Summary
Bishop Baldwin (first name unknown) was an LDS bishop in Pittsburg, California in 1989.
In 2024, Baldwin was accused in a civil lawsuit of child sexual abuse.
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.
Thanks to your support, we have obtained the civil complaint in this case.
(Warning – graphic description of sexual abuse.)
According to the complaint, Bishop Baldwin began sexually abusing the victim in 1989, when she was 5 years old. The abuse initially took place in Baldwin’s office at a Latter-day Saint chapel in Pittsburg, California.
While the 5-year-old victim was attending a Primary children’s class at church, Bishop Baldwin sent a young adult member to summon and escort her to his office to “help the Bishop.”
Once there, she was alone with Bishop Baldwin.
The lawsuit said Bishop Baldwin exposed himself, grabbed her hand and placed it on him, and touched her over her clothing with his hand.
The bishop then told the 5-year-old girl, “This is how you can become closer to your higher power … This is how you can have eternal life,” the suit said.
Bishop Baldwin continued to sexually abuse the victim over the next eight years during Sunday church services and weekday church activities, according to the lawsuit.
The abuse allegedly progressed to Bishop Baldwin touching the girl under her clothing, masturbating himself, and forcing her to perform sex acts on him.
Baldwin told the victim “no one would believe her if she reported the abuse,” which made her feel “scared and confused.” She “believed him,” the complaint said.
In 1997, during a church sponsored camping trip, Baldwin allegedly removed the 13-year-old victim from a cabin’s open living room area occupied by other sleeping children and took her to his sleeping quarters, where he sexually assaulted her. Other adult LDS church members were present in the living room area when Baldwin took the victim, according to the suit.
During the time the victim was being sexually abused by Bishop Baldwin, Mormon church leaders knew about complaints of serious misconduct made against Bishop Baldwin, but failed to investigate the complaints or take appropriate disciplinary action, the complaint said.
The abuse ended in 1997 when the victim’s family stopped attending LDS church services and activities in Pittsburg.
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: 1980s, 1990s, in California,
- Crime scenes: Bishop's office, LDS activity, LDS building, Recreational trip/outing,
- Victims: 1 victim,
- Mission: unknown
- Locations: California,
Sources
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1. Jane Roe HM 95 v. Doe 1 et al
Docket last updated: 11/19/2024 11:59 PM PST
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
15 oth_evt Clerk's Notice Tue 11/19 9:54 AM
CLERK'S NOTICE RE REASSIGNED CASE: You are notified that the Court has scheduled an Initial Case Management Conference set for 2/6/2025 at 10:00 AM in San Francisco, - Videoconference Only before Judge Richard Seeborg upon reassignment. Case Management Statement due by 1/30/2025. All parties shall appear by videoconference using log-in instructions the Court will provide in advance. For a copy of Judge Seeborg's Standing Order and other information, please refer to the Court's website at www.cand.uscourts.gov (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (cl, COURT STAFF)
14 order Order Reassigning Case ~Util - Case Assigned/Reassigned Tue 11/19 9:47 AM
ORDER REASSIGNING CASE. Case reassigned using a proportionate, random, and blind system pursuant to General Order No. 44 to Judge Richard Seeborg for all further proceedings. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler no longer assigned to case,. Signed by Clerk on 11/19/24. (as, COURT STAFF)
13 oth_evt Clerk's Notice of Impending Reassignment - Text Only Tue 11/19 9:08 AM
CLERK'S NOTICE OF IMPENDING REASSIGNMENT TO A U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Clerk of this Court will now randomly reassign this case to a District Judge because either (1) a party has not consented to the jurisdiction of a Magistrate Judge, or (2) time is of the essence in deciding a pending judicial action for which the necessary consents to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction have not been secured. You will be informed by separate notice of the district judge to whom this case is reassigned. ALL HEARING DATES PRESENTLY SCHEDULED BEFORE THE CURRENT MAGISTRATE JUDGE ARE VACATED AND SHOULD BE RE-NOTICED FOR HEARING BEFORE THE JUDGE TO WHOM THIS CASE IS REASSIGNED. This is a text only docket entry; there is no document associated with this notice. (ejk, COURT STAFF)
Monday, November 18, 2024
12 misc Consent/Declination to Proceed Before a US Magistrate Judge Mon 11/18 3:44 PM
CONSENT/DECLINATION to Proceed Before a US Magistrate Judge by Doe 1, Doe 2.. (Joiner, Scott)
Friday, November 08, 2024
11 order Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines Fri 11/08 10:29 AM
Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines: Case Management Statement due by 1/30/2025. Initial Case Management Conference set for 2/6/2025 11:00 AM in San Francisco, - Videoconference Only. (ecg, COURT STAFF)
10 utility ~Util - Case Assigned by Intake Fri 11/08 8:32 AM
Case assigned to Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler. Counsel for plaintiff or the removing party is responsible for serving the Complaint or Notice of Removal, Summons and the assigned judge's standing orders and all other new case documents upon the opposing parties. For information, visit E-Filing A New Civil Case at http://cand.uscourts.gov/ecf/caseopening. Standing orders can be downloaded from the court's web page at www.cand.uscourts.gov/judges. Upon receipt, the summons will be issued and returned electronically. A scheduling order will be sent by Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) within two business days. Consent/Declination due by 11/22/2024. (as, COURT STAFF)
Thursday, November 07, 2024
9 oth_sup Declaration in Support Thu 11/07 5:27 PM
Declaration of Scott D. Joiner Regarding Compliance with Local Rules of the Northern District of California filed byDoe 1, Doe 2. (Joiner, Scott)
Wednesday, November 06, 2024
8 service Certificate/Proof of Service Wed 11/06 8:33 PM
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Doe 1, Doe 2 re4 Certificate of Interested Entities,7 Civil Cover Sheet,3 Certificate of Interested Entities,1 Notice of Removal,6 Certificate of Interested Entities,5 Certificate of Interested Entities, 2 Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Withdrawal of Attorney (Joiner, Scott)
Tuesday, November 05, 2024
utility Electronic Filing Error Tue 11/05 11:04 AM
File motion to proceed with doe party.[LINK:Electronic filing error] . This filing will not be processed by the clerks office. Re:1 Notice of Removal, filed by Doe 1, Doe 2 (as, COURT STAFF)
Monday, November 04, 2024
7 misc Civil Cover Sheet Mon 11/04 11:43 PM
Civil Cover Sheet by Doe 1, Doe 2 (Amended - Re: 1 Notice of Removal) . (Joiner, Scott)
6 notice Certificate of Interested Entities, Corporate Disclosure Statement, or Rule 7.1 Disclosures Mon 11/04 7:11 PM
Certificate of Interested Entities by Doe 2 (Joiner, Scott)
5 notice Certificate of Interested Entities, Corporate Disclosure Statement, or Rule 7.1 Disclosures Mon 11/04 7:10 PM
Certificate of Interested Entities by Doe 1 (Joiner, Scott)
4 notice Certificate of Interested Entities, Corporate Disclosure Statement, or Rule 7.1 Disclosures Mon 11/04 7:08 PM
Corporate Disclosure Statement by Doe 2 (Joiner, Scott)
3 notice Certificate of Interested Entities, Corporate Disclosure Statement, or Rule 7.1 Disclosures Mon 11/04 7:07 PM
Corporate Disclosure Statement by Doe 1 (Joiner, Scott)
2 notice Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney Mon 11/04 7:05 PM
NOTICE of Appearance filed by Alexander Wyman on behalf of Doe 1, Doe 2 (Wyman, Alexander)
1 cmp Notice of Removal Mon 11/04 7:02 PM
NOTICE OF REMOVAL from Contra Costa County Superior Court. Their case number is C24-02271. (Filing fee $405 receipt number ACANDC-20017195). Filed by Doe 2, Doe 1.(Joiner, Scott)
Att: 1 Exhibit A,
Att: 2 Exhibit B,
Att: 3 Exhibit C,
Att: 4 Exhibit D,
Att: 5 Exhibit E,
Att: 6 Exhibit F,
Att: 7 Exhibit G,
Att: 8 Civil Cover Sheet
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.