was a Mormon church member; pleaded guilty of child sexual abuse

Case report

09/07/05 California

LDS Christopher Todd Hettinger was found guilty of “19 counts of sex crimes against
minors. He sexually abused a 9 year old boy for 8 years according to court records. “He
was found guilty of 19 counts of sex crimes against minors.” “Both the defendant and the
vicim’s mother testified that they were members of the LDS church and met at the church.

The Mormon Church selected defendant to be the home teacher for the victims’s families.

Hettinger was sentenced to 30 years in prison and appealed on the grounds that the “trial
court erred in providing the prosecution with records he subpoenaed from Jackson K.’s
psychiatrist. Further, he argues the court erred in failing to instruct the jury with CALJIC No.
2.40 that character evidence could raise a reasonable doubt as to his guilt. Defendant also
contends the court erred in allowing testimony about Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation
Syndrome (CSAAS) that exceeded the permissible scope of that testimony and in failing to
instruct the jurors on the limited use for this testimony.”

But the appellate court affirmed the trial courts judgement and rejected Hettinger’s claims.

Court of Appeal, Third District, California. The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v.
Christopher Todd HETTIGER, Defendant and Appellant. No. C046755. (Super.Ct.No.
02F09970). Sept. 7, 2005. 2005 WL 2143640 (Cal.App. 3 Dist.)

Case facts

Browse the Mormon Sexual Abuse Database

FLOODLIT.org has a free public database of hundreds of reports about people who committed or allegedly committed sex crimes, including sexual abuse, while they were active Mormon church members. You can browse the entire database in all sorts of ways, including by LDS church position, number of victims, places where crimes took place, or criminal/civil case result.

View the Mormon Sexual Abuse Map

International map of locations where active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints perpetrated or allegedly perpetrated sexual abuse or other sex crimes, or where LDS leaders failed or allegedly failed to help abuse survivors.

 

Add information

Search the Mormon Sexual Abuse Database