was a Mormon bishop and stake president in Wyoming; later moved to Utah and worked as a massage therapist; pleaded no contest in 2022 to two class A misdemeanor charges of sexual battery for touching a female massage client in a sexual manner
Details

Personal information

  • Phister, Scott Elvin
  • Born: 1964
  • Died: 2023
  • Gender: Male

Case summary

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Scott 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.

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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LDS/Mormon church membership history

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LDS 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.

LDS church positions ever held by the accused: Bishop Missionary Stake president
LDS church positions held by the accused at the time of the alleged crime(s):
LDS church positions held by the accused at the time of being publicly accused:

Alleged crime(s)

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Alleged victim(s)

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  • Number of alleged victim(s) - note if approximate:
  • Average age of alleged victim(s) at time of alleged crime(s):

Arrest(s)

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Criminal charge(s)

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Criminal verdict(s)

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Criminal sentence

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Prison time

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Other court cases

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LDS church response(s)

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  • 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.

View all Mormon sexual abuse settlements

 

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