was a Mormon church member; molested a 13-year-old girl; the LDS church settled, reportedly for millions of dollars (US)
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Personal information

  • Bearnson, Christian Robert
  • Born: 1963
  • Gender: Male

Case summary

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08/01/92 Los Angeles,

California

LDS Christian Bearnson was allegedly not reported by LDS church Bishop Bradley Cutler
and the church was found liable to acting with “conscious disregard.” “The Mormon Church
has been found liable for the molestation of a 13-year-old girl by a church elder.

A Pomona Superior Court jury Wednesday said leaders in the Azusa third ward of the
church acted with “conscious disregard” for the girl’s rights and safety. LDS Church Bishop
Cutler did not report LDS pedophile Christian Bearnson.”

“1 thank God for this,” said the girl’s mother, Patsy Mille “Now it won’t happen to other kids,”
said her daughter, now 15. The girl was molested in a van during a church-sponsored
camping trip in August, 1992. Christian Bearnson, a 29-year-old church elder, pleaded guilty
to lewd conduct.

The girl’s family filed a civil suit accusing Bearnson of committing the molestation with
malice and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of negligence.

The girl’s attorney said church leaders knew Bearnson had allegedly molested two other
girls in 1990.”

POMONA : Mormon Church Found Liable in Molestation Metropolitan Digest / LOS
ANGELES COUNTY NEWS IN BRIEF November 12, 1993

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LDS/Mormon church membership history

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LDS 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.

LDS church positions ever held by the accused:
LDS church positions held by the accused at the time of the alleged crime(s):
LDS church positions held by the accused at the time of being publicly accused:

Alleged crime(s)

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Alleged victim(s)

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  • Number of alleged victim(s) - note if approximate:
  • Average age of alleged victim(s) at time of alleged crime(s):

Arrest(s)

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Criminal charge(s)

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Criminal verdict(s)

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Criminal sentence

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Prison time

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Other court cases

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LDS church response(s)

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  • Alleged failure to report by local LDS leaders? yes
  • Alleged misconduct by local LDS leaders? yes
  • Alleged misconduct by global LDS leaders? no

Settlement amount paid by LDS church (in US dollars): undisclosed

View all Mormon sexual abuse settlements

 

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