Douglas Lovell (1958 – ) was a Mormon church member in Clearfield, Utah; accused of sexual abuse of a woman he murdered, Joyce Yost; Lovell claimed the LDS church meddled in his 2015 trial by discouraging a former prison bishop from testifying in his defense.

FLOODLIT is working on an update to Doug Lovell’s case report.

Quotes from sources below:

“Douglas Lovell had murdered Joyce Yost to prevent her from testifying against him in a 1985 sexual assault case.”

“Lovell claims The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meddled in his 2015 trial.”

“A former Latter-day Saint bishop who worked in the prison, John “Jack” Newton, said at the 2019 hearing that church leadership suggested it would be preferable if he did not testify on behalf of Lovell at the 2015 trial.”

“It was Kirton McConkie (church’s law firm) doing their job representing ecclesiastical leaders for the church, former bishops,” attorney Mark Field, an appellate lawyer in the Utah Attorney General’s Office representing the state, told the Deseret News. “There was nothing strange about any of that.”

Have any info on this or other Mormon sex abuse cases? Contact us.

As an independent newsroom, FLOODLIT relies on your generous support to make thousands of reports of sexual abuse in the Mormon church available. If you find our work helpful, please consider donating! Thank you so much for helping us shine a light.

Search the FLOODLIT Database

Share this page https://floodlit.org/a/a215/

Mar. 11, 2026: Floodlit needs your help to keep our database live as we prepare to release a report you won't want to miss. Please donate and tell a friend! Thank you so much for your support!

Sources

  1. source 1, , March 15, 2026.
  2. source 2, , March 15, 2026.
  3. source 3, , March 15, 2026.

Documents

Have docs or info? Add information

Criminal case documents

Floodlit does not have a copy of a related probable cause affidavit. Please check back soon or contact us to request that we look for one.

Civil case documents

Floodlit does not have a copy of a related civil complaint. Please check back soon or contact us to request that we look for one.

Other documents

Floodlit does not have a copy of any other related documents. Please check back soon or contact us to request that we look for some.

Timeline

  • 1958
    Born

Add information

If someone you know was harmed by the person listed on this page, or if you would like us to add or correct any information, please fill out the form below. We will keep you anonymous. You can also contact us directly.

Other Mormon sex abuse cases

    • Joseph Neipp was a former LDS bishop in San Jose, California; in 2021, pleaded no contest to four molestation counts and was given an 18-year prison sentence, with credit for the three years he spent in county jail prior to his sentencing; father of convicted Mormon child sexual abuser Samuel Neipp
    • View report »
    • David McConkie (1978 – ) was a Mormon bishop (approximately 2013-16), stake president (2016-21) and deputy district attorney in Colorado; paternal grandson of Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie; arrested in 2023 and charged with felony sexual assault on a child by someone in a position of trust; allegedly confessed child sexual assault to a Mormon church leader in 2008; in July 2025, sentenced to five years probation
    • View report »
    • DeRon Olsen (1944 – ) was a former Mormon bishop and stake presidency counselor in Spokane, Washington; in 2024, pleaded guilty to one felony count of child molestation and one felony count of child rape; sentenced to prison
    • View report »