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September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Civic Brief • Criminal

Jodi Hildebrandt

Jodi Hildebrandt is an American former counselor and former YouTuber who was convicted of aggravated child abuse in Utah.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Jodi Hildebrandt is an American former counselor and former YouTuber who was convicted of aggravated child abuse in Utah. She became widely known through her business and personal association with Ruby Franke, and was sentenced in February 2024 to consecutive prison terms totaling four to 30 years.

What it is

Jodi Hildebrandt operated a counseling and self-improvement business, including an online program with Ruby Franke. She was arrested in August 2023 alongside Franke and later pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse involving two of Franke's children.

Why it matters

The case drew widespread media attention because of Franke's social-media profile and subsequent documentary coverage. It also raised questions about Hildebrandt's counseling license and her alleged role in the abuse, leading to international reporting, including in Canadian news.

Key details

Hildebrandt was sentenced on 20 February 2024 to four consecutive prison terms of one to 15 years each, for a total of four to 30 years. She is incarcerated in Utah. The sentence is the maximum available under state law for the offense.

In short

  • Arrested in August 2023 with Ruby Franke.
  • Pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse.
  • Sentenced to 4 to 30 years in prison.
  • Case received international media coverage.
Canadian angle

The case drew international attention, including coverage in Canadian news media, but Hildebrandt has no specific documented Canadian connection in the provided sources.

Quick questions

Who is Jodi Hildebrandt?
Jodi Hildebrandt is an American former counselor and former YouTuber who was convicted of aggravated child abuse in Utah.
What was Jodi Hildebrandt convicted of?
She pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse connected to Ruby Franke's children.
When was Jodi Hildebrandt sentenced?
She was sentenced on 20 February 2024.

Sources

  1. Washington County Attorneyhttps://www.washco.utah.gov/departments/attorney/case-highlights-media/utah-vs-franke-hildebrandt/
    Supports: Arrest, guilty plea, and sentencing details in the Utah v. Franke/Hildebrandt case.
  2. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodi_Hildebrandt
    Supports: Birth year, occupation, arrest, conviction, and sentence summary.
  3. CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/ruby-franke-jodi-hildebrandt-sentenced-child-abuse-youtube-eight-passengers/
    Supports: Charges, plea, sentencing, and details of the child abuse case.
  4. Peoplehttps://people.com/jodi-hildebrandt-id-series-ruby-franke-child-abuse-8786679
    Supports: Background, counseling business, arrest, and conviction context.
  5. CNNhttps://www.cnn.com/2024/03/23/us/ruby-franke-child-abuse-police-video
    Supports: Prosecutorial description of the case and guilty plea context.
  6. Netflix Tudumhttps://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/evil-influencer-the-jodi-hildebrandt-story-explained
    Supports: Current incarceration status and parole-related reporting.