-
-
Alleged failure to report
Crime: 2020s,
Crime state:
Arizona,
-
- Convicted:
2021,
Positions: Bishopric counselor, Missionary, - During crime: Bishopric counselor,
- Mission:
Brazil - Brazil [unknown] 2001-2003 
Alleged:
1 victim, 
Alleged crime scenes:
Perpetrator's home, Victim's home, 
Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, 
updated Aug 18, 2026 - request update | add info
UPDATED: August 18, 2026
As of August 17, 2026 Anthon Ellsworth was released from prison and is on probation in the community.
Ellsworth is a registered sex offender living in Florence, Arizona as of August 2026.
—
In 2021, Anthon Ellsworth was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor.
Ellsworth had recently been called a a counselor in an LDS church ward bishopric at the time of his arrest in late 2020.
The victim became aware of most of Ellsworth’s invasive recordings and photos of her before he was arrested, a person familiar with the case told FLOODLIT. This contradicts the reporting in the Eastern Arizona Courier.
Due to be released from prison August 17, 2026.
Have any info on this case? Contact FLOODLIT.
Reader-funded investigative journalism
Help us raise money
FLOODLIT needs to raise funds to cover immediate operating bills and keep our independent newsroom running.
If this case report, our source documents, or our database have been useful to you, please help us.
Donate now →FLOODLIT is 100% reader-funded. Every amount helps.
Sources
- Thatcher man charged with taking nude photos of [a minor girl],
- Thatcher man facing sexual exploitation charges,
- Rowan Joseph Ellsworth [uncle of Anthon Ellsworth],
- Arizona case information,
- Anthon Taylor Ellsworth,
- Anthon Taylor Ellsworth,
-
1. Thatcher man charged with taking nude photos of [a minor girl]
[redacted by FLOODLIT to preserve the victim's privacy]
THATCHER — A Thatcher man is facing a number of charges stemming from allegations he took nude photos and videos of [a] teenage [girl].
Anthon Taylor Ellsworth is facing 11 charges, including three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor by selling visuals, three counts of surreptitious viewing without consent, three counts of voyeurism and two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor by selling visuals.
Back in February, Thatcher Police were notified of the allegations by Child Protective Services. Police interviewed the suspect’s wife, who said she found nude photos and videos of [the victim] in the family’s cloud-based Amazon account.She said she confronted her husband, and told investigators he reportedly admitted to her that he had taken images “four to five times over the past several months.”
She said she asked him to leave their home and suggested he speak with their bishop.
Investigators also spoke to the victim, who said she had found [Ellsworth] in her room attempting to place a camera, as well as finding other hidden cameras and phones in her room that were recording video of her, including video of her disrobing. In each instance she said she deleted the videos and gave the recording devices back to [Ellsworth].
On advice from his attorney, Ellsworth declined to speak with investigators.
During searches of the home, the hotel room where Ellsworth was staying and his place of work, police seized a number of electronic devices that were sent to the Arizona Department of Public Safety lab in Tucson for forensic analysis.
That analysis turned up nude photos of a female that the victim’s wife was able to identify as [the victim].
A warrant for Ellsworth’s arrest was issued last week. He was charged, taken into custody and bond was set at $100,000.
-
2. Thatcher man facing sexual exploitation charges
A 38-year-old Thatcher man was arrested recently on numerous sexual exploitation charges six months after his wife told police she found a pornographic video on the family Amazon iCloud account starring a 15-year-old girl.
According to a Thatcher Police Department report dated Aug. 19, Chief Shaffen Woods became aware of an Arizona Department of Child Safety investigation involving a Thatcher man in February and directed his officers to launch their own investigation.
The woman told officers she had discovered pornographic photos and a video of the girl on the family’s Amazon iCloud account. Although she could only see the shoes of the videographer, she told officers she recognized the shoes as her husband’s.
She further told officers that when she confronted her husband, he admitted to being obsessed with the girl before leaving the home for a hotel, according to the report.
The teenager in the photos and video told detectives she was unaware she was being filmed, the report stated.
The woman said she’d deleted the video and detectives obtained search warrants for the couple’s home, electronics and the husband’s motel room.
Amazon provided jump drives to the officers, but no pornographic video or photos could be found.
While serving the search warrant at the motel, detectives seized a computer, two phones, and other electronics.
The man was arrested last week after a forensic lab in Tucson informed Thatcher police they’d found a nude photo of a minor and the woman confirmed she’d seen it on the iCloud account.
-
3. Rowan Joseph Ellsworth [uncle of Anthon Ellsworth]
Rowan Joseph Ellsworth was an LDS church member and schoolteacher in Arizona; molested a 14-year-old girl at an LDS girls camp in mid-1990; the abuse was reported to a bishop Burgess, who allegedly failed to report to police, but instead encouraged the victim to forgive; sentenced to prison in 1999 for two counts of child sexual abuse; released in 2007.
-
4. Arizona case information
S-0500-DO-202000179 ANTHON ELLSWORTH RESPONDENT 06/1982 Graham County Superior
Note: Ellsworth's birth year is incorrectly noted as 1962; he was born in 1982.
S-0500-CR-202000220 ANTHON TAYLOR ELLSWORTH DEFENDANT 06/1962 THATCHER, AZ 85552 Graham County SuperiorJ-0502-CF-20200069 ANTHON TAYLOR ELLSWORTH DEFENDANT 06/1982 THATCHER, AZ 85552 Pima Justice
CR202000220 -
5. Anthon Taylor Ellsworth
Inmate 347497
Last Name First Name Middle Initial
ELLSWORTH ANTHON T.
Age Gender Height (inches) Weight Hair Color
44 Male 5 f 10 154 Gray
Eye Color Ethnic Origin Custody Class Admission
Blue Caucasian Medium/Moderate 03/09/21
Projected Eligible Release Date
Prison Release Date Release Type
08/17/2026 ADD
Most Recent Location As of Date
Complex Unit Last Movement Status
KINGMAN KINGMAN-HUACHUCA 04/28/2021 Active
Inmate Mailing Address
ANTHON T. ELLSWORTH 347497
KINGMAN, KINGMAN-HUACHUCA
Inmate mailing addresses and information can be found at the following website:
https://corrections.az.gov/inmate-mail
Earned Credit Release Date is provided for guidance. Confirmation can be sought by contacting ADCRR.
It is important to note that all Release Dates are projected and are subject to change; confirm with ADCRR Time Computation Unit or the Offender Information Unit where the inmate is housed for potential changes
If you are a victim of crime, please call or email the Office of Victim Services for assistance with your victim rights or concerns: 602-542-1853 azvictims@azadc.gov
Details of inmate offenses can be accessed by reviewing the case file at the Office of the Clerk of the Court where the case was adjudicated.
Commitment and Sentence Information 1 records
Commit# Sentence Length Sentence County Court Cause# Offense Date Sentence Date Sentence Status Crime
A01 007 Y/00 M/ 00 D Graham County 2020-00220 09/01/2019 02/22/2021 Imposed ATTEMPTED SEX EXPLOIT OF MINOR
Disciplinary Infractions 0 record
Disciplinary Appeals 0 record [Info]
Profile Classification 1 records [Info]
Complete Date Classification Type Custody Risk Internal Risk
Active Classification Initial Classification Medium Moderate
Parole Action 0 record
Work Program 9 records
Assigned Date Completed Date Work Assignment
01/29/2026 03/12/2026 Reentry Program (Merging Two Worlds)
01/16/2026 05/07/2026 Plumbing
09/25/2025 12/10/2025 Construction
01/16/2025 Tutor-Education
11/08/2024 1 Constr Theory
04/12/2024 07/09/2024 Changing Offender Behavior (Credentialed Staff ONLY)
07/13/2022 1 Chaplain Service
09/09/2021 1 Chaplain Service
08/27/2021 10/08/2021 C2chg-Responsible Thinking
Notification Requests, Detainers, and/or Warrants 1 records
Detainer Date Detainer Type Charges Authority Agreement Date
03/09/2021 Notification Request CR2020-00220 In State Probation----
AUGUST 18, 2026 UPDATE
Inmate 347497
Last Name First Name Middle Initial
ELLSWORTH ANTHON T.
Age Gender Height (inches) Weight Hair Color
44 Male 5 f 10 154 Gray
Eye Color Ethnic Origin Custody Class Admission
Blue Caucasian Medium/Moderate 03/09/21
Projected Eligible Release Date
Prison Release Date Release Type
08/17/2026 Absolute Discharge
Most Recent Location As of Date
Complex Unit Last Movement Status
08/17/2026 Inactive
Inmate Mailing Address
Mailing address is not available.Commitment and Sentence Information 1 records
Commit# Sentence Length Sentence County Court Cause# Offense Date Sentence Date Sentence Status Crime
A01 007 Y/00 M/ 00 D Graham County 2020-00220 09/01/2019 02/22/2021 Imposed ATTEMPTED SEX EXPLOIT OF MINOR
Disciplinary Infractions 0 record
Disciplinary Appeals 0 record [Info]
Profile Classification 1 records [Info]
Complete Date Classification Type Custody Risk Internal Risk
Active Classification Initial Classification Medium Moderate
Parole Action 0 record
Work Program 5 records
Assigned Date Completed Date Work Assignment
01/29/2026 03/12/2026 Reentry Program (Merging Two Worlds)
01/16/2026 05/07/2026 Plumbing
09/25/2025 12/10/2025 Construction
04/12/2024 07/09/2024 Changing Offender Behavior (Credentialed Staff ONLY)
08/27/2021 10/08/2021 C2chg-Responsible Thinking
Notification Requests, Detainers, and/or Warrants 1 recordsDetainer Date Detainer Type Charges Authority Agreement Date
03/09/2021 Notification Request CR2020-00220 In State Probation -
6. Anthon Taylor Ellsworth
Offender DetailsOther Known Addresses
Name: ANTHON TAYLOR ELLSWORTH
Aliases: ANTHON ELLSWORTH
ANTHONY ELLSWORTH
Level: Level 1
Status: ActivePhysical Description
• Age: 44 • Height: 5'10''
• Sex: M • Weight: 170lbs
• Race: White • Eyes: Blue
• Hair: Gray
• Scars/Tattoos: Scar on R_arm (BY SHOULDER)Address
[REDACTED] FLORENCE, AZ 85132
View Map
Other Known Addresses
Offenses
• Description: 13-3553 - Sexual exploitation of a minor (attempted)
• Conviction State: ArizonaOffender DetailsOther Known Addresses
Name: ANTHON TAYLOR ELLSWORTH
Aliases: ANTHON ELLSWORTH
ANTHONY ELLSWORTH
Level: Level 1
Status: ActiveOther Known Addresses
• Other Residential Addresses
Documents
Have docs or info? Add information
Criminal case documents
Floodlit does not have a copy of a related probable cause affidavit. Please check back soon or contact us to request that we look for one.Civil case documents
Floodlit does not have a copy of a related civil complaint. Please check back soon or contact us to request that we look for one.Other documents
Floodlit has a copy of one or more related documents, but none are currently available for download. Please check back soon or contact us to request copies.
Add information
If someone you know was harmed by the person listed on this page, or if you would like us to add or correct any information, please fill out the form below. We will keep you anonymous. You can also contact us directly.
"*" indicates required fields
Other Mormon sex abuse cases
-
-
- Byron Poelman (1934 – 2014) was a bishop and stake president in Utah and partner in a law firm that represented the LDS church; arrested in 1994 for soliciting a prostitute; pleaded guilty to a class B misdemeanor charge of patronizing a prostitute
- View report »
"President and sister Poelman's lives need to be private now. [...] We are a family. A family keeps things private. A family draws close together. These things are to be kept private." -
-
-
- Richard Sampson (1945 – ) was a Mormon bishop, stake high council member and doctor in Provo, Utah; was director of medical affairs for the LDS Missionary Training Center; allegedly sexually abused at least seven children; convicted and sentenced in 2014 to one to 15 years in prison for child sexual abuse; as of 2024, was out on parole living in Holladay, Utah
- View report »
-
-
-
- Ronald Phelps was an LDS bishop and stake executive secretary, and attorney, in Oklahoma; arrested for indecent exposure before becoming an LDS bishop; accused of child sexual abuse; Mormon church leaders allegedly covered up the abuse
- View report »
-