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Born: 1964
- Places lived: Missouri, Utah,
- Convicted: 2019,
- Church positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor, Missionary, Youth leader,
- Victims: 3 victims, Multiple victims,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Found guilty, Jail, Jury trial, Probation, Registered sex offender, Released,
Church officials allegedly failed to report abuse
Summary
Jeffrey Head, a former Latter-day Saint bishop in Utah, was convicted of inappropriately touching one teenage boy and lewd conduct with two others.
Head served an LDS mission as a young man, to St. Louis, Missouri.
He was charged in 2018, while serving as a Mormon bishop.
A source familiar with the case told FLOODLIT that Head was not released for nine months after abuse allegations were brought to the attention of the stake presidency.
He was sentenced to four months in prison and four years of probation.
In April 2019, a jury convicted 54-year-old Jeffrey Byron Head of attempted forcible sexual abuse, two counts of lewdness and sexual battery.
Head received credit for 45 days he had already served in jail, and he had to register as a sex offender.
In August 2020, Head completed a sex offender treatment program with LDS Family Services. He was in treatment with them from October 2019 to August 2020.
As of 2023, Head lives in Draper, Utah.
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Head’s brother-in-law is former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes. Hughes was among several people who sent letters of support for Head.
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Utah case #181404697
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Letter to the judge #1 – from a friend of Head:
“Regardless of what you may think of the LDS religion, the benefits to a young person of learning how to work hard, serve others, and focusing their thoughts away from themselves constantly, cannot be dismissed. […] Jeff does not pose a threat to our community, and keeping him locked away for any longer serves no useful purpose.”
Sources
- LDS Bishop from Draper charged with sex abuse, removed from position in church,
- Former LDS bishop to spend 4 months in jail for sexual abuse, lewdness convictions,
- Jury finds former LDS bishop guilty of sex abuse, other sex crimes ,
- Former LDS bishop sentenced to jail for sexually abusing teen boys,
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1. LDS Bishop from Draper charged with sex abuse, removed from position in church
DRAPER, Utah — A bishop for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been charged with felonies and removed from his position in the church amid allegations he sexually abused juveniles in his congregation.
According to documents filed in Third District Court Wednesday, Jeffrey Byron Head, 54 of Draper, is charged with two counts of forcible sex abuse and two counts of lewdness.
The charges indicate the victims are under the age of 14 and the alleged offenses occurred between May 2016 and August of 2017.
Charging documents indicate several alleged victims reported inappropriate behavior and touching from Head, and at least one victim said he felt pressured to remain in the situation because Head was a friend and “a leader for him to look up to…”
Head allegedly touched one victim’s genitals under the guise of curiosity about a recent surgery. Two other individuals corroborated that account.
That same individual told police Head took him out for milkshakes, during which time he would ask him about masturbation and massage his shoulders.
Another alleged victim told police Head “would discuss sex and masturbation all the time.” The juvenile told police Head would ask him inappropriate questions about his intimate encounters with girls.
At one point he said Head locked him in a car with him and told him “we have to figure this masturbation thing out. You’re not leaving until we figure this out.”
The charging documents state Head went on to discuss the victim’s and his own masturbation habits.
The victim said he could have left but did not because “Defendant was supposed to be a family friend, a leader for him to look up to, and that Defendant would be angry if [Victim] ran away from defendant.”
That same boy told police that one week later Head entered his home without permission, sat on a bed near the victim and and discussed masturbation with the victim as he was shirtless. The juvenile said he had to ask Head to leave three times before the man exited the home. The juvenile’s younger sibling corroborated the account.
A warrant has been issued for Head’s arrest and bail is set at $150,000. As of Thursday afternoon, Head has not yet been arrested.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints responded to the charges Thursday.
In addition to the statement reproduced in its entirety below, a spokesman confirmed Head was a bishop but did not provide any further details about the timeline for when the LDS Church became aware of the allegations.
“Abuse of any kind cannot be tolerated in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Anyone who engages In such behavior is rightfully subject to criminal prosecution and will also face discipline from the Church, including loss of Church membership.
Upon learning of these allegations, we took steps to notify authorities and to support their investigation into this matter. This individual was also immediately removed from any position in the Church.”
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2. Former LDS bishop to spend 4 months in jail for sexual abuse, lewdness convictions
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3. Jury finds former LDS bishop guilty of sex abuse, other sex crimes
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4. Former LDS bishop sentenced to jail for sexually abusing teen boys
Documents
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Criminal case documents
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