Details
Case summary
Add info | Back to topIn 1987, California LDS church member Terry Allen was found guilty of sexual abuse of a child and was sentenced to six years in prison.
The local Mormon church was publicly accused of being actively engaged in a coverup of the Terry Allen sex abuse case.
He was appointed as multiple trusted positions, including Sunday School President, after the Mormon church became aware that he had raped a teenager.
According to one of his victims, the ward members were not told of Allen’s conviction for child sex abuse.
He was excommunicated after a victim went to the police.
He was later re-baptized into the Mormon church.
Court documents and newspaper articles suggest there may have been multiple LDS victims.
Two of Allen’s alleged victims later died by suicide.
On 1985-09-09, after moving away from Simi Valley, California, Allen was convicted of indecent exposure in Danbury, Connecticut.
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from the Los Angeles Times:
“When “One Terrific Guy,” a CBS movie with Wayne Rogers as a coach who molests a high school girl, aired a year ago, “one of the things that kind of upset us was that a number of critics said it was exaggerated,” said Mike Merrick, who co-produced with Joe Siegman. Now the producers feel vindicated: The film played a direct role in the conviction of a man for a similar crime.
David Jennings, who prosecuted the case, said that Terry George Allen, 43, described as an IBM executive who had been active in the local Mormon church, was sentenced Tuesday in Ventura County Superior Court to six years in prison for molesting his niece in 1982 when she was 13.
Jennings said that “One Terrific Guy” was a catalyst in helping the girl recall her ordeal. The film portrayed a victim doubted and ostracized by friends and family because no one could believe the popular suspect could be guilty of sexual abuse. In the real-life courtroom, according to Jennings, Allen acknowledged that he had molested his niece.
“It’s very typical for young people not to remember that this has happened to them until something triggers their memory,” Jennings said. “In this case, the show helped unlock her memory and get everything moving.””
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LDS/Mormon church membership history
Add info | Back to topLDS mission information
FLOODLIT is not aware whether the accused served 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: 15
- 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? yes
- Alleged misconduct by local LDS leaders? yes
- Alleged misconduct by global LDS leaders? unknown
FLOODLIT is not aware whether the Mormon church paid any settlement amounts related to this case.
