Details
Case summary
Add info | Back to topScott Phister was a former Mormon stake president and massage therapist.
In 1983, Phister left his home state of Montana to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Seattle, Washington.
In 1998-2002, he was serving as a Mormon bishop of the Riverton 2nd Ward in Riverton, Wyoming.
In 2016, he was serving as a Mormon stake president in Wyoming.
Between 2016 and 2020, Phister moved to Utah.
In 2022, he pleaded no contest to two class A misdemeanor charges of sexual battery for touching a female massage client in a sexual manner.
Thanks to your donations, FLOODLIT has obtained court documents in Phister’s case.
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from KUTV on 2020-01-02:
“SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — UPDATE – (Sunday, Jan. 5 at 9 p.m.) – The massage therapist accused of sexually abusing a client was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on Saturday. He was charged on two counts of forcible sexual abuse.
(ORIGINAL STORY) – A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a massage therapist on suspicion of forcible sexual abuse of a woman who was getting a massage.
Scott Phister, 55, is accused of touching his genitals against a woman’s hand, fondling her breasts and touching her genitals. The woman reported the alleged touching to police and said she repeatedly told him “no” and “stop,” which he allegedly ignored.
The woman was a return customer to Hibiscus Springs Spa in Salt Lake County where Phister was assigned to give the massage on Aug. 15, 2019.
The adult woman said Phister told her that he “just wanted to make her feel good,” and asked, “You’re not going to tell anyone, right?”
The two counts of forcible sexual abuse in Utah are defined by touching any part of the genitals, anus, breasts with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desires of a person without consent.”
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Sources
- the accused was a full-time Mormon missionary in 1983 in Seattle, Washington (archive) - Billings Gazette - 21 May 1983
- the accused was a stake president in Wyoming in 2016 (archive) - Casper Star-Tribune - 7 Jul 2016
- Arrest made for massage therapist accused of forcible sexual abuse (archive) - KUTV - 2 Jan 2020
LDS/Mormon church membership history
Add info | Back to topLDS mission information
The accused did not serve a full-time LDS mission.
LDS temple marriage information
FLOODLIT is not aware whether the accused was married in a Mormon temple.
Alleged victim(s)
Add info | Back to top- Number of alleged victim(s) - note if approximate:
- Average age of alleged victim(s) at time of alleged crime(s):
LDS church response(s)
Add info | Back to top- Alleged failure to report by local LDS leaders? no
- Alleged misconduct by local LDS leaders? no
- Alleged misconduct by global LDS leaders? no
FLOODLIT is not aware whether the Mormon church paid any settlement amounts related to this case.
