18-year-old arrested and charged for sexually abusing 13-year-old girl he met on social media

SPANISH FORK, Utah (ABC4) — An 18-year-old is behind bars after he allegedly met with a 13-year-old girl he met on social media and sexually abused her.

Connor Francis Cruickshank, 18, is charged with rape of a child, a first-degree felony, and sexual abuse of a child, a second-degree felony.

According to court documents, in July 2025, the Spanish Fork Police Department was contacted by a mother who said her 13-year-old daughter had sex with an 18-year-old man.

The 13-year-old victim was brought to the Children’s Justice Center for an interview about what happened. During that interview, she allegedly told police that she met Cruickshank on social media and began texting with him soon after.

She stated that Cruickshank initially said he was 16 years old and lived in Park City. The victim disclosed to police that he traveled to her house in Spanish Fork and “made her” have nonconsensual sex with him.

Cruickshank allegedly remained in the house until the victim’s mother found him in the morning and told him to leave. Documents say he left the residence in an Uber. After leaving, he reportedly told the victim that he was actually 18 years old.

Police performed a forensic download on the 13-year-old victim’s phone. According to the arrest statement, she had deleted most of her conversations with Cruickshank, but some messages were still stored on the phone.

Messages sent from a contact with Cruickshank’s name revealed that he was upset with the victim and asking how “they found out” and “where the proof was.” He also sent, “I’m gonna clear everything.”

The officer believed these texts showed something had happened between the two, and that Cruickshank planned to delete things from his phone. Police attempted to contact Cruickshank multiple times, but never received an answer or response.

On Oct. 29, a warrant was approved for Cruickshank’s cell phone. A Summit County Sheriff’s Office deputy served the warrant on behalf of the Spanish Fork Police Department at Cruickshank’s home in Park City, and a Spanish Fork officer spoke with him over the phone.

The officer explained that he had a search warrant for the cell phone, and asked if Cruickshank remembered getting calls and voicemails from the police several months ago. The 18-year-old responded that he didn’t.

When asked about his phone, Cruickshank allegedly told the officer that he switched to a flip phone about a month and a half ago. When asked about the phone he had in July, Cruickshank’s mother explained that he left his phone in an Uber and it was lost.

The Spanish Fork officer asked what Cruickshank knew about the victim, and he responded that they met on social media and “started hanging out.” He then stated that he stopped seeing her because “she was emotional and getting too heavy.”

During the questioning, the 18-year-old allegedly admitted to meeting with the 13-year-old twice at her home in Spanish Fork, but denied doing anything more than kissing. The officer asked more questions, and Cruickshank disclosed that there was touching, but said it was “consensual.”

“When confronted about having sex with [the victim], [Cruickshank] told officers he couldn’t remember everything that had happened that evening between the two of them,” court documents say.

Cruickshank was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail, where he is currently being held without bail.