Chubbuck man faces reduced charges in child sexual abuse case after plea agreement
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A Chubbuck man originally charged with six counts of child sexual abuse has entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors. The deal, expected to reduce his charges to felony injury to a child, will not require him to register as a sex offender and will allow him to avoid prison time if the judge accepts it.
According to court documents, Virgil Larson, 45, signed the agreement with prosecutors on May 26. He is expected to formally change his plea at a scheduled hearing on July 6, 2026.
The Investigation and Arrest
At the time of his arrest, Larson served as a local leader or counselor in a ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to reporting by ABC4 in Utah.
According to court documents, the investigation began on July 3, 2024, after the Chubbuck Police Department received a tip from Kirton McConkie, a Lehi, Utah-based law firm representing the church. The report claimed several underage children in the community may have been abused by an adult male.
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"The Chubbuck Police Department Criminal Investigations Division opened an investigation into the circumstances and learned that several underage teenage boys had potentially been victims of sexual abuse, while at Mr. Larson’s residence," states the initial press release.
On September 17, 2024, members of the Chubbuck and Pocatello Police Departments executed a search warrant at Larson's home. Larson turned himself in to the authorities later that day and was booked into the Bannock County Jail.
The affidavit of probable cause detailing the specific circumstances of the investigation was sealed in September 2024 to protect the identities of the underage victims. Larson was initially charged with five felony counts of sexual abuse of a child under 16, with a sixth count added later as the investigation progressed.
Terms of the Plea Agreement
Under the current terms of the agreement, Larson will plead guilty to six counts of felony injury to a child (Idaho Code § 18-1501). Each count of felony injury to a child carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $50,000, or both.
However, the court is not bound to accept the agreement. If the judge rejects the plea deal, Larson will have the option to withdraw his guilty pleas and proceed to trial.
If the judge accepts the deal, the case will move to sentencing at a later date. As part of the deal, the prosecution has agreed to recommend that Larson's jail sentence be suspended in favor of probation. The State will not recommend more than 30 years of probation.
