Stephen Anderson Wold

Case report

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Stephen Wold was a Mormon church member in Utah. He was convicted of child sexual abuse.

According to FLOODLIT’s sources, Wold allegedly abused two girls in 2010, a 10-year-old and a 12-year-old. He was in a close position of trust over them. During his criminal trial, Wold was able to hold LDS church callings and priesthood duties. He was a member of the same LDS stake as the victims during that time, and would park his car next to theirs, according to our sources.

Wold’s bishop, home teacher, and the ward relief society president attended the trial in his support. On the other hand, his older victim was barred from serving a mission because of the ongoing trial, as per our sources.

At Wold’s sentencing, he reportedly had 53 letters of support for a reduced sentencing. Many letters, including letters from former bishops and stake presidents, noted his status as an Eagle scout, a BYU graduate, a temple married Latter-day Saint and a “worthy” LDS priesthood holder.

According to our sources, Wold took the plea bargain offered by the prosecution because he was caught soliciting a person who he thought was a 13 year old boy online, who was actually an undercover cop.

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Wold once worked as a shuttle driver at the LDS Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah. This may have been a BYU employee position.

Wold served an LDS mission to Panama in 2007-2009.

Wold’s abuse for which he was convicted took place the year after he returned home from his Mormon church mission to Panama.

In 2010, Wold sexually molested a 10-year-old girl while babysitting her at his home in Highland, Utah.

Wold married in the Seattle Temple in June 2014. Around that time, he graduated from Brigham Young University – Provo (BYU) with a bachelor of science degree.

In 2015, Wold was charged with two felony counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child. He pleaded not guilty.

In 2017, after approximately two years in court, Wold was found guilty of one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child in a two-day jury trial and sentenced to 15 years to life in the Utah State Prison.

In December 2018, Wold’s wife wrote to the court in support of Wold. She wrote, “I do not believe he had a fair trial or a fair sentence.”

As of March 2023, Wold is in the Utah State prison. He is still married to the same woman with whom he was married in a temple in 2014, before being accused of child sexual abuse.

Our sources report that Wold co-owns a home next to a private school.

According to FLOODLIT’s sources, Wold often spent time alone at the Lazer tag area located at the Trafalga in Lehi, Utah. It is possible that he may have encountered other potential victims there.

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From the Provo Daily Herald on 2015-10-07:

“Lone Peak police officers arrested a Highland man Tuesday evening based on allegations he’d sexually abused two children.

Police reports state officers first became aware of the case Aug. 10, when they were notified two underage females reported being abused by the suspect, Stephen Wold.

Reports state the first incident occurred about five years ago. Police reports state Wold — who is now 26, and was 21 at the time of the reported incident — was home alone babysitting the younger female victim when he touched her inappropriately under a blanket.

Police reports state the second, older female victim was abused a few months later in Nov. 2010. Wold was babysitting her as well when, according to police reports, he “bear-hugged” her and kissed her “all over” her face.

Reports state he then sexually assaulted her and held her down against her will.

The victims told police they were afraid of Wold, which is why they didn’t come forward until now.

Wold was booked into the Utah County Jail on suspicion of three first-degree felonies of aggravated sexual abuse of a child.”