Earl Bleak (1936 – 2000) was an LDS bishopric counselor and physician in Tempe, Arizona; accused in 1998 of sexual abuse of a 36-year-old patient and friend; charges were dismissed in 1999 due to mental incompetence; Bleak died in 2000 of complications from a form of dementia.

Earl Bleak was an LDS church member and bishopric counselor in Tempe, Arizona.

Bleak was a physician. He attended Brigham Young University (BYU).

Bleak went on a mission for the LDS church to Germany from 1956 to 1959.

In 1986 and 1987, Bleak was chairman of a 29-member Tempe Elementary School District committee tasked with developing a district sex education program.

In 1998, Bleak was criminally charged after allegations of sexually abusing a 36-year-old patient and friend.

Bleak’s charges consisted of two counts of sexual assault and one count of public sexual indecency.

The charges were dismissed in 1999 due to mental incompetence.

In 2000, Bleak died “of complications from Pick’s Disease,” according to his obituary. The disease is a form of dementia.

According to Bleak’s obituary, he served “in many callings” in the LDS church, “including the bishopric and stake mission presidency.”

The obituary also says that Bleak’s “favorite activities were working with the youth in numerous ‘road shows’ and dance festivals.”

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Sources

  1. Engagements Announced, Arizona Republic, January 24, 1960.
  2. Doctor accused of sex assault, Arizona Republic, October 28, 1998.
  3. Arizona Board of Medical Examiners | Protecting the Public's Health, Arizona Board of Medical Examiners (BOMEX), December 10, 1999.
  4. OBITUARIES, Arizona Republic, December 9, 2000.
  5. Criminal Court Case Information - Case History, Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County, November 24, 2025.

  • 1. Engagements Announced

    • 19600124
    • News article
    • Arizona Republic

    April vows in the Arizona Temple are planned by Miss [redacted] and Earl E. Bleak.

    [...]

    Mr. Bleak is also a student at ASU. He attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany.

  • 2. Doctor accused of sex assault

    • 19981028
    • News article
    • Arizona Republic

    Patient's complaint spurs arrest

    A Tempe doctor was arrested and accused of sexually assaulting a 36-year-old patient and friend.

    Dr. Earl Bleak, 62, is charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of public sexual indecency.

    Bleak told police after his Friday arrest that the sex acts were consensual.

    Since publicity over his arrest, a number of people have stepped forward and accused the family doctor of sexual abuse, Tempe Officer Dick Steely said.

    Police are investigating the claims.

    According to investigators, Bleak went to the victim's house about 9:30 a.m. Oct. 15 and forced the victim to perform sex acts.

    The victim told police that he was paralyzed with fear and could not resist the doctor.

    Police said Bleak and the victim met through a mutual friend more than a year ago. The victim started seeing the doctor at Mercy Family Health Centers at 1847 E. Southern Ave., where Bleak was treating him for depression, anxiety and migraine headaches.

    Mercy Integrated Health Care is a subsidiary company to St. Jospeh's [sic] Hospital and Medical Center. Officials at the hospital

    Please see DOCTOR, Page B5

    [continued: see https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/124261458/ ]

    Doctor arrested; sex assault alleged

    - DOCTOR, from Page B1

    refused to comment on the investigation but said Bleak's patients are being referred to other physicians.

    The victim said that Bleak knew of his sexual history, and that Bleak for two months had been asking to have sex. The victim told police he was not attracted to Bleak and would not consent, but the doctor would constantly call him on the phone and wait for him outside his home.

    Bleak could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

  • 3. Arizona Board of Medical Examiners | Protecting the Public's Health

    • 19991210
    • Website
    • Arizona Board of Medical Examiners (BOMEX)

    Licensee Name: EARL E. BLEAK, M.D.

    Description of Action: Cancellation of License with Cause - Board cancelled license with a finding of mental incompetence after complaints of unprofessional conduct were received.

    [PDF is missing]

    Effective as of: 12/10/1999

    Licensee City: Tempe

    License No.: 6019

  • 4. OBITUARIES

    • 20001209
    • News article
    • Arizona Republic

    Earl Bleak M.D., loving husband, son, dad, grandpa and friend passed away December 6, 2000, of complications from Pick's Disease. The 12th of 13 children of James Alonzo Bleak and Violet Ruth Reynolds, Earl was born June 5, 1936, in Ft. Thomas, Arizona. He graduated from Mesa High School in 1954 and served an LDS mission to Germany from 1956 to 1959. He married his sweetheart [redacted] in 1960.

    After graduating from Arizona State University, he entered medical school at the University of California, College of Medicine, Irvine. Upon completing his residency in surgery and family medicine, Earl and family moved to Germany where he served for four years as a medical doctor in the U.S. Army. In 1971 he moved to Tempe, Arizona, and began his private practice in General medicine. He was a dedicated physician, constantly helping and healing.

    Earl served in many professional positions, including Chief of Staff at Tempe Community Hospital; Chairman, Department of Family Practice, Desert Samaritan Hospital; Chairman, Department of Tempe Community Hospital. He was also listed among the "Top Docs" in 1997. Earl was an active member in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving in many callings, including the bishopric and stake mission presidency. His favorite activities were working with the youth in numerous "road shows" and dance festivals. His conscientious nature made him an enduring friend and father.

    He loved to pass on his experiences and give bits of advice. He cared, he loved, and he sacrificed.

    [...]

    Viewing to be held, Friday, December 8, at Meldrum Mortuary, 6 8 pm. Funeral services will be held, Saturday, December 9th, 10:00, at the Evergreen Chapel 700 S. Evergreen, Tempe, AZ. Interment will be at. 3 pm at the Pima Cemetery, 1 Pima, AZ.

  • 5. Criminal Court Case Information - Case History

    • 20251124
    • Court record
    • Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County

    Case Information
    Case Type:
    Criminal
    Location:
    Southeast
    Party Information
    Party Name - Number
    Relationship
    Sex
    Attorney
    Judge
    Case #
    State Of Arizona - (1)
    Plaintiff
    N/A
    To Be Determined
    B Grand Jury - (2)
    Deft Grand Jury
    N/A
    To Be Determined
    Earl E Bleak - (3)
    Defendant
    M
    Buckley, Guy
    SOCJO
    CR1999-092701-A
    Disposition Information
    Party Name
    Earl E Bleak
    Crime Date
    11/25/1998
    Date
    12/2/1999
    Description
    SEXUAL ABUSE
    ARSCode
    13-1404 (F5)
    Disposition Code
    Dismis Mental Incompeten
    Disposition
    Dismissed Due To Mental Incompetence
    Party Name
    Earl E Bleak
    Crime Date
    10/3/1995
    Date
    12/2/1999
    Description
    SEXUAL ABUSE
    ARSCode
    13-1404 (F5)
    Disposition Code
    Dismis Mental Incompeten
    Disposition
    Dismissed Due To Mental Incompetence
    Party Name
    Earl E Bleak
    Crime Date
    8/23/1994
    Date
    12/2/1999
    Description
    SEXUAL ABUSE
    ARSCode
    13-1404 (F5)
    Disposition Code
    Dismis Mental Incompeten
    Disposition
    Dismissed Due To Mental Incompetence
    Case Documents
    Filing Date
    Description
    Docket Date
    Filing Party
    12/6/1999
    STP - Stipulation - Party (A)
    12/8/1999
    NOTE:
    FOR DETERMINATION OF COMPETENCY ON BASIS OF EXPERTS REPORTS
    12/4/1999
    124 - ME: Mental Exam Def Incompetent - Party (A)
    12/4/1999
    12/2/1999
    SDD - Notice: Sealed Document - Party (A)
    12/14/1999
    NOTE:
    REPORT BY MARTIN B KASSELL
    11/9/1999
    122 - ME: Mental Exam Experts Appt - Party (A)
    11/9/1999
    10/8/1999
    122 - ME: Mental Exam Experts Appt - Party (A)
    10/8/1999
    9/22/1999
    120 - ME: Hrg/Motion/Rule 11 Exam - Party (A)
    9/22/1999
    9/3/1999
    MOT - Motion - Party (A)
    9/8/1999
    Defendant(3)
    NOTE:
    FOR RULE 11.2 MENTAL EXAMINATION
    8/19/1999
    066 - ME: Case Reassigned - Party (A)
    8/19/1999
    8/17/1999
    RES - Response - Party (A)
    8/19/1999
    Plaintiff(1)
    NOTE:
    TO DEFENDANTS MOTION TO RELEASE DEFENDANT ON OWN RECOGNIZANCE
    8/12/1999
    LOW - List Of Witnesses/Exhibit/Evidence - Party (A)
    8/18/1999
    Plaintiff(1)
    8/11/1999
    MOT - Motion - Party (A)
    8/13/1999
    Defendant(3)
    NOTE:
    TO RELEASE P3 ON HIS OWN RECOGNIZANCE
    8/10/1999
    NOT - Notice - Party (A)
    8/11/1999
    Plaintiff(1)
    NOTE:
    OF CHANGE OF JUDGE
    8/5/1999
    066 - ME: Case Reassigned - Party (A)
    8/5/1999
    7/26/1999
    152 - ME: Not Guilty Plea Arraign - Party (A)
    8/2/1999
    7/25/1999
    NOT - Notice - Party (A)
    8/4/1999
    Defendant(3)
    NOTE:
    OF REQUEST FOR CHANGE OF JUDGE PURSUANT TO RULE 10.2 ARCP
    7/23/1999
    ROR - Release Order - Party (A)
    7/27/1999
    NOTE:
    BOND $20,000 071499
    7/23/1999
    ORC - Order Regarding Counsel - Party (A)
    7/27/1999
    7/23/1999
    FIN - Financial Information - Party (A)
    7/27/1999
    7/23/1999
    PBA - Pretrial Srvcs Agency Backgrnd - Party (A)
    7/27/1999
    7/23/1999
    PTR - Pretrial Service Recommendation - Party (A)
    7/27/1999
    7/23/1999
    RQU - Release Questionnaire - Party (A)
    7/27/1999
    7/23/1999
    NAR - Notice Of Appearance - Party (A)
    8/3/1999
    7/15/1999
    WAR - Warrant For Arrest - Party (A)
    7/16/1999
    Plaintiff(1)
    NOTE:
    CTS 1-3: BOND $20,000.00 SERVED 07/14/99
    6/23/1999
    IND - Indictment - Party (A)
    7/16/1999
    Plaintiff(1)
    NOTE:
    CTS 1-3: SEXUAL ABUSE CL 5 FEL; DR 98-162377, 98-1672575, 98-174557 TEMPE PD; DOC: ON OR BTWN 08/23/94 - 11/25/98
    6/23/1999
    604 - ME: GJ True Bill/Warrant Issue - Party (A)
    7/16/1999
    6/23/1999
    DWL - Defendant/Witness List - Party (A)
    7/16/1999
    Case Calendar
    Date
    Time
    Event
    7/21/1999
    8:30
    Arraignment Hearing.
    7/21/1999
    8:30
    Original Arraignment Not Guilty
    9/15/1999
    8:30
    Initial Pretrial Conference
    11/4/1999
    10:00
    Rule 11 Hearing
    12/2/1999
    10:00
    Rule 11 Hearing

Documents

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Timeline

  • 1936
    Born

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