Alleged crime: 1980s, 
Alleged crime state:
Mississippi,
LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Scout leader, - During alleged crime: Unknown position,
- LDS mission:
unknown - Alleged:
2 victims, Multiple victims,
- Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result,
- Alleged failure to report
updated Oct 10, 2025 - request update | add info
Alleged crime: 
Alleged crime state:
LDS positions: 
Alleged:
FLOODLIT is seeking more information on this case.
The notes below come from news articles (see sources section).
Lawsuit alleges child molestation in Columbia, Mississippi
man who claims he was molested as a child by a Boy Scout leader is suing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Jason Dunaway, 24, is seeking $25 million and claims in his lawsuit that the Mormon church did nothing to prevent sexual attacks on him by scout master Peter Brackner of Purvis.
Dunaway said a Mormon leader was told of the alleged sexual misconduct but did nothing.
Dunaway was part of a boy scout troop sponsored by the Columbia Mormon church, according to his lawsuit filed Tuesday in Lamar County Circuit Court. He claims in the lawsuit that the molestation began when he was 11 years old in 1985.
A similar lawsuit was filed this spring by a relative of Dunaway’s.
John Clark, a Jackson attorney who has represented the Mormon church, said the church “abhors sexual abuse, spousal abuse, any kind of abuse.”
Have any info on this or other Mormon sex abuse cases? Contact us.
As an independent newsroom, FLOODLIT relies on your generous support to make thousands of reports of sexual abuse in the Mormon church available. If you find our work helpful, please consider donating! Thank you so much for helping us shine a light.
Sources
Documents
Have docs or info? Add information
Criminal case documents
We believe this person was never criminally charged, so no related criminal case documents exist. If you have information that suggests otherwise, please contact us.
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.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
-
- David McConkie (1978 – ) was a Mormon bishop (approximately 2013-16), stake president (2016-21) and deputy district attorney in Colorado; paternal grandson of Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie; arrested in 2023 and charged with felony sexual assault on a child by someone in a position of trust; allegedly confessed child sexual assault to a Mormon church leader in 2008; in July 2025, sentenced to five years probation
- View report »
-
-
- Alberto Reyes was a Mormon bishop in Argentina who sexually abused a child; allegedly sexually abused the victim for at least nine years; convicted in 2004
- View report »
-
-
- John Fanning (1932 – 2012) was a Mormon branch president in Texas, bishop in Oklahoma and Boy Scout executive in several US states, including Utah; accused in 1986 in Utah of sexually abusing at least three boys, including during LDS-sponsored scouting activities; admitted guilt; convicted via plea agreement in 1986 or 1987; sentenced to 30 days in jail and spent approximately 18 months on probation; died in 2012
- View report »
"I told [John Fanning] we had two options. Immediate termination or he could resign and I would pay him through the end of next month but he had to leave as of now. He elected to resign."-
