Salt Lake EMT instructor's sexual abuse case to go to trial after 7 female victims testify in court
SALT LAKE CITY () — A former fire captain and EMT instructor will face 15 felony sexual abuse charges in trial after seven victims testified against him during his preliminary hearing Tuesday.
Christopher David Burk, 46, was charged with 14 counts of forcible sexual abuse and two counts of attempted forcible sexual abuse earlier this year. The judge dismissed one of the attempted forcible sexual abuse charges at the end of Tuesday's hearing.
PREVIOUS STORY: Salt Lake fire captain and EMT instructor charged with sexually abusing students
Burk was arrested after two female students spoke with police, alleging they were abused by their EMT instructor. He was originally facing six charges, but has as five other victims came forward after his arrest.
During the preliminary hearing, seven women spoke of their experience with Burk as their CPR or EMT instructor at several locations, the majority of which were EMT students at Salt Lake Community College or Utah Valley University.
Other victims included a high school student enrolled in a program and an employee attending a CPR training at her workplace. Each woman testified one by one, recounting similar stories of Burk touching them inappropriately.
The victims said Burk would ask them to stay after class to review the class content or invite them on 'ride-alongs' with the fire department. When they were alone or out of view, Burk would allegedly demonstrate different 'medical assessments' on the students. The victims all said he touched them inappropriately during the demonstrations.
'I didn't know what he was doing and I didn't know how far he was gonna take it.'
-A victim's testimony in court
One victim said Burk unbuttoned her top and did an assessment 'skin to skin.' Another said he lifted her shirt to do lung assessment demonstrations and touched her in her groin area under her clothes. The victim said she was 'afraid to report any of it' since she was going through a hard time in her life and Burk was her 'only support.'
Another victim testified in court that Burk had touched her breasts under her clothes four times while supposedly helping her review content after class. She said he 'had touched every part of me' and she 'knew what he was doing.'
The victim told the court she didn't let on that she knew what was happening because she just wanted to 'make a safe exit,' saying it was after a late-night class and she didn't know if there was anyone else in the building.
'What was going through your mind at this time?' prosecutors asked the victim.
'I was terrified,' she said. 'I didn't know what he was doing and I didn't know how far he was gonna take it.'
Prosecutors called an EMT SLCC coordinator to the stand who said instructors should always be doing demonstrations in class on other instructors, not students. She said EMTs are taught to always use the back side of their hands to make sure patients are not uncomfortable.
When asked by prosecutors if there is 'ever a scenario where your instructors would demonstrate by cupping a female student's breast,' she said, 'That should never be the case.'
The Sandy police detective leading the case took to the stand during the preliminary hearing, describing the process of arresting Burk. He said he could not get in contact with him for nearly two months and had to arrest Burk using unmarked vehicles. The detective said when interviewing him he denied touching underneath the student's clothing.
Despite one victim's claims that SLCC had known of UVU sexual abuse allegations involving Burk, the school told ABC4 they were 'unaware of any accusations or charges regarding sexual abuse until the student came forward.' The school said Burk was employed with the school from July to November of last year.
'After a SLCC EMT student filed a complaint on November 20, 2024, the college took immediate action and placed Burk on administrative leave the next day (Nov. 21) pending an investigation. When Burk was arrested on Jan. 30, 2025, this is when SLCC learned about Burk's criminal charges. Burk was immediately fired,' the statement read.
Burk's next hearing is on April 15 when court officials will agree on a date for his trial.
Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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