was an LDS church member and scout leader in California and Korea; convicted in 1987 in California of child sexual abuse; moved to Korea; was assigned to be an LDS young men's president and scoutmaster; was accused of molesting several boys; disappeared in 1991; FLOODLIT is attempting to locate him

Case report

David Bennett was an LDS church member and scout leader in Yongsan, Korea in 1990-91. He previously lived in the United States and Canada.

His local chartered organization for scouting was the Latter-day Saint Usagy Chaplain Office. Bennett was the scoutmaster for a Boy Scout troop that met regularly at the Yongsan US Army Base in Seoul, Korea.

In 1981-82, Bennett was registered as a scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts of America local council in Santa Cruz, California (Troop S0650). In 1983, he was listed as an assistant scoutmaster there.

In 1982, Bennett was arrested for child molestation, but the case was dropped.

In 1987 in California, Bennett was accused and convicted of misdemeanor sexual abuse of a minor (not related to Scouting). He entered into a plea bargain as part of that conviction.

Bennett was sentenced 120 days in jail, but that term was suspended – and the California Probation Department allowed him to leave for Korea – with the provisions that he get mandatory counseling, not be with small children without another adult present, and maintain contact with his probation officer.

He was also sentenced to three years of probation.

According to California law enforcement authorities, Bennett absconded in 1988 after serving about one year of his probation. Around 1988, he moved to Korea to do computer programming work.

While in Korea, Bennett broke the terms of his probation by ceasing his treatment and severing contact with his probation officer. He then molested a 12-year-old boy over a period of several months during 1991.

On August 20, 1991, two Boy Scout executives served a letter to Bennett at the Yongsan, Korea Police Station’s Foreign Affairs Office, terminating his BSA membership. That letter was signed by council Scout executive Roger Wall.

They also gave Bennett a letter requesting that he turn in all camp records and funds. He replied that he “needed a couple of days to get things together.”

Bennett’s response to the membership termination letter was, “When these charges prove false, then what?”

On September 10, 1991, Bennett failed to show for an appointment with the Korea National Police (KNP) for further questioning. The KNP were unable to locate Bennett.

Around or before that time, Bennett fled Korea and reportedly returned to the United States.

On September 12, 1991, Boy Scout executive Roger Wall met in Korea with LDS church representatives, victims’ parents, and military representatives. A Colonel Dunn was the local Mormon leader at the time.

At that meeting, the BSA and parents reported that between $1,500 and $2,000 appeared to be missing from BSA funds managed by Bennett.

Multiple victims’ families reported receiving phone calls where no response was given when the call was answered.

In late 1991, the Korea victim’s family filed a civil lawsuit against the BSA.

Bennett allegedly molested at least six boys, including at least one in the Washington, DC area.

He may have moved to Santa Clara, California after returning to the United States from Korea.

On February 1, 2024, one of Bennett’s victims spoke about his experiences on a Mormon Stories Podcast episode. He said that Bennett was called to be a ward young men’s president after being convicted for child sexual abuse. He said that Bennett would have several boys over at his house for sleepovers. He said he woke up one morning after a sleepover without any clothes on. He reported that the abuse continued at Bennett’s house and at campouts. He also described not remembering the abuse until he was in his 20s.

The abuse survivor also told Mormon Stories that Bennett sexually abused him while making other boys watch.

note: may have been born in 1949

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Case information sources

  1. Inside the 'perversion files': David William Bennett
    view source details | 1 Feb 2024 | Los Angeles Times

Case information source details

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