John Fanning (1932 – 2012) was a Mormon branch president in Texas, bishop in Oklahoma and Boy Scout executive in several US states, including Utah; accused in 1986 in Utah of sexually abusing at least three boys, including during LDS-sponsored scouting activities; admitted guilt; convicted via plea agreement in 1986 or 1987; sentenced to 30 days in jail and spent approximately 18 months on probation; died in 2012.
"I told [John Fanning] we had two options. Immediate termination or he could resign and I would pay him through the end of next month but he had to leave as of now. He elected to resign."
— K. Hart Bullock, LDS church member and Scout Executive, BSA Great Salt Lake Council, Oct. 23, 1986

John Fanning was a former Latter-day Saint bishop and professional Boy Scout executive in Utah when he perpetrated child sexual abuse.

In September of 1986, allegations surfaced that Fanning had been molesting two boys for the past four years.

The first disclosure to a scout executive of Fanning’s alleged abuse came at the LDS 29th Ward chapel (possibly this location, no longer a church).

The following information comes from Fanning’s record in the Boy Scouts of America’s ineligible volunteer files (“perversion files“).

John Wood Fanning: BSA “Perversion File”

From 1981 until the time he resigned in October 1986, Fanning was an assistant Scout Executive in the BSA Great Salt Lake Council, according to his “perversion file.”

Fanning “admitted to having an involvement with a teen age boy on one occasion while the two sleeping together in a double sleeping bag during an Order of the Arrow overnight activity,” according to his “perversion file.”

Notes and letters from K. Hart Bullock (an LDS Scout executive) are included in the BSA files.

On Sept. 22, 1986, Bullock met with Fanning and Boyd Ivie, the BSA Area Director, to discuss the allegations, according to notes by Bullock. Ivie was a Mormon as well.

Bullock wrote, “I told John that he was to suspend all involvement with the Boy Scouts of America as of now. I told him we had two options. Immediate termination or he could resign and I would pay him through the end of next month but he had to leave as of now. He elected to resign.”

Bullock’s notes do not say whether he or Ivie contacted law enforcement after Fanning’s admission that he sexually assaulted a child.

Instead, Bullock stated, “Both Boyd and I offered any possible help and told him we were available if he needed to talk. I also encouraged John to seek professional counseling to help him.”

John Wood Fanning Criminal Conviction for Child Sexual Abuse

Fanning was convicted by way of a plea agreement in November 1986 or in early 1987. He pleaded guilty to one count of class A misdemeanor attempted forcible sex abuse.

In April 1987, Fanning was sentenced to 30 days in jail and spent approximately 18 months on probation.

In December 2020, a lawsuit was filed against the Mormon church in Coconino County, Arizona regarding Fanning’s abuse, alleging multiple failures. Floodlit is seeking court documents.

John Wood Fanning History in the Mormon Church

Fanning was branch president of the Odessa Texas Branch from 1966 (and possibly earlier) to 1967.

He became a bishopric counselor and eventually a bishop in Oklahoma:

  • 1968: 2nd counselor, Lawton Ward, Oklahoma Stake
  • 1969: 1st counselor, Lawton Ward, Oklahoma Stake
  • approximately July 1969 to at least February 1970: Bishop, Lawton Ward, Oklahoma Stake

Fanning and his wife were LDS senior missionaries at the LDS church employment offices in Salt Lake City, Utah.

At the time of his death in 2012, Fanning was likely a member of the Foothill 7th Ward in Salt Lake City, as his obituary says that is where his funeral was scheduled to take place.

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Sources

  1. Scout Executive Gets Promotion, Lawton Constitution (Lawton, Oklahoma), September 21, 1969.
  2. [Jane Doe] Fanning, Russon Mortuary, June 1, 2012.
  3. John Wood Fanning - Perversion Files, Los Angeles Times, October 4, 2025.
  4. obituary, Russon Mortuary, March 15, 2012.
  5. STATE OF UTAH vs. JOHN WOOD FANNING, Utah Xchange, October 4, 2025.

  • 1. Scout Executive Gets Promotion

    • 21 Sep 1969
    • News article
    • Lawton Constitution (Lawton, Oklahoma)

    [...] he served two years as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan.

  • 2. [Jane Doe] Fanning

    • 1 Jun 2012
    • Website
    • Russon Mortuary

    [accessed 2025-10-04]

    She met her eternal companion, John Wood Fanning, in Chicago. They were married in 1958 and lived all over the United States. They served a mission together at the LDS employment offices in SLC.

  • 3. John Wood Fanning - Perversion Files

    • 4 Oct 2025
    • News article
    • Los Angeles Times

    [See images section below to view the 11-page "perversion file" on John Fanning]

  • 4. obituary

    • 15 Mar 2012
    • News article
    • Russon Mortuary

    [accessed 2025-10-04]

    John Wood Fanning January 17, 1932 – March 13, 2012

    John was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to [redacted]. He joined the LDS church while a student at the University of Illinois. He served a mission for the LDS Church in the Great Lakes Mission, and later in many LDS church callings including Branch President and Bishop. He completed his Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Illinois and his Master’s degree at the University of Utah. He married [his wife] and, with her, lived their adventure in many places in the United States including Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Louisiana and Utah. He worked for the Boy Scouts of America, the Utah Transit Authority, and as a professor at the University of Utah before retiring in Salt Lake City. John loved his family, music, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, history, nature, and being outdoors while camping, canoeing or hiking. He touched many lives and was an inspiration to all who knew him. He will truly be missed.

    [...]

    Funeral Services will be held on Monday, March 19th, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. in the Foothill 7th Ward, 2215 East Roosevelt Ave., Salt Lake City. Friends may call on Sunday, March 18, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Salt Lake Mortuary, 255 South 200 East, and on Monday at the Ward from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in the Salt Lake City Cemetery, 4th Ave. & “N” Street.

  • 5. STATE OF UTAH vs. JOHN WOOD FANNING

    • 4 Oct 2025
    • Court record
    • Utah Xchange

    THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT - SALT LAKE COUNTY DISTRICT COURT SALT LAKE COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH
    STATE OF UTAH vs. JOHN WOOD FANNING CASE NUMBER 861916251 Other Misdemeanor
    CHARGES
    PARTIES
    PROCEEDINGS 10-24-1986 10-24-1986 11-10-1986 04-06-1987 04-06-1987
    04-06-1987 04-06-1987 04-06-1987 04-06-1987 10-17-1988
    10-17-1988
    Information filed
    Judge KENNETH RIGTRUP assigned.
    Note: Arraigned on 11/10/86
    Note: Sentence: JUDGE KENNETH RIGTRUP
    Note: Chrg: ATT FORC SEX Plea: GUILTY
    PLEA
    Find: GUILTY
    Charge 1 - 76-5-404 - ATTEMPTED - FORCIBLE SEX ABUSE - Class A Misdemeanor Offense Date: October 24, 1986
    Plea: November 10, 1986 Guilty
    Disposition: April 06, 1987 {Guilty Plea}
    CURRENT ASSIGNED JUDGE
    KENNETH RIGTRUP
    Plaintiff - STATE OF UTAH
    Defendant - JOHN WOOD FANNING
    DEFENDANT INFORMATION
    Defendant Name: JOHN WOOD FANNING
    Date of Birth: January 17, 1932
    Law Enforcement Agency: {SALT LAKE CNTY DP} Prosecuting Agency: SALT LAKE COUNTY Violation Date: 10-24-1986
    ACCOUNT SUMMARY
    CASE NOTE
    06-15-2025 12:19 AM
    Page 1 of 1
    Note: Prison: 1 to YR Suspended: 1 YR
    Note: Jail: 30 to DA
    Note: Agency Referred To: ADULT PROBATION & PAROLE
    Note: Agency Referred To: 1800J
    Note: BASED ON RECOMMENDATION OF APPD, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT
    THE
    Note: PROBATION OF MR. FANNING BE TERMINATED.

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Timeline

  • 1932
    Born

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