William Harding

Summary

UPDATE May 2025:

Bill Harding has been extradited to Tasmania to face new criminal charges of child sexual abuse that he allegedly perpetrated between 1963 and 1982. During the time of the alleged abuse, Harding was a Mormon branch president as well as a Police Officer.

(Correction May 23, 2025: Harding was a branch president, not a bishop, in Tasmania. We apologize for the reporting error.)

Harding is facing three counts of persistent sexual abuse of a child and three counts of indecent assault multiple victims in this case were members of Harding’s LDS ward, according to police.

Floodlit communicated with two people familiar with the case, who provided information showing that Harding was convicted child sexual abuse in Brisbane, Australia in 2024. He was also charged with child sexual abuse in a separate case in Queensland. In the first case, he was sentenced to four years jail and after nine months the sentence was suspended.

In all, Floodlit has learned that Harding allegedly abused up to 40 children over a nearly 50 year span, from 1963-2010.

Mormon officials and church leaders in Australia and in Salt Lake City, Utah allegedly knew about Harding’s abuse but failed to report to police, allowing more children to be victimized.

A source familiar with Harding’s three criminal cases told Floodlit that Harding was excommunicated from the Mormon church after being a branch president in Tasmania and after a victim came forward accusing him of child sexual assault.

We are still piecing together a timeline, but we believe this occurred before Harding moved to Queensland, Australia and began attending LDS church meetings there.

If you knew Harding or have any information about his history in the Mormon church or this case or the allegations against him, please contact us. We believe he may have more victims.