was an LDS church member in Australia; pleaded guilty to trafficking and kidnapping

class="case-summary-title">Facts

Summary

In 2005 in Australia, Joseph Atwater, “a man of high standing” in the LDS Church, pled guilty to one count of stalking and one count of kidnapping involving two minors. He exposed himself; showed pornographic images and sketches to the children. “The former missionary sneaked into the teenagers’ house at night without their parents’ knowledge and entered the bedrooms of their younger siblings, the court was told.”

“Judge Campton said Atwater had the support of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and said a bishop described him as “of high-standing in the church, devoted to his wife, family and grandchildren.”

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