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Case summary
Add info | Back to top01/17/06 Utah
LDS John Baysden a former missionary “pled guilty to two counts of forcible sex abuse
with minors. Baysden was serving in the Ogden Mission of the LDS Church.”
BAYSDEN-John Baysden. docx
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KSL
OGDEN, Utah (AP) — Former Mormon missionary John Baysen of Kinston, N.C., has been sentenced to 180 days in jail for fondling a girl and a young woman as they slept and videotaping it.
Baysden, 22, had pleaded guilty to two counts of forcible sex abuse, both second-degree felonies carrying potential sentences of one to 15 years in prison.
Second District Judge Pamela Heffernan dismissed two other forcible sex abuse charges and two misdemeanor counts of voyeurism.
Baysden, prior to sentencing last week, underwent a court-ordered 90-day psychosexual evaluation.
Former LDS Missionary Sentenced for Forcible Sexual Abuse
The judge ordered Baysden to be on probation for 36 months, complete a sex offender therapy program and have his name put on the sex offender registry.
Baysden was serving in Roy as part of the Ogden Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Police say he was befriended by a family and illegally touched the victims, ages 15 and 18, while sleeping over at the home Jan. 8, 2005.
Baysden was arrested after the 15-year-old victim allegedly woke up Saturday morning to him fondling her with one hand and recording the act with the camera in his other.
Baysden has been released from his mission pending the outcome, church spokesman Dale Bills said after the arrest.
“Allegations that a missionary may have engaged in improper conduct are heartbreaking for all involved,” Bills said. “The church expects the highest moral and ethical standards of its missionaries.”
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LDS/Mormon church membership history
Add info | Back to topLDS mission information
The accused did not serve a full-time LDS mission.
LDS temple marriage information
FLOODLIT is not aware whether the accused was married in a Mormon temple.
Alleged victim(s)
Add info | Back to top- Number of alleged victim(s) - note if approximate:
- Average age of alleged victim(s) at time of alleged crime(s):
LDS church response(s)
Add info | Back to top- Alleged failure to report by local LDS leaders? no
- Alleged misconduct by local LDS leaders? no
- Alleged misconduct by global LDS leaders? no
FLOODLIT is not aware whether the Mormon church paid any settlement amounts related to this case.