Case Timeline
- Scroll right »
- to view events
- 1974
- Born
- 1997
- Virginia
- Sexual abuse
- Sexually assaults a child
- 2000
- Virginia
- Sexual abuse
- Sexually assaults a child
- 2014
- 2nd counselor in stake presidency
- 2014 to 2016
- Pennsylvania
- 1st counselor in stake presidency
- 2016 to 2020
- Pennsylvania
- Bishop
- Oct 2020
- Pennsylvania
- Stake president Rhett Hintze learns of Gooden's abuse. He doesn't tell police; Gooden is not arrested for nearly two years.
- 2022 Sep 5
- Pennsylvania
- Arrested
- Sep 2022
- charged with 2 counts of indecent liberties, 2 counts of forcible sodomy, and 5 counts of aggravated sexual battery
- July 2023
- Pennsylvania
- Charged with child sexual abuse
- July 2023
- Virginia
- pleads guilty to 4 felony counts
- Nov 2023
- Virginia
- sentenced to prison time and probation
- 2024 Jan 31
- Pennsylvania
- Hintze accused
- LDS stake president Rhett Hintze is accused by Pennsylvania police of failure to report abuse.
- « Scroll left
- to view events
- Victims:2+,
-
Born: 1974
- November 2023: sentenced in Virginia to up to 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to four felony counts; faces more charges in Pennsylvania
- Bishop, Scout leader, Stake high council, Stake presidency counselor, Youth leader,
- United States - Ohio Cleveland (Spanish speaking)
- yes | Add info
- Alleged failure to report
- Guilty, Ongoing criminal case, Sentenced to prison, Sentenced to probation,
- Crime scenes:Add info
Case Summary
Cory Gooden was a Mormon church member who sexually assaulted children in Virginia and allegedly also in Pennsylvania, years before being called as a Mormon bishop and stake presidency member in Pennsylvania.
2024-02-17: FLOODLIT is now covering the criminal case against current LDS stake president Rhett Hintze, who learned of alleged sexual abuse by Gooden in 2020 but failed to report it to police, according to Pennsylvania state police.
2023-11-18: Cory Gooden was sentenced in Virginia this week. We’re waiting on court document copies from the Prince William County Circuit Court.
As of November 18, 2023, Gooden is awaiting a status hearing in Berks County, Pennsylvania court – Docket Number: CP-06-CR-0002663-2023. That hearing is set for December 20.
Gooden was sentenced to at least 2.5 years in prison (up to 5 years) and up to at least 5 years of supervised probation upon release. We’re gathering more information. Thank you for your support!
—
2023-07-28: BREAKING: Former LDS bishop, scout leader who pleaded guilty to child sexual abuse charges in Virginia now faces MORE charges in Pennsylvania
FLOODLIT is following this case thanks to your donations.
News: https://www.abc27.com/local-news/former-lebanon-county-lds-church-scout-leader-facing-rape-charges/
The accused “remains in Virginia awaiting sentencing and is now also awaiting trial in Pennsylvania. He’s facing charges including rape of a person less than 13, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault of a person less than 13, and corruption of minors.”
- 2023-07-20: pleaded guilty to four felony charges – Prince William County Circuit – Criminal Division – Case numbers: CR23000583-00, CR23000584-00, CR23000585-00, CR23000586-00
- 9/13/2022: awaiting extradition from North Londonderry, PA to VA
- Bishop from 2016 to 2020, alleged abuse was 1997 to 2000.
- Gooden served as a stake high council member and counselor in the stake presidency of the Harrisburg Stake at some point between the years of 2007-2014.
- Gooden was released as 2nd counselor in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania stake presidency on July 26, 2014. On that date, he became the 1st counselor in the stake presidency. He was still serving in that capacity as of July 16, 2016.
- criminal investigation conducted by Prince William County Special Victims Bureau detectives
- alleged abuse occurred in several locations in the Woodbridge, VA area
- was allegedly living in Palmyra, PA as of 2022 prior to arrest on 9/5/2022
- criminal charges: between 9/6/22 and 9/13/22; two counts of indecent liberties, two counts of forcible sodomy, and five counts of aggravated sexual battery
- alleged victims: 2 children, between ages of 9 and 13
- crimes allegedly took place in the Woodbridge, PA area between January 1997 and December 2000
- connections to several Midstate organizations; was a lawyer with the Thomas, Thomas & Hafer law firm; was previously a volunteer board member with the Boy Scouts of America New Birth of Freedom Council
Sources
- Thanks to Bishop Shawn Gooden of the Lebanon Ward for sharing these great photos from Saturday at the Philadelphia Temple.
- Police report: Family member assaulted members from 1997-2000
- Former Lebanon County Boy Scouts, LDS official charged in child sex assault case
- Lebanon County man accused of sexually assaulting 2 juvenile victims in Virginia more than 25 years ago
- Police: 47-year-old Palmyra man arrested for decades-old sexual assault case in Virginia
- Case numbers: CR23000583-00, CR23000584-00, CR23000585-00, CR23000586-00
- Former Lebanon County LDS Church, scout leader facing rape charges
- Harrisburg lobbyist, LDS church leader charged with not reporting child rape allegations
- EXCLUSIVE Mormon church couldn't care less about sex abuse victims, claims son of pedophile bishop who was 'shielded' by religious leader now charged with covering up crimes
Sources excerpts
-
Thanks to Bishop Shawn Gooden of the Lebanon Ward for sharing these great photos from Saturday at the Philadelphia Temple.
Source type: News article
Publisher: Harrisburg Stake - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Date published/accessed: 7 May 2017
archive 1 | archive 2 -
back to online sources listPolice report: Family member assaulted members from 1997-2000
Source type: News article
Publisher: Potomac Local News
Date published/accessed: 10 Sep 2022
archive 1 | archive 2 -
back to online sources listFormer Lebanon County Boy Scouts, LDS official charged in child sex assault case
Source type: News article
Publisher: ABC 27
Date published/accessed: 13 Sep 2022
archive 1 | archive 2 -
back to online sources listLebanon County man accused of sexually assaulting 2 juvenile victims in Virginia more than 25 years ago
Source type: News article
Publisher: FOX 43
Date published/accessed: 13 Sep 2022
archive 1 | archive 2 -
back to online sources listPolice: 47-year-old Palmyra man arrested for decades-old sexual assault case in Virginia
Source type: News article
Publisher: Lebanon Daily News
Date published/accessed: 14 Sep 2022
archive 1 | archive 2 -
back to online sources listCase numbers: CR23000583-00, CR23000584-00, CR23000585-00, CR23000586-00
Source type: News article
Publisher: Prince William County Circuit - Criminal Division
Date published/accessed: 22 Jul 2023
archive 1 | archive 2 -
back to online sources listFormer Lebanon County LDS Church, scout leader facing rape charges
Source type: News article
Publisher: ABC27
Date published/accessed: 28 Jul 2023
archive 1 | archive 2 -
back to online sources listHarrisburg lobbyist, LDS church leader charged with not reporting child rape allegations
Source type: News article
Publisher: ABC 27
Date published/accessed: 31 Jan 2024
archive 1 | archive 2 -
back to online sources listEXCLUSIVE Mormon church couldn't care less about sex abuse victims, claims son of pedophile bishop who was 'shielded' by religious leader now charged with covering up crimes
Source type: News article
Publisher: Daily Mail
Date published/accessed: 11 Feb 2024
archive 1 | archive 2
Mormon sex abuse database
Mormon sex crimes map
Places where accused LDS church members lived, committed sex crimes, were arrested, or served prison time.