was a Mormon bishop in Pittsburg, California in 1989; in 2024, accused in a civil lawsuit of child sexual abuse that allegedly lasted from 1989 to 1997, when the victim was 5 to 13 years old; the suit was one of 91 or more coordinated civil suits filed in California in 2024 against the Mormon church

Case report

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.

If you knew this man, please contact us.

Case facts

Case information sources

  1. Jane Roe HM 95 v. Doe 1 et al
    view source details | 20 Nov 2024 | PacerMonitor

Case information source details

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