Cesar Duran

04/11/13 Salt Lake City, Utah
LDS Cesar Duran, “a member of the LDS bishopric in Orem Utah, was booked on
suspicion of two counts of sexually abusing a child. The child was a 13 year old girl and the
abuse happened in the church building when the family helped to clean the building.”

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/ap/ap/crime/local-lds-church-leader-accused-of-child-sexabuse/nXJ45/

http://www.kutv.com/news/features/local/stories/vid 3557.shtml

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from:
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2013/03_04/2013_04_12_KUTV_MemberOf.htm
Member of LDS Bishopric Accused of Sexual Abuse

KUTV
April 12, 2013

http://www.kutv.com/news/features/local/stories/vid_3557.shtml

A member of an LDS bishopric in Orem has been accused of sexual abuse of a teenage girl in his ward.

Cesar Duran, 31, was booked into the Utah County Jail on Tuesday on suspicion of two counts of sexually abusing a child. The charges are a first degree felony.

In response to the investigation, the LDS Church issued this statement:

“The Church has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind. Those found guilty of these actions are subject to the demands of the law and also face Church discipline. The welfare of victims is our utmost concern and church leaders will continue to offer counseling and other resources to help in the healing process.”

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from:
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2013/03_04/2013_04_12_Fieldsted_OremChurch.htm

Orem Church Leader Arrested for Sexual Abuse

By Paige Fieldsted
Daily Herald
April 12, 2013

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/central/orem/orem-church-leader-arrested-on-sexual-abuse-charges/article_4e81fbdc-32cd-58fe-b92c-795a2643c806.html

[Cesar Duran]
Cesar Duran

An LDS leader in Orem has been arrested after a 13-year-old girl in his ward reported to family that he sexually abused her.

Cesar Duran was arrested Tuesday on two counts of sexual abuse of a child. According to police documents, Duran is in the bishopric of the accuser’s LDS ward. The accuser and her family were helping clean the church house in Orem. The girl said Duran told her he needed help cleaning a chalkboard in one of the classrooms in the building and lifted her up to reach a high place on the chalkboard. When he put her down, the girl said, Duran told her she was cute and asked for a hug. The accuser said that during the hug Duran thrust his pelvic area into hers. The accuser then left and continued cleaning and while her back was turned Duran allegedly entered the room, grabbed her hips from behind and thrust his pelvis into her backside.

Police reports say that at that point the accuser ran from the room crying and told her aunt about what had happened. The family said they confronted Duran and he said he was sorry for causing problems. Police reports say that during the ride to the jail Duran said he had made a mistake by being alone with the girl, but Duran didn’t answer any further questions and requested an attorney.

Scott Trotter, a spokesman for the LDS Church, said Duran was serving at a counselor in a bishopric at the time of his arrest. Trotter also confirmed that Duran has been released from his calling with the church.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind. Those found guilty of these actions are subject to the demands of the law and also face Church discipline,” Trotter said in a written statement. “The welfare of victims is our utmost concern and church leaders will continue to offer counseling and other resources to help in the healing process.”

Sgt. Craig Martinez with the Orem Department of Public Safety said they don’t believe there are any other potential victims and they are treating this as an isolated incident.

Duran was booked into the Utah County Jail on two charges of sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony. Martinez said Duran’s position of trust with the girl is an aggravating factor that makes the crime a first-degree felony.

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from:
https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=56138958&itype=CMSID

Utah Mormon church counselor arrested in child sex-abuse case

Crime • Cesar Duran allegedly made pelvic contact with a girl, 13, at Orem church.

By Bob Mims And Michael McFall The Salt Lake Tribune
 · April 11, 2013 8:47 am

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A local-level Mormon church counselor has been arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl in his ward.

Cesar Duran, 31, was booked into Utah County jail on Tuesday on suspicion of two counts of sexually abusing a child with whom he had a relationship of special trust, a first-degree felony.

However, Duran’s defense attorney, Clayton Simms, said his client will fight the charges.

“His position is that he is absolutely innocent,” Simms said Thursday. “He was alone with this girl and didn’t protect himself from false allegations. He maintains that nothing inappropriate occurred at all, there was no sexual contact.”

LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter confirmed that Duran had, until this alleged incident, been a first counselor in the bishopric of a Spanish-speaking ward of the Geneva Height Stake in Orem.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind. Those found guilty of these actions are subject to the demands of the law and also face Church discipline,” Trotter said. “The welfare of victims is our utmost concern and Church leaders will continue to offer counseling and other resources to help in the healing process.”

On Monday, the girl and her family were helping clean the church when Duran asked the girl to help him clean a chalkboard in a classroom, according to an arrest document. He lifted the girl up to reach a high place on the chalkboard, and after he put her down, told her she was cute and asked for a hug. During the embrace, Duran allegedly made pelvic contact, according to the document.

She left the room for another classroom and kept cleaning. But while her back was turned, Duran grabbed her hips and again allegedly made pelvic contact, the document adds.

She ran from the room crying, found her aunt and told her what happened. She also told her aunt that she was scared of Duran, police said.

The family purportedly confronted Duran, who apologized for causing problems, the document states. The family also reported the incident to their bishop.

An Orem police officer called Duran, who agreed to come down to the station for an interview on Tuesday. But after the officer advised Duran of his rights, “he thought he should get an attorney. The interview was terminated,” the document reads.

On the ride to Utah County jail, Duran said he made a mistake by being alone with the girl, the document adds.

He was booked into jail on $20,000 bail, awaiting the filing of formal charges 4th District Court.

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