Leaders allegedly hid sex crimes- LDS positions: Scout leader,
- Criminal case: Convicted, Prison,
- Civil case: No civil case,
Case report
In early July 1987, Craig Mathias, of Simi Valley, California, was arrested on charges (lewd and lascivious acts against children) that he molested 11 Scouts, 12 to 14 years old, over an 18-month period during overnight sleepovers at his home.
On 1987-07-27, Mathias was placed in the BSA’s confidential “ineligible volunteer” files.
On 1987-08-27, Mathias pleaded guilty to five felony counts of lewd acts with children under 14.
He was sentenced to six years in prison.
Tommy Womeldorf, author of Scout’s Dishonor, told FLOODLIT that Mathias abused him and a few other boys in the Northridge, California LDS ward in the early 1980s.
Womeldorf and his father reported Mathias’s abuse to their bishop in 1983, but ward leaders only made a “feeble attempt” (Womeldorf’s words) to bring Mathias in for questioning.
Mathias then moved about 15 miles away to Canyon Country, California.
Case facts
- case report | facts | sources
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Born: 1960
- LDS mission: unknown
- During alleged crime/failure: Scout leader,
- Lived in: California,
- During alleged crime, lived in: California,
- When accused, lived in: California,
- Victims: 10 or more victims, Multiple victims,
- Add information
Case information sources
- case report | facts | sources
- Craig Mathias - the Perversion Files - Los Angeles Times
- Scout leader arrested on molestation counts - Los Angeles Times - 1987-07-07
- Mathias was a Big Brother in 1986 - Santa Clarita Signal - 1986-01-03
- Mathias was a Mormon scoutmaster in 1987 - Santa Clarita Signal - 1987-02-01
- Scouts Dishonor: A personal story of God, Abuse, Recovery and Truth
Case information source details
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Craig Mathias - the Perversion Files - Los Angeles Times
Publisher:
Date:
Archive.org
Source type: News article -
view all information sources Scout leader arrested on molestation counts - Los Angeles Times - 1987-07-07
Publisher:
Date:
Archive.org
Source type: News article -
view all information sources Mathias was a Big Brother in 1986 - Santa Clarita Signal - 1986-01-03
Publisher:
Date:
Archive.org
Source type: News article -
view all information sources Mathias was a Mormon scoutmaster in 1987 - Santa Clarita Signal - 1987-02-01
Publisher:
Date:
Archive.org
Source type: News article -
view all information sources Scouts Dishonor: A personal story of God, Abuse, Recovery and Truth
Publisher: Tommy Womeldorf
Date: 1 Jan 2015
Archive.org
Source type: News article
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