Robert Nelson (1949 – ) was an LDS bishop in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; accused of sexual abuse of a "mentally handicapped" woman; pleaded guilty in 1989; placed on two years probation, ordered to do 150 hours of community service, and ordered to take a conducted tour of a local jail.

Robert Nelson was a former Mormon bishop in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada who was convicted of sexual assault in 1989.

He was placed on two years probation, ordered to do 150 hours of community service, and ordered to take a conducted tour of a local jail.

Nelson was assigned to be a Mormon bishop in the Victoria, British Columbia First Ward in 1979.

Nelson joined the LDS church in 1969 and served in various callings (positions) before his assignment as bishop.

At the time of his calling as bishop, Nelson was manager of a local music store.

Nelson was excommunicated from the LDS church because of his sex crime.

Have any info on this Mormon sex abuse case? Contact us.

April 11, 2026: Floodlit is in urgent need of financial support as we prepare to release an special investigative report this month. Please donate if you're able, and tell a friend! We are 100% supported by readers like you. Thank you so much for your support!

Search the FLOODLIT Database

Share this page https://floodlit.org/a/a642/

Sources

  1. Mormons call new bishop, bid fond farewell to Lyle, Times Colonist, September 1, 1979.
  2. Former Mormon bishop guilty of sexual assault, Times Colonist, May 27, 1989.
  3. Former bishop on probation for sex assault, Times Colonist, May 30, 1989.

Documents

Have docs or info? Add information

Criminal case documents

Floodlit does not have a copy of a related probable cause affidavit. Please check back soon or contact us to request that we look for one.

Civil case documents

Floodlit does not have a copy of a related civil complaint. Please check back soon or contact us to request that we look for one.

Other documents

Floodlit does not have a copy of any other related documents. Please check back soon or contact us to request that we look for some.

Timeline

  • 1949
    Born

Images/photos

Add information

If someone you know was harmed by the person listed on this page, or if you would like us to add or correct any information, please fill out the form below. We will keep you anonymous. You can also contact us directly.

Other Mormon sex abuse cases

    • Larry Deutsch (1966 – ) was a Mormon bishop in Missouri; arrested in 2020 and charged with possession of child pornography (child sexual abuse material, or CSAM) and accused of luring an underage teenager from Arizona to Missouri; pleaded guilty; sentenced in 2021 to 12 years in federal prison plus a lifetime of supervised release; in 2024, the victim filed a civil lawsuit against the LDS church
    • View report »
    • Allen Brinkerhoff (1929 – 2019) was a Mormon bishop and stake president and manager of an LDS stake welfare farm in Nevada; arrested in Nevada in 2007 and admitted to sexually abusing two children; was convicted and sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison for battery with intent to commit sexual assault, and 12 to 32 months in prison for sexual abuse of a child; died in 2019
    • View report »