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

Les Johnson case details

born: 1944
alias Les E Johnson, possibly Bananas the Clown

released from prison in the 1980s; lives in Utah as of 2023

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.

Sources
  1. the accused had a parole hearing scheduled for October 17, 1984 (archive) - Salt Lake Tribune - 13 Oct 1984
  2. in 1984 in Utah, the accused was granted parole after serving 7 months of a 0-5 year prison sentence (archive) - Salt Lake Tribune - 21 Oct 1984

We don't know whether the accused served a full-time LDS mission.

We don't know whether the accused was married in an LDS temple.

LDS church positions:
LDS church positions at the time of alleged crime(s):
LDS church positions at the time of being accused:
  • Alleged failure to report by local LDS leaders? unknown
  • Alleged misconduct by local LDS leaders? unknown
  • Alleged misconduct by global LDS leaders? unknown

We don't know whether the LDS church paid any settlements in this case.

 

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