was a Mormon church member in northern Utah; found guilty of child sexual abuse; was granted parole in 1984 in Utah after serving 7 months of a 0-5 year prison sentence; as of 2023, lives in Bountiful, Utah

Case report

Johnson was sentenced to prison in Utah for child sexual abuse on April 9, 1985.

On October 17, 1984, he was granted parole and released from prison after serving seven months of a zero to five year sentence.

A source told FLOODLIT, “Les Ernest Johnson destroyed my family.”

Johnson allegedly raped and molested hundreds of children.

Our source reported that Johnson hunted and locked children in a room in an LDS building at Temple Square, describing it as “the museum with the Jesus statue.” That building has since been remodeled and the room removed or redesigned.

Johnson was never required to register as a sex offender. As of 2023, he lives in Bountiful, Utah.

Case facts

Browse the Mormon Sexual Abuse Database

FLOODLIT.org has a free public database of hundreds of reports about people who committed or allegedly committed sex crimes, including sexual abuse, while they were active Mormon church members. You can browse the entire database in all sorts of ways, including by LDS church position, number of victims, places where crimes took place, or criminal/civil case result.

View the Mormon Sexual Abuse Map

International map of locations where active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints perpetrated or allegedly perpetrated sexual abuse or other sex crimes, or where LDS leaders failed or allegedly failed to help abuse survivors.

 

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