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WEST JORDAN — A former IT employee for Salt Lake City accused of leaking sensitive police information to benefit a human trafficking ring now faces a new criminal charge.
Patrick Kevin Driscoll, 50, of Salt Lake City, is now charged with aggravated human trafficking for forced sexual exploitation, a first-degree felony.
A judge heard testimony Wednesday against Driscoll, who is accused of endangering law enforcement officers by releasing information about undercover operations to Michael Ricks, who is facing multiple charges for prostitution and drug dealing.
Driscoll is accused of giving the impression that he was a police officer in order to intimidate girls who were in the operation and convince them that they could not turn him down, according to court documents.
In addition to the new charge, Driscoll is also charged with three counts of obstructing justice and engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity, second-degree felonies; two counts of computer crimes interfering with critical infrastructure, one a second-degree felony and the other a third-degree felony; exploitation of prostitution, a third-degree felony; plus aiding prostitution, a class A misdemeanor.
Third District Judge Chelsea Koch will resume Driscoll's preliminary hearing on March 10 to hear arguments from the attorneys. At that point, she is expected to decide whether there is enough evidence to order Driscoll to stand trial on the charges against him.
