LDS positions: Youth leader, - During alleged crime: Unknown position,
- LDS mission:
unknown - Alleged:
3 victims, Multiple victims,
Criminal case(s): Ongoing, - Alleged failure to report
- AKA Rolley White
updated Sep 27, 2025 - request update | add info
LDS positions: 
Alleged:
Criminal case(s): 
Rolley White was a Mormon church member in Payson, Arizona.
In 2025, White was charged with 18 felonies related to sexual abuse of children.
White may have been a youth leader in a Mormon ward in Payson.
Floodlit has received information from two individuals familiar with White’s case who said Mormon church officials were aware of allegations of sexual misconduct against White as early as 2022.
An Aug. 22, 2005 Payson Roundup article reported that the Gila County Attorney’s Office requested a new judge in White’s case and a new location, per court documents.
“The defendant is from a well-known and connected family in the Payson area […] He has multiple family connections to many areas of the community, including local government and law enforcement,” Jessica Oortman, deputy county attorney said, according to the Payson Roundup article.
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Sources
- Payson man arrested for alleged inappropriate relationships with multiple minors,
- Star Valley man faces child abuse charges,
- Star Valley man pleads not guilty to abuse charges,
- S-0400-CR-202500384 STATE OF ARIZONA PLAINTIFF VS WAYLON ROLLEY WHITE DEF,
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1. Payson man arrested for alleged inappropriate relationships with multiple minors
PAYSON, AZ — A Payson man has been arrested and is accused of having inappropriate relationships with juveniles and providing them with illegal substances.
On July 1, the Payson Police Department received information alerting them to allegations against Waylon "Rolley" White, involving multiple juveniles.
Detectives spent the next few weeks investigating by interviewing victims and other people involved. Authorities were able to obtain search warrants relating to the allegations.
Based on evidence collected, detectives established probable cause to arrest White for several felony offenses, including sexual conduct with a minor and involving a minor in a drug offense.
On July 28, White was arrested and booked into the Gila County Jail in Payson.
No other details have been provided.
Anyone with additional information related to this investigation, or who believes they may be a victim, is urged to contact the Payson Police Department at (928) 474-5177.
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2. Star Valley man faces child abuse charges
A Star Valley man was arrested last week on multiple child abuse charges following an investigation by the Payson Police Department.
Waylon Rolley White faces more than a dozen charges, including sexual conduct with a minor, use or hire of a minor in a drug offense, luring a minor for sexual exploitation and furnishing obscene material to a minor.
On July 1, the Payson Police Department received information alleging that White may have been involved in inappropriate relationships with multiple juveniles in the Payson area, according to a release from the PPD. Additional allegations stated that White reportedly provided illegal substances to the juveniles during these encounters.
“Over the following weeks, Payson Police Department detectives conducted an extensive investigation, including multiple interviews with victims, other involved parties, and executed search warrants relating to the allegations,” according to the PPD. “Based on the evidence obtained, detectives established probable cause to arrest Mr. White for several felony offenses, including sexual conduct with a minor and involving a minor in a drug offense.”
Police arrested White without incident on Monday, July 28. He was booked into the Gila County jail in Payson.
White made his initial court appearance on July 29 before Judge Donny Garvin. He was arraigned on seven counts, and bond was set at $25,000.
On July 31, additional charges were filed. Garvin ruled White was not eligible for release on the new charges. Garvin set a preliminary hearing for Aug. 11 to determine probable cause.
“Proof is evident, and the presumption is great that you did commit one or more of the charged felony offenses. There is clear and convincing evidence that you possess a substantial danger to the victim, any other person or the community,” Garvin said. “There appears not to be any condition or combination of conditions of release that will reasonably ensure the safety of the victim or any other person or the community. I want to let you aware that the law enforcement division contacted me direct and provided further information supporting that decision regarding continued contact with one of the alleged victims. These are all based on allegations. These decisions are all based on allegations. Not any convictions to the charges.”
“Mr. White is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” the PPD wrote in the release.
White, a nurse and father, has been an active member in the community, once owning a gym in Star Valley, competing in various local athletic races and running a mushroom tincture business.
Anyone with additional information related to the case or who believes they may be a victim is asked to contact the Payson Police Department at (928) 474-5177.
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3. Star Valley man pleads not guilty to abuse charges
A Star Valley man accused of abusing multiple teens has plead not guilty.
Waylon Rolley White faces 18 counts, including sexual conduct with a minor, furnishing harmful items to a minor, involving or using a minor in drug offenses and luring a minor for sexual exploitation.
On Aug. 13, his lawyer entered a plea of not guilty.
A trial-setting conference is scheduled for Sept. 22 at 3:30 p.m. in Globe. White is being held without bail in a Gila County jail.
Police have released few details on the case, but according to the direct indictment, there were allegedly three victims.
Counts one through seven involve the first teen. Between February 2020 and December 2023, White reportedly had sexual contact with this victim, a boy under the age of 15 at the time, in a Payson condominium complex on at least two occasions. He also reportedly showed the boy a sexually explicit video.
Counts eight through 15 involve a second teen. Between January 2023 and February 2025, White reportedly had sexual contact with this boy, under the age of 18 at the time, at the same complex and in his truck. He also reportedly supplied this teen with ketamine.
Counts 16 through 18 involve a third teen under the age of 15 between January 2024 and February 2025. White is charged with supplying this teen with ketamine and showing them a sexually explicit video. On or about Jan. 1, 2024, he reportedly offered or solicited sexual conduct with the teen, according to court documents.
The Gila County Attorney’s Office has requested a new judge in the case and a new location, according to court documents.
“The defendant is from a well-known and connected family in the Payson area,” wrote Jessica Oortman, deputy county attorney. “He has multiple family connections to many areas of the community, including local government and law enforcement. This case has been a conflict for the Gila County Sheriff’s Office and judges previously assigned in this matter. The state anticipates that it cannot have a fair and impartial trial when the jury pool is restricted solely to northern Gila County residents.”
The attorney’s office requested the trial be moved to Globe with a southern Gila County jury pool.
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4. S-0400-CR-202500384 STATE OF ARIZONA PLAINTIFF VS WAYLON ROLLEY WHITE DEF
Case Information
Case Number: S-0400-CR-202500384
Title: STATE OF ARIZONA PLAINTIFF VS WAYLON ROLLEY WHITE DEF
Category: CRIMINAL
Court: Gila County Superior Filing Date: 8/5/2025
Judge:
Disposition Date:STATE OF ARIZONA PLAINTIFF - P1
WAYLON ROLLEY WHITE DEFENDANT - D1Citation Count Description Disp. Date Disposition
1 SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH MINOR
2 SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH MINOR
3 SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH MINOR
4 SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH MINOR
5 SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH MINOR
6 OBSCENE MATL-FURNISH TO MINORS
7 LURE MINOR FOR SEX EXPLOIT
8 SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH MINOR
9 INVOLV/USE MINOR IN DRUG OFFN
10 INVOLV/USE MINOR IN DRUG OFFN
11 INVOLV/USE MINOR IN DRUG OFFN
12 INVOLV/USE MINOR IN DRUG OFFN
13 SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH MINOR
14 SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH MINOR
15 LURE MINOR FOR SEX EXPLOIT
16 INVOLV/USE MINOR IN DRUG OFFN
17 OBSCENE MATL-FURNISH TO MINORS
18 LURE MINOR FOR SEX EXPLOITCase Activity
Date Description Party
8/26/2025 MOTION: TEMPORARILY REMOVE FILE / EXHIBITS D1
8/20/2025 ORDER: Reassignment of Judge P1
8/19/2025 ORDER: Assigning to Presiding Judge for Reassignment
8/13/2025 NOTICE: CHANGE OF JUDGE P1
8/13/2025 MISCELLANEOUS: Disclosure / Supplemental Disclosure P1
8/13/2025 ALLEGATION: ALLEGATION RE 13-701 (AGGRAVATING) P1
8/13/2025 REQUEST: Request P1
8/12/2025 MISCELLANEOUS: Disclosure / Supplemental Disclosure D1
8/11/2025 MinuteEntry event for MINUTE ENTRY: ARRAIGNMENT P1
8/11/2025 MinuteEntry event for MINUTE ENTRY: ARRAIGNMENT D1
Documents
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Criminal case documents
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