Spencer Remde Dixon

Case report

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Spencer Dixon was a Mormon bishop in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In 2002, Dixon was accused of touching a 13-year-old girl inappropriately inside the basement level of an LDS church ward building.

The alleged abuse took place while Dixon was a bishop.

He said the touching occurred but that it wasn’t sexual in nature.

The victim testified in court that the touching lasted for about three minutes.

Dixon said it lasted about five seconds.

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from news sources cited below:

“SALT LAKE CITY — Former LDS Bishop Spencer Dixon, who was accused of touching a 13-year-old girl on the buttocks and breast, has been acquitted of first-degree felony sexual abuse of a child.

The jury returned the innocent verdict Thursday night.

The girl testified that Dixon touched her twice on the buttocks and once on the breast as they wheeled a TV cart out of a room at the Monument Park 7th Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The incident happened on Aug. 24, 2002.

Dixon, who was relieved of his duties as a bishop after he was charged, testified that he did not realize where he was touching and was not seeking sexual gratification.

The charges were elevated to a first-degree felony because he was in a position of trust to the girl.

The girl said she was pushing the cart out the door ahead of Dixon when the cart got stuck. Then Dixon placed his hand on her buttocks, then on her chest with two or three fingers touching her breast and then on her buttocks again, she testified.

Dixon said he first tried to push her and the car through the door, then put his hand on her chest and pulled.

Following the verdict, Dixon said he had no malice toward his accuser.”

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D3.

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09/28/04 Salt Lake, Utah

LDS Spencer Dixon, “was once a Mormon bishop.”

“he allegedly molested a 13-year-old girl in a Salt Lake City church library.”

He was charged with “first-degree felony aggravated sexual abuse of a child.”

“The Mormon Church has had serious problems concerning sexual abuse in recent years and has been sued regarding its handling of such matters. According to the plaintiffs the church did not take proper action when leaders were confronted with such situations.

According to the following article, Dixon was exonerated, but in closing arguments District Attorney Parker said, “he touched her three times, and each time he placed his hand in a sensitive area.”

“It’s not a mistake. It’s not a spasm of the arm. It’s an intentional act,” Parker said. “This
man intended to cop a feel.”

Parker said Dixon was “flirting” with the girl. The first touch to the girl’s buttocks was especially telling, Parker said, because of its placement in the center of her buttocks.”

“There cannot be any rational purpose to touch a woman (like that) other than with sexual intent,” Parker said. “No reasonable person does that.”