers counseling, teaches parenting skills and conflict resolution and can connect families with community resources. Its goal is to keep children with their family when it is "possible and safe." Visit dcfs.utah.gov/questions/ or call 801-538-4100.
- The Christmas Box House acts as a temporary shelter for children and can provide them with new clothing and shoes, among other services. Call the Salt Lake office at 801-747-2201 or the Ogden office at 801-866-0350.
Crisis Hotlines
- Utah County Crisis Line: 801-691-5433
- Salt Lake County/UNI Crisis Line: 801-587-3000
- Wasatch Mental Health Crisis Line: 801-373-7393
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ teens: 1-866-488-7386
Online resources
- NAMI Utah: namiut.org
- Utah Chapter-American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: afsputah.com
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Warning signs of suicide
- Talking about wanting to die
- Looking for a way to kill oneself
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
- Acting anxious, agitated or recklessly
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Withdrawing or feeling isolated
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
- Displaying extreme mood swings
The more of these signs a person shows, the greater the risk. Warning signs are associated with suicide but may not be what causes a suicide.
Information from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.What to do if you see warning signs of suicide
- Do not leave the person alone
- Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt
- Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255)
- Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional
