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Sheldon Bates was a Mormon church member and Boy Scout leader in the Salt Lake City, Utah area.
On April 17, 2025, Bates was arrested on suspicion of sexual abuse of four boys that allegedly took place over a 20-year period.
At the time, Bates’s home address listed in court documents indicated that he resided in the Kearns Utah North Stake of the LDS church, in either the Kearns 10th Ward or Kearns 14th Ward.
FLOODLIT is seeking information on whether Bates was an active Latter-day Saint at the time of his arrest.
FLOODLIT has learned from online discussions of Bates’s arrest that Bates may have been an active Mormon church member at the time of at least some of the alleged sex crimes.
FLOODLIT has obtained a police probable cause affidavit (PC affidavit) in Bates’s criminal sex abuse case, thanks to your donations.
The alleged sexual abuse in Bates’s current ongoing criminal case occurred at Bates’s home in the Salt Lake City area, in a family bathroom at the Kearns Community Pool (Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center), and on Boy Scout trips.
Bates allegedly created child sexual abuse material (CSAM), formerly commonly referred to as child pornography, of multiple victims at his home.
FLOODLIT has compiled a timeline of the alleged sex abuse as detailed in the PC affidavit:
- 2006: Victim 1 (11 years old) – Bates allegedly took nude photos of the victim and stored them on a compact disc (CD). Victim 1’s mother identified him as the victim in one photo on the CD.
- 2007 to 2013: Victim 2 (11 to 17 years old) – Bates allegedly sexually abused the victim while working as a Boy Scouts leader. The victim was in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) at the time the alleged abuse began. The victim said Bates took nude photos of him and sexually assaulted him “on many occasions.” The alleged abuse took place in Bates’s bedroom, the community pool family bathroom, on Boy Scouts trips, and other locations. Police located 17 photos containing Victim 2, who identified himself as the victim in the photos.
- 2007 to 2008: Victim 3 (approximately 13 years old) – The victim knew Bates as his Boy Scouts leader. Victim 3 said he would go to Bates’s house under the guise of working on and earning merit badges for the Boy Scouts, where Bates sexually assaulted him on many occasions. The alleged abuse occurred in Bates’s bedroom and in a family bathroom at the community pool.
- 2019 to 2020: Victim 4 (13 to 14 years old) – Victim 4 identified Charles’ as a former neighbor. Victim 4 stated that Charles sexually abused him at Bates’s home and in his vehicle.
Police said they found “a total of 134 photos of CSAM” on Bates’s CDs. 54 of those were recognized by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), and four of the photos contained known victims, police reported.
As of April 22, 2025, Bates was being held without bail at the Salt Lake County Jail.
FLOODLIT also obtained court documents in two prior misdemeanor cases against Bates in 2022 in Utah.
One case involved alleged stalking, reckless driving, interference with an arresting officer and disorderly conduct.
In a probable cause affidavit obtained by FLOODLIT in that case, a Salt Lake County Sheriff officer stated:
“-Mr. Bates stated on recording pre-arrest that he had intentionally left his house on this date to find the victim and confront him. He admitted that he knew all the victim’s places of entertainment, and employment and had intentionally went to those locations to find the victim.
-Mr. Bates admitted post arrest that he had used his vehicle to detain the victim with the intent of confronting the victim. Which placed the victim at significant harm of bodily injury.
-When Mr. Bates was informed that he was being investigated for the commission of a crime he began yelling and using various levels of profanity which caused a scene, and several neighbors came outside to investigate the source of the commotion.
-Mr. Bates clenched his fists and advanced on another officer on scene which forced the officer to push Mr. Bates away from him. This then turned into an altercation in which force was required to be used to handcuff Mr. Bates who physically and verbally resisted his arrest.”
The other case involved alleged violation of a protective order. In that case, police said, “Charles was interviewed by phone where he told police he forgot it was against his protective order to have anyone contact the protected parties on his behalf.”
Both cases were eventually dismissed without prejudice due to lack of evidence.
If you have any information about this case or knew Bates, please contact FLOODLIT.
The Unified Police Department is asking anyone who may have been a victim of Bates to give them a call at their non-emergency dispatch number, 801-840-4000.
Facts
- Criminal: Ongoing,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Scout leader,
- During alleged crime: Scout leader,
- When accused: Unknown position,
- Alleged crime: 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, in Salt Lake County (Utah), Utah,
- Crime scenes: Perpetrator's home, Public, Scout activity, Vehicle,
- Victims: 4 victims, Multiple victims,
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Born: 1963
- AKA Sheldon Bates, Shel Bates
- Mission: unknown
- Locations: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County (Utah), Utah,
Sources
- Kearns man arrested, accused of sexually abusing 4 boys over 20 years,
- Boy Scout leader arrested for abusing boys over the course of 20 years,
- Former Boy Scout leader arrested on 42 felony counts for alleged sexual abuse over 10+ years,
- Inmate Lookup,
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1. Kearns man arrested, accused of sexually abusing 4 boys over 20 years
KEARNS — A Kearns man was arrested Thursday and accused of sexually abusing four boys over the past 20 years.
Police say they hope additional victims, if any, will come forward.
Charles Shelton Bates, 61, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of 42 felony crimes, including 10 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, seven counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, 20 counts of sodomy on a child, four counts of forcible sodomy and forcible sexual abuse.
Unified police say the abuse happened at Bates's Kearns residence and at the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center swimming pool.
"There are numerous victims who have reported abuse from the defendant," a police booking affidavit states.
Investigators say they seized several CDs belonging to Bates that contained child sex abuse material. A total of 134 photos of child sex abuse material were found, including images of at least two boys who police identified as victims for his arrest. At least one picture was of an 11-year-old boy in 2006, according to the affidavit.
A second boy says he was abused while participating in the Boy Scouts of America between 2007 and 2013. Unified police confirmed that Bates "was a Boy Scouts leader and the abuse began when (the boy) was in Boy Scouts," the affidavit states.
A third boy says he also met Bates when he was 13 and a member of the Scouts.
"(He) would go to Charles' house under the guise of working on and earning merit badges for the Boy Scouts, the affidavit alleges. "These incidents (of abuse) occurred in Charles' bedroom and the community pool family bathroom."
A fourth boy told police he was abused five or six years ago, when he was between the ages of 13 and 14, according to the arrest report.
"These are extremely serious crimes that have persisted over decades," police said, while requesting that he be held in the Salt Lake County Jail without the possibility of posting bail.
Unified police say anyone who believes they were victimized by Bates, or who knows someone who was, is asked to call 801-840-4000.
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2. Boy Scout leader arrested for abusing boys over the course of 20 years
KEARNS, Utah — A Kearns man was arrested Thursday after a police investigation found he had sexually abused four boys over the course of 20 years. Police are asking for any additional victims to come forward.
Charles Sheldon Bates, 61, was booked into Salt Lake County Jail Thursday on 42 sex-based offenses, including Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, and Forcible Sodomy.
Booking documents say the investigation began when they received reports from numerous victims alleging abuse, with the earliest incident occurring in 2006 when the first victim was 11 years old.
The first victim told police he had been used to produce child sex-abuse materials in Bates' home. The second and third victims reported years of ongoing sexual abuse, first starting when they were 11 and 13, respectively. The abuse occurred in Bates' home, a community pool family bathroom, and while on Boy Scouts' trips, with Bates being a scout leader at the time.
The fourth victim to come forward reported abuse that spanned from 2019 to 2020.
Over the course of the investigation, officers were provided multiple CDs containing a total of 134 images of children, including the four victims. 54 of the photos also contained children who were recognized by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Unified Police Department tells FOX 13 News there may be other victims they may not yet know about. Anyone who may have been a victim of Bates is asked to give them a call at their non-emergency dispatch number, 801-840-4000.
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3. Former Boy Scout leader arrested on 42 felony counts for alleged sexual abuse over 10+ years
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A former Boy Scout leader from Kearns, Utah, was arrested on more than 40 felony counts related to alleged sexual abuse that took place over more than a decade, according to Unified Police.
Charles Sheldon Bates, 61, was arrested late Thursday night on 42 charges, including 20 counts of sodomy on a child, all first-degree felonies; 10 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, all first-degree felonies; and seven counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, all first-degree felonies; among other charges. The full list of charges is at the bottom of this article.
Substitute teacher, 81, arrested after being caught pleasuring himself during school hoursAccording to an affidavit of probable cause filed in Salt Lake County, seven CDs identified as Bates’ were provided to law enforcement officials. On those CDs, officials identified 134 photos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), also known as child pornography.
Arrest documents included reports of alleged abuse from four male victims, who told officials they were between the ages of 11 and 17 at the time of the abuse. Two victims reported that Bates was their Boy Scout leader at the time of their abuse.
One of the victims was identified as being in photos on one of Bates’ CDs, and told officials that he was 11 years old when the alleged abuse occurred in 2006. Another victim told police he was abused from 2007 until 2013, from the ages of 11 to 17. This victim identified himself in photos on Bates’ CDs.
The third victim was about 13 years old at the time of the alleged incidents, between 2007 and 2008, and reported that he would be at Bates’ house “under the guise of working on and earning merit badges for the Boy Scouts,” according to arrest documents.
The fourth victim reported abuse between 2019 and 2020, when he was about 13 to 14 years old. All the victims reported that the incidents happened in several different places, including Bates’ prior home, his vehicle, or the family bathroom at a community pool.
Bates was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on the following charges:
Twenty counts of sodomy on a child, all first-degree felonies;
Ten counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, all first-degree felonies;
Seven counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, all first-degree felonies
Four counts of sodomy/forcible sodomy, all first-degree felonies;
One count of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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4. Inmate Lookup
Name: CHARLES SHELDON BATES
Sex: M Age: 61
Height: 6'0 Weight: 360
Race: WHITE Hair Color: BROWN
Eye Color: BLUEInmate Information
Booking #: 25018991 SO#: 433838
INS: Citizen: UNITED STATES
COB: CaliforniaIncarceration Information
Current Location: MAIN County: SALT LAKE
Current Housing Section: 04 Current Housing Block: B
Current Housing Cell: 14 Current Housing Bed: B
Booked Date: 04/18/2025 Release Date:Alias Information
SHELDON
SHELDetainer Information
There is no detainer information for this inmate.Bond Information
Case #: Amount: $0.00 Status: Open Posted By: Post Date: 04/18/2025Charge Information
Case # Offense Date Code Description Grade Degree
04/18/2025 76-5B-201.1(2)+(3A) AGGRAVATED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR UT F1
04/18/2025 76-5-404.3 AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD UT F1
04/18/2025 76-5-403.1 SODOMY ON A CHILD UT F1
04/18/2025 76-5-403 FORCIBLE SODOMY UT F1
04/18/2025 76-5-404(2)+(3A) FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE UT F2
Documents
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Criminal case documents
FLOODLIT has a copy of a related probable cause affidavit, but it is not currently available for download. Please check back soon or contact us to request an copy.Civil case documents
We do not know of any related civil cases, so no related civil case documents exist. If you have information that suggests otherwise, please contact us.