Summary
Bishop Smith [real name unknown] was an LDS bishop in Lancaster, California.
In 2024, Smith was accused in a civil lawsuit of child sexual abuse.
The lawsuit said Smith took part with two Melchizedek priesthood holders in sexually assaulting an underage boy inside an LDS church building on a weekly basis from 2001 to 2003, starting when the victim was 15 years old.
The three men “worked in tandem and were present for the assaults,” the suit said.
When the abuse began in 2001, the victim “was working in the area mowing lawns as a means to earn money,” according to the lawsuit.
The suit was one of 91 or more coordinated civil suits filed in California in 2024 against the Mormon church alleging child sexual abuse by a Mormon church leader or member.
FLOODLIT is seeking more information and court documents related to this case.
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Alleged coverup- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Bishop,
- During alleged crime: Bishop,
- When accused: Unknown position,
- Alleged crime: 2000s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
- Victims: 1 victim,
- AKA Bishop Smith
- Mission: unknown
- Locations: California,
Sources
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1. [related case] Roe JW 142 v. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints et al
[FLOODLIT has obtained a copy of the complaint in this case. Excerpt below.]
To access this unsupervised area Perpetrators led minor Plaintiff to a separate room within the Church repeatedly over that time period.
In many instances, the fondling of Plaintiff began as Perpetrators were leading him to the room before they were actually inside with the door shut.
Furthermore, each Perpetrator would essentially take turns fondling the Plaintiff, signifying that each instance of abuse took some time.
[...]
From speaking with Plaintiff at the Church, Perpetrators were familiar with Plaintiff’s employment and used this knowledge to lure Plaintiff to the abuse location.
Under the pretense of discussing Plaintiff’s job and the money he was earning, Perpetrators instructed Plaintiff to join them in a back room of the meetinghouse to discuss how this job was progressing and get an idea of his earnings.
Plaintiff, being a vulnerable child and understanding the authority Perpetrators held, did as he was told.
On the way to the room, Perpetrators began fondling and groping Plaintiff’s chest, back, and buttocks.
Once inside the room, Perpetrators each took a turn continuing to fondle Plaintiff, again including his buttocks.
Trapped in this room and outnumbered by three male adults, Plaintiff was forced to allow each Perpetrator to successively assault him before he was finally able to leave.
Despite having been led to this location and fondled as he was taken there, Perpetrators were allowed to successfully isolate Plaintiff in this unsupervised area.
Plaintiff was in a position where failing to comply meant disobeying three of the foremost leaders of the ward while at that ward.
Documents
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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.