ST. GEORGE, Utah (KUTV) — After a whirlwind of police, court and social media action following the arrests of YouTubers Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt in the summer of 2023, the two former business partners and friends are set to learn their sentence.
Both women are scheduled to appear Tuesday before Utah 5th District Court Judge Keith Barnes in a St. George courtroom.
Franke and Hildebrandt both pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse for their respective parts in what court documents called the "torture" of two of Franke's juvenile children at Hildebrandt's home in Ivins, Utah.
Each had two additional counts of abuse dropped as part of their nearly identical plea agreements.
Franke, whose "8 Passengers" YouTube channel was a sensation until it went defunct and was eventually deleted from the social media platform entirely following her arrest, was the first of the two to enter a guilty plea. She said she agreed to "every word" of the plea agreement signed on Dec. 18, 2023, which detailed the types of abuse her two children were put through.
She also agreed to testify against Hildebrandt.
PREVIOUS REPORTS: 8 Passengers Child Abuse Case
Her attorney released a public statement laying much of the blame on Hildebrandt's influence, citing a common thread among the life coach's clientele - that she used isolation tactics to sway Franke's ideals.
The following week, Hildebrandt also enter a guilty plea, with her attorney noting that there was a section of the plea document she was signing she didn't necessarily agree with. It was never revealed which aspect of the agreement she took issue with.
Hildebrandt may also learn if any of her assets will be made available to her or they'll go to the ongoing medical needs of the two children. Barnes previously set a Feb. 20 deadline for a decision on restitution, which the children's father, Kevin Franke, has been seeking from Hildebrandt.
She was allowed to sell her multi-million dollar home, but she has not been able to access the money - or any of her other assets - since the judge put a restraining order in place pending the court's decision.
Victims will be given the right to speak before sentencing, as will both defendants. Neither is required to, though.
"A judge making a sentencing decision considers their remarks along with the pre-sentence report and other evidence," according to Utah Courts.
The pre-sentence report will likely include Franke's and Hildebrandt's police reports, prior criminal records, any statements they've given during the legal process, drug and alcohol history, family history, reports on the impact to the victims, and a sentencing recommendation from the Department of Corrections' Division of Adult Probation and Parole.
Utah law dictates a person guilty of a second-degree felony could serve up to 15 years in prison per count, with a possible $10,000 fine tacked on. However, time spent in prison could be affected by the person's criminal history and any aggravating circumstances - such as child abuse. The Utah's Sentencing Guidelines are laid out in a nearly-mathematical formula, which judges are bound to depending on multiple circumstances.
Franke's and Hildebrandt's agreed in their plea documents to serve their sentences consecutively.
Several bills are also being considered in the Utah Legislative Session to make amendments to those guidelines.
Ruby Franke's sentencing is set to begin at 10 a.m. local time. Jodi Hildebrandt's sentencing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Follow KUTV 2News for live updates.
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