Paul Newman (1957 – ) was a former Mormon bishop in Highland, Utah; charged in 2020 with one second-degree felony count of attempted sex abuse of a child; the alleged abuse took place in 2013, while Newman was a bishop; in 2022, pleaded no contest to a reduced third-degree count; a prison term of up to five years was suspended; was fined $1,003 and placed on 48 months of probation; registered sex offender.

Paul Newman was a former Mormon bishop and bishopric counselor in Highland, Utah.

In 2020, Newman was arrested and charged with attempted child sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.

Thanks to your donations, FLOODLIT has obtained court documents in this case. From a probable cause statement dated May 27, 2020:

“On December 25, 2013, in Alpine, the Defendant, Paul Newman, touched a 10-year-old girl, skin-to-skin with his hand, on her breasts and nipples.”

Also from that statement:

“Newman occupied a position of special trust relative to her.

Newman has been previously accused of very similar conduct with at least three other girls of similar age over the past twenty years.

Newman was not taken into custody as part of this investigation.”

FLOODLIT has court documents showing that Newman was convicted of a sex crime in this case.

As of November 2025, Newman was a registered sex offender living in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

According to a person who told Floodlit about Newman’s case, Newman held multiple leadership positions in the LDS church during his life, including bishop, bishopric counselor and youth leader.

Letters of support to the court confirmed that Newman was an LDS bishop in 2014. One supporter said Newman was “Bishop over our whole ward for many years.” Our research suggests this may have been the Highland 5th Ward (Fifth Ward) in the Highland Utah Stake.

Another letter writer said Newman was “the main owner of a very small wood working company” that Newman co-founded in approximately 1994. Newman did remodeling work in the Salt Lake, Manti and St. George LDS temples, and worked on stairs or staircases in at least eight other LDS temples, the writer said.

Prior to approximately 1993, Newman was second counselor in the Highland 5th Ward bishopric, and held a responsibility “over scouting,” per a 1998 news article.

From approximately 1993 to at least October 1998, Newman was scoutmaster of Troop 805 in the Highland 5th Ward, per a 1998 news article and additional research.

We are seeking more information on Newman’s Mormon church membership history.

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Sources

  1. Seven scouters receive peer awards, American Fork Citizen, New Utah!, October 28, 1998.
  2. [Utah case information], Utah Xchange, November 22, 2025.
  3. [excerpt from probable cause statement], Utah Xchange, November 22, 2025.
  4. Paul William NEWMAN, Utah Department of Public Safety, November 23, 2025.

  • 1. Seven scouters receive peer awards

    • 19981028
    • News article
    • American Fork Citizen, New Utah!

    [excerpt]

    Paul Newman is a recipient of the Ossie Nelson Outdoor Award has been the scoutmaster for over five years in the Highland 5th Ward. Prior to being called to be scoutmaster he was second counselor in the bishopric over scouting. He has received his adult On My Honor award. His outdoor troop activities range from trilobite collecting to topaz hunting at Topaz Mountain, to hike-in camps in the Uintas. He is known for his dutch oven cuisine.

  • 2. [Utah case information]

    • 20251122
    • Court record
    • Utah Xchange

    Case No: 201401567

  • 3. [excerpt from probable cause statement]

    • 20251122
    • Court record
    • Utah Xchange

    PROBABLE CAUSE STATEMENT: [redacted] of the Lone Peak Police Department, having probable cause to believe that the defendant committed the above- listed offense, submitted the following evidence in support of the filing of this Information:

    On December 25, 2013, in Alpine, the Defendant, Paul Newman, touched a 10-year-old girl, skin-to-skin with his hand, on her breasts and nipples.

    [...] Newman occupied a position of special trust relative to her.

    Newman has been previously accused of very similar conduct with at least three other girls of similar age over the past twenty years.

  • 4. Paul William NEWMAN

    • 20251123
    • Registered sex offender record
    • Utah Department of Public Safety

    Name: Paul William NEWMAN Registration #: 10721331
    Aliases: Paul W NEWMAN
    Status: Active

    Physical Description
    • Age: 68 (DOB: 01/06/1957) • Height: 5'10''
    • Sex: M • Weight: 170lbs
    • Race: White • Eyes: Hazel
    • Hair: Bald
    • Scars/Tattoos: Scar on abdomen (x6 Approximately 0.5" to 1.5" Lower Abdomen) , Scar on Neck (2" Front Neck) , Scar on Back (2" Lower Back) , Scar on L_wrist (2")

    Address
    9969 N 4000 W PLEASANT GROVE, UT 84062
    View Map
    Other Known Addresses
    Offenses
    • Description: 76-5-404.1 - SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD-ATTEMPTED/3RD DEGREE (attempted)
    • Date Convicted: 10/19/2022
    • Conviction State: Utah
    • Release Date:
    • Details:
    • Counts: 1

Documents

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Criminal case documents

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Timeline

  • 1957
    Born

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