Robert Lant (1970 – ) was a Mormon church member in Utah County, Utah; convicted twice (in two separate cases) of crimes related to child sexual abuse.  The convictions occurred in 2018 and 2023; is the defendant in an ongoing civil lawsuit as of 2025..

Robert Tanner Lant was a Mormon church member in Utah who was convicted twice (in two separate cases) of crimes related to child sexual abuse.  The convictions occurred in 2018 and 2023.  The 2018 conviction was for a felony related to child sexual abuse.  The 2023 conviction was for forcible sexual abuse and it involved one or more incidences that allegedly occurred when the victim was an 18 year old adult.  However, in the 2025 ongoing civil lawsuit against Lant the plaintiff, who was the victim in the 2023 criminal case, clarified that she was alleging that Lant sexually abused her when she was a minor as well as when she was an adult. In addition, according to notable women’s rights attorney, Gloria Allred, who represented the victim in the 2018 case, another alleged victim was prepared to testify that Lant sexually abused her in 1987, when she was approximately eight years old.

Robert Tanner Lant: Criminal Charges and case disposition information

In 2018, Lant was convicted of one third-degree felony count of attempted aggravated child sexual abuse. The original charge was a first-degree felony count which omitted the word “attempted;” Lant was able to get the charge reduced via a plea agreement. A prison sentence of up to five years was suspended, and Lant was sentenced to 90 days in jail, plus 36 months of probation.

According to someone familiar with this case, Lant only served 60 days in jail.

In 2023, Lant was convicted again, this time on one 3rd degree felony count of attempted forcible sexual abuse and one possession of a dangerous weapon by restricted a 2nd Degree Felony, which he pleaded down from a total of 7 original charges. He was sentenced to one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison for each conviction, both ran concurrently.

The original charges were 2 counts of attempted forcible sexual abuse and 5 charges of possession of a dangerous weapon by restricted a 2nd degree felony.

As of Dec. 10, 2025, Lant was incarcerated in the Davis County Jail in Utah, with a parole release date of April 21, 2026 (offender #236365), according to the Utah Department of Corrections.

The docket information for each case is below in the sources section.

Robby Lant: Additional case background information

Floodlit communicated with multiple individuals who knew Lant. We learned that there is more than meets the eye in this case.

Notable women’s rights attorney and activist Gloria Allred’s presence in 2018 helps to underscore the significance of Lant’s case.

Lant’s parents were both notable members of the Latter-day Saints church. Lant’s mother, Cheryl Clark Lant, was the Primary General President from 2005 to 2010, overseeing the teaching and activities program for LDS children from ages 3 to 11. (The “ch” in Cheryl’s name is pronounced like the “ch” in Charles.) Prior to that, Cheryl Lant was a member of the Primary General Board for three years.

Lant’s father, John Lant, was a Mormon bishop, stake president (ca. 2008 to 2017, Orem Utah YSA 2nd Stake) and Brigham Young University professor of religion. He was also a key member of BYU’s fundraising team.

Professionally, the Lants co-founded and co-owned Learning Dynamics Academic Preschool. Cheryl Lant also co-founded and developed Frontline Phonics, a beginning reading program. The Lants own five academic preschools in Utah and Arizona as of December 2025, a person familiar with the family told Floodlit.

Robby marketed his parents’ reading program to kindergarten and elementary schools across the United States, the source said. At one point, Lant sold a perpetual license to the State of Texas Education Dept for $10 million.

The Lant family’s deep, longstanding connection to children in religious and professional circles is important in this case because Robby Lant allegedly sexually abused two young girls, ages approximately 7 and 9, when he was about 15 years old. One of those girls was prepared to testify in Robby Lant’s 2018 criminal case. As attorney Gloria Allred stated:

“The state intends to introduce at trial includes allegations made by J.A. […] J.A. alleges that when she was approximately 8 years old, defendant entered her bedroom in the evening after she had gone to bed and began to scratch her back. Defendant eventually slipped his hand under J.A.’s clothes and touched both her breasts and vagina. The alleged abuse occurred in 1987.”

According to a person who knew Lant personally, Lant’s parents did not report the alleged child sexual abuse in the 1980s to police or LDS church authorities, but instead kept it a secret, and pressured other individuals with knowledge of the alleged abuse to keep it secret. As a result, the victims in both of Lant’s criminal cases (2018 and 2023 convictions) were allegedly unaware, as were their parents, of Lant’s alleged past as a child sexual abuser.

At a press release announcement held immediately following Lant’s sentencing, Gloria Allred made a presentation, and the victim read a prepared statement in which she called out Robby Lant and Lant’s parents for failing to protect her innocence.

According to a person who attended the Apr. 5, 2018 sentencing and press conference, KSL, KUTV and FOX 13 all had cameramen present, and KUTV and FOX 13 covered the story in news broadcasts that evening, but neither KUTV and FOX 13 of the news outlets mentioned that Robby Lant was the son of the former LDS General Primary President and KSL didn’t air the story at all.

2025: Ongoing civil lawsuit against Robby, while he is in prison

The 2023 criminal case victim is in an ongoing civil lawsuit against Lant.  The victim is suing Lant for $13 Million dollars.  In the lawsuit the victim lays out the grooming behavior as well as his 2018 criminal conviction of child sexual abuse related charges.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is mentioned in the lawsuit.  Because Lant was an active member of the LDS church at the time of his abuses, the plaintiff’s lawsuit is requesting “Describe in detail any discipline or disciplinary investigation undertaken by or on behalf of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints related to allegations that you engaged in sexual misconduct or criminal behavior.” source: 2024 civil complaint, Case No.: 240402567, p.28

This case is proceeding through pre-trial motions.

Floodlit is continuing to gather information in this case. If you knew Robby Lant or have any information, please contact us.

Have any info on this or other Mormon sex abuse cases? Contact us.

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Sources

  1. Statement of Gloria Allred, Gloria Allred, April 5, 2018.
  2. Provo man sentenced for attempted sexual abuse of his stepdaughter, KUTV, April 5, 2018.
  3. STATE OF UTAH vs. ROBERT TANNER LANT - CASE NUMBER 151402527, Utah Xchange, May 1, 2018.
  4. STATE OF UTAH vs. ROBERT TANNER LANT - CASE NUMBER 231400294, Utah Xchange, July 1, 2023.
  5. Robert Tanner Lant, Offender Radar, December 9, 2025.
  6. Robert Tanner Lant, Utah Department of Public Safety, December 9, 2025.
  7. CASE NUMBER 240300106 Miscellaneous, Utah Xchange, December 10, 2025.

  • 1. Statement of Gloria Allred

    • 5 Apr 2018
    • Website
    • Gloria Allred

    CONTACT: GLORIA ALLRED
    (323) 653-6530
    Email: gallred@amglaw.com

    Statement of Gloria Allred

    Today I have come to Provo, UT to attend the sentencing of Robert Tanner Lant. The prosecutor had charged Mr. Lant with aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first degree felony. (Ann. Section 76-5-404.1)

    According to documents filed by the state of Utah the presumptive sentence for a conviction of this offense is 15 years to life. Imprisonment is mandatory. The charge was based on allegations made by the Deputy Utah County Attorney in charging documents in which it was alleged that the charge was based on allegations made by the defendant’s stepdaughter that “she was 11 years old when the defendant entered her bedroom early one morning while M.M. was sleeping, laid down next to her on her bed and began tickling her back under her clothes. Defendant then moved his hands around to M.M.’s front, touched her breast, and then her vagina.” The alleged abuse occurred in 2012.

    The document submitted by David Sturgill, Deputy Utah County Attorney also stated that “the evidence of other acts of child molestation, the state intends to introduce at trial includes allegations made by J.A., defendant’s sister. J.A. alleges that when she was approximately 8 years old, defendant entered her bedroom in the evening after she had gone to bed and began to scratch her back. Defendant eventually slipped his hand under J.A.’s clothes and touched both her breasts and vagina. The alleged abuse occurred in 1987.

    Despite the serious additional allegations the defendant has been permitted to enter a plea of guilty to attempted sexual abuse of a child (a third degree felony) and the prosecutor has agreed that the he will not ask that the defendant Robert Tanner Lant receive a prison sentence.

    Although the judge could still sentence the defendant to prison, the fact that the prosecutor has agreed not to ask for imprisonment is very upsetting to my client, the defendant’s victim.

    She feels that the allegations made by her and by the defendant’s sister to law enforcement are so serious that Mr. Lant should be sent to prison.

    Allegations of child sexual abuse even by one child should always be taken seriously, but when the allegations are made by more than one child and the defendant has entered a plea of guilty to felony conduct as to even one of them, such felony misconduct should be punished with a sentence that carries a term in prison.

    Punishment should fit the crime. Deterrence is an important goal of sentencing. If there is no significant punishment because there is no imprisonment imposed on a man convicted of a crime against a child, it sends a message that child sexual abuse does not matter.

    Most important, however, is that the message to a child is that the system will not take meaningful action against the perpetrator of a crime against you, even if you break out of your fear and report to law enforcement. M.M. (Madison) has been very brave in reporting the crime that she was forced to endure as a child and the victimization by her stepfather.
    It is time that the system begins to protect children rather than continuing to fail them, so that brave victims like M.M. know that anyone convicted of a felony against a child will receive appropriate punishment rather than a “get out of jail free card” for their criminal misconduct against a child.

    GLORIA ALLRED

    Attorney at Law Representing M.M. April 5, 2018

  • 2. Provo man sentenced for attempted sexual abuse of his stepdaughter

    • 5 Apr 2018
    • News article
    • KUTV

    (KUTV) — Notable women's rights attorney Gloria Allred was in Provo on Thursday for a sentencing hearing on a sexual abuse case that took place in 2012.

    According to court documents, the victim was 11 years old when the assault happened. She is now an adult and took part in a press conference with Allred following the sentencing of the suspect, who was her stepfather at the time.

    Maddison Monroe, 18, claimed that Robert Lant touched her private parts when she was a child. He claims he was only trying to wake her in the mornings.

    Lant was sentenced in 4th District Court by Judge James R. Taylor to 90 days in jail in addition to three years of probation. Furthermore, he will be placed on the sex offender's list.

    Earlier, Lant made a plea deal and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of attempted aggravated sexual abuse -- a third-degree felony.

  • 3. STATE OF UTAH vs. ROBERT TANNER LANT - CASE NUMBER 151402527

    • 1 May 2018
    • News article
    • Utah Xchange

    FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT - PROVO DISTRICT COURT
    UTAH COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH
    STATE OF UTAH vs. ROBERT TANNER LANT
    CASE NUMBER 151402527 State Felony
    CHARGES
    Charge 1 - 76-5-404.1(4) - ATTEMPTED - AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD - 1st Degree Felony (amended to) - 3rd Degree Felony
    Offense Date: July 01, 2012
    Location: Utah County
    Plea: January 18, 2018 Guilty
    Disposition: January 18, 2018 Guilty

    HEARING:

    Special Findings for Judgment and Commitment: The facts as reported from the victim suggest more egregious conduct, which is what was originally charged in this case. The admission of guilt, however, which was a stipulated result is to a lesser course of conduct. But,although he attempts to now claim that the touching was unintentional, or an accident, at the time of the plea he acknowledged that the elements he was pleading guilty to included touching or taking indecent liberties with the intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of another or to cause substantial emotional harm to another. The fact she admitted were that he gave the victim a massage, that the touching was inappropriate and that the result was to cause the victim substantial emotional harm. The psycho-sexual evaluation provided by the defense indicates no deviancy, which is consistent with the defendant's assertion that the touching was in advertent with no intent to abuse a child. But, as already noted,that result is inconsistent with the admission of guilt at the time of his plea. The fact that he committed, by his own admission,this kind of crime and caused this result is sufficient to require that he abide by the sex offender conditions of probation and that he receive additional evaluation and therapy at the request of the department.

    SENTENCE PRISON
    Based on the defendant's conviction of ATTEMPTED AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD a 3rd Degree Felony, the defendant is sentenced to an indeterminate term of not to exceed five years in the Utah State Prison.
    The prison term is suspended.

    SENTENCE PRISON CONCURRENT/CONSECUTIVE NOTE
    On the maximum sentence imposed, case to run concurrent with other cases, but is suspended at this time.

    SENTENCE JAIL SERVICE NOTE
    Defendant to be taken into custody forthwith. Defendant is allowed the benefit of good time.

    ORDER OF PROBATION
    The defendant is placed on probation for 36 month(s).
    Probation is to be supervised by Adult Probation and Parole.
    Defendant to serve 90 day(s) jail.

  • 4. STATE OF UTAH vs. ROBERT TANNER LANT - CASE NUMBER 231400294

    • 1 Jul 2023
    • Court record
    • Utah Xchange

    FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT - PROVO DISTRICT COURT
    UTAH COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH
    STATE OF UTAH vs. ROBERT TANNER LANT
    CASE NUMBER 231400294 State Felony
    CHARGES

    Charge 1 - 76-5-404(2)+(3A) - ATTEMPTED - FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE - 2nd Degree Felony (amended to) - 3rd Degree Felony
    Offense Date: January 14, 2023
    Location: Mapleton 84664
    Plea: April 12, 2023 Guilty
    Disposition: April 12, 2023 Guilty

    Charge 2 - 76-5-404(2)+(3A) - FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE - 2nd Degree Felony
    Offense Date: January 14, 2023
    Location: Mapleton 84664
    Plea: April 05, 2023 Not Guilty
    Disposition: April 12, 2023 Dismissed (w/o prej)
    Charge 3 - 76-10-503(2)(A) - POSSESSION OF A DNGR WEAP BY RESTRICTED - 2nd Degree Felony
    Offense Date: January 14, 2023

    Charge 4 - 76-10-503(2)(A) - POSSESSION OF A DNGR WEAP BY RESTRICTED - 2nd Degree Felony
    Offense Date: January 14, 2023
    Location: Mapleton 84664
    Plea: April 05, 2023 Not Guilty
    Disposition: April 12, 2023 Dismissed (w/o prej)

    Charge 5 - 76-10-503(2)(A) - POSSESSION OF A DNGR WEAP BY RESTRICTED - 2nd Degree Felony
    Offense Date: January 14, 2023
    Location: Mapleton 84664
    Plea: April 05, 2023 Not Guilty
    Disposition: April 12, 2023 Dismissed (w/o prej)

    Charge 6 - 76-10-503(2)(A) - POSSESSION OF A DNGR WEAP BY RESTRICTED - 2nd Degree Felony
    Offense Date: January 14, 2023
    Location: Mapleton 84664
    Plea: April 05, 2023 Not Guilty
    Disposition: April 12, 2023 Dismissed (w/o prej)

    Charge 7 - 76-10-503(2)(A) - POSSESSION OF A DNGR WEAP BY RESTRICTED - 2nd Degree Felony
    Offense Date: January 14, 2023
    Location: Mapleton 84664
    Plea: April 05, 2023 Not Guilty
    12-09-2025 05:04 PM Page 1 of 7

    Disposition: April 12, 2023 Dismissed (w/o prej)

    SENTENCE PRISON
    Based on the defendant's conviction of ATTEMPTED FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE a 3rd Degree Felony, the defendant is sentenced to an indeterminate term of not to exceed five years in the Utah State Prison.

    Based on the defendant's conviction of POSSESSION OF A DNGR WEAP BY RESTRICTED a 2nd Degree Felony, the defendant is sentenced to an indeterminate term of not less than one year nor more than fifteen years in the Utah State Prison.

    To the UTAH County Sheriff: The defendant is remanded to your custody for transportation to the Utah State Prison where the defendant will be confined.

    SENTENCE PRISON CONCURRENT/CONSECUTIVE NOTE
    Sentences are to run concurrent.
    Location: Mapleton 84664
    Plea: April 12, 2023 Guilty
    Disposition: April 12, 2023 Guilty

  • 5. Robert Tanner Lant

    • 9 Dec 2025
    • Registered sex offender record
    • Offender Radar

    Status : Incarcerated

    PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

    DOB : 03/17/1970
    Age : 55
    Sex : Male
    Height : 5'09''
    Weight : 160
    Race : White
    Hair Color : Brown
    Eye Color : Brown

    OFFENSES

    Offense : 76-5-404.1 - ATTEMPTED AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD/3RD DEGREE FELONY (attempted)
    Date Convicted : 04/05/2018
    Conviction State : Utah
    Statute : 76-5-404.1
    Offense Count : 1

    REGISTRATION DETAILS

    Collected From : Utah State Registry

    ALIAS

    Robert T LANT
    Tanner Y LANT

  • 6. Robert Tanner Lant

    • 9 Dec 2025
    • Registered sex offender record
    • Utah Department of Public Safety

    Name: Robert Tanner LANT Registration #: 2326312
    Aliases: Robert T LANT
    Tanner Y LANT
    Status: Incarcerated

    Physical Description
    • Age: 55 (DOB: 03/17/1970) • Height: 5'09''
    • Sex: M • Weight: 160lbs
    • Race: White • Eyes: Brown
    • Hair: Brown
    • Scars/Tattoos:

    Address
    1480 N 8000 W Salt Lake City, UT 84116
    View Map
    Other Known Addresses
    Offenses
    • Description: 76-5-404.1 - ATTEMPTED AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD/3RD DEGREE FELONY (attempted)
    • Date Convicted: 04/05/2018
    • Conviction State: Utah
    • Release Date:
    • Details:
    • Counts: 1

    Professional Licenses
    Learning Dynamics Reading System

  • 7. CASE NUMBER 240300106 Miscellaneous

    • 10 Dec 2025
    • News article
    • Utah Xchange

    FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT - SPANISH FORK DISTRICT COURT
    UTAH COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH
    [2023 CRIMINAL CASE ABUSE VICTIM] vs. ROBERT TANNER LANT
    CASE NUMBER 240300106 Miscellaneous
    CURRENT ASSIGNED JUDGE
    JARED ELDRIDGE
    PARTIES
    Plaintiff - [2023 ]
    Represented by: WALTER MASON
    Defendant - ROBERT TANNER LANT
    Represented by: MICHAEL STANGER
    Represented by: JONATHON MAWYER

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Timeline

  • 1970
    Born

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