was an LDS church member and former Mormon Tabernacle Choir member in Utah and Washington; accused of sexually molesting three underage girls in 1997 or 1998; acquitted in 2000; accused of sexual abuse of a fourth victim, an underage girl, in approximately 2003; convicted in 2005 of third degree felony attempted child sexual abuse; sentenced

Ronald Devere Hall was a former LDS church seminary teacher and Manti Pageant director who was convicted of child sexual abuse in 2005.

In 1955, Hall was married in the Salt Lake Temple. At that time, he was a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.1, 5

Hall taught drama and music at Payson junior and senior high schools and joined the LDS Seminary system in 1966 as an instructor.10

Hall was principal of the Manti, Utah LDS seminary. He taught seminary at Manti and Richfield high schools.7

He was director of the Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti from 1989 to 1997.9

On September 13, 1999, Hall was arrested by the Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office.8

Hall was charged with five counts of first degree felony aggravated sexual abuse of a child, two counts of class A misdemeanor lewdness involving a child and one count each of second degree felony criminal solicitation and third degree felony dealing in harmful material to a minor, after prosecutors alleged he molested three young girls.267

The crimes allegedly took place between 1994 and 1999.

In June 2000, Hall was acquitted of one count of sexual abuse.34

Prosecutors dismissed the allegations of one girl before Hall went to trial. Fifth District Judge James L. Shumate dismissed another. A jury acquitted Hall of the remaining three counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child.

Hall’s attorney Walter Budgen said the charges against Hall “were the product of acrimonious, bitter divorces between the father of the accusing [victims] and two different mothers, both divorced from the father.”

Budgen also called the trial an “ordeal” and said it had damaged Hall’s reputation.

On March 14, 2005, Hall was convicted and sentenced for third degree felony attempted child sexual abuse (Utah case number 041700259). He was required to register as a sex offender in Utah.

As of 2023, Hall is no longer a registered sex offender. He lives in Manti, Utah.

Facts

Sources

  1. The Ronald Devere Halls Feted At Wednesday Evening Reception, Deseret News, December 15, 1955.
  2. Fairview Man Is Charged With Child Sexual Abuse, Salt Lake Tribune, October 11, 1999.
  3. Ex-pageant director acquitted of sex abuse charges, Salt Lake Tribune (AP), June 26, 2000.
  4. Rural News Headlines, Uintah Basin Standard, July 11, 2000.
  5. Historical Member Roster, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, October 3, 2023.
  6. Fairview man charged with sex abuse, St. George Daily Spectrum, November 11, 1999.
  7. Former seminary teacher arrested..., Moab Times-Independent, October 21, 1999.
  8. Former Richfield seminary teacher arrested in Fairview, Salina Sun, October 6, 1999.
  9. Ronald Hall released as director of Mormon Miracle Pageant, [redacted] called as new director, Mt. Pleasant Pyramid, June 25, 1997.
  10. Manti Pageant head retires after 20 years, Provo Daily Herald, July 19, 1988.

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