Crime: 2020s, 
Crime county:
crime-county-wy-lincoln, - Crime state:
Wyoming,
- Convicted:
2025,
LDS positions: Primary, - During crime: Unknown position,
- LDS mission:
unknown
- Alleged:
1 victim,
- Alleged crime scenes:
Unknown crime scene,
Criminal case(s): Convicted, Found guilty, Jury trial, Prison, - Alleged church actions: Unknown church action,
- AKA Chuck Merrell
updated Jan 9, 2026 - request update | add info
Crime: 
Crime county:
Crime state:
LDS positions: 
Alleged:
Alleged crime scenes:
Criminal case(s): 
Charles Merrell, AKA Chuck Merrell, was a Mormon church member in Wyoming.
Merrell was an LDS Primary teacher as of approximately 2019, according to the person who told FLOODLIT about Merrell’s criminal case.
Merrell was criminally charged in the 2020s with multiple felonies related to child sexual abuse.
In 2025, Merrell was found guilty by a jury of two third-degree felony counts of sexual abuse of a minor.
On Dec. 3, 2025, Merrell was sentenced to three to six years in prison.
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Sources
- Jury finds Star Valley man guilty of sexual abuse of a minor,
- Merrell sentenced to 3-6 years prison,
-
1. Jury finds Star Valley man guilty of sexual abuse of a minor
A District Court jury in Kemmerer has found a Star Valley man to be guilty on two counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree. Charles “Chuck” Merrell, 48 of Osmond, remains in custody in the Lincoln County Detention Center in Kemmerer.
The two day trial concluded on Thursday, October 30. The verdict was read at approximately 3:00 p.m. after roughly four hours of deliberation by the jury.
Court documents state that Merrell knowingly “Took immodest, immoral or indecent liberties” with a minor under the age of 17 on two separate occasions on or before the dates of October of 2021 and September of 2023. According to Statutory Authority, a person convicted of sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree is “subject to imprisonment for not more than 15 years.” Sentencing will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
“As counsel for Mr. Merrell, I cannot comment on the outcome of the trial at this time,” Defense Attorney James Sanderson told SVI Media.
Lincoln County Attorney Spencer Allred provided a brief statement, saying “I would like to thank our local law enforcement officers and those in my office for their hard work in bringing this case together.”
-
2. Merrell sentenced to 3-6 years prison
A sentencing was given to Osmond resident Charles “Chuck” Merrell, 48, on Monday, November 24 in District Court. The sentencing followed Merrell’s conviction during a jury trial, where he was found guilty of two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the 3rd Degree.
At the conclusion of the hearing, District Court Judge Joseph Bluemel sentenced Merrell to 3-6 years prison for each count, to be served concurrently, along with a total of $475 in court fines and fees.
Merrell’s two-day jury trial concluded on Thursday, October 30. Court documents state that Merrell knowingly “Took immodest, immoral or indecent liberties” with a minor under the age of 17 on two separate occasions on or before the dates of October of 2021 and September of 2023.”
Documents
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Criminal case documents
Floodlit does not have a copy of a related probable cause affidavit. Please check back soon or contact us to request that we look for one.Civil case documents
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Other Mormon sex abuse cases
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- Joseph Neipp was a former LDS bishop in San Jose, California; in 2021, pleaded no contest to four molestation counts and was given an 18-year prison sentence, with credit for the three years he spent in county jail prior to his sentencing; father of convicted Mormon child sexual abuser Samuel Neipp
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- Allen Brinkerhoff (1929 – 2019) was a Mormon bishop and stake president and manager of an LDS stake welfare farm in Nevada; arrested in Nevada in 2007 and admitted to sexually abusing two children; was convicted and sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison for battery with intent to commit sexual assault, and 12 to 32 months in prison for sexual abuse of a child; died in 2019
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- John Fanning (1932 – 2012) was a Mormon branch president in Texas, bishop in Oklahoma and Boy Scout executive in several US states, including Utah; accused in 1986 in Utah of sexually abusing at least three boys, including during LDS-sponsored scouting activities; admitted guilt; convicted via plea agreement in 1986 or 1987; sentenced to 30 days in jail and spent approximately 18 months on probation; died in 2012
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"I told [John Fanning] we had two options. Immediate termination or he could resign and I would pay him through the end of next month but he had to leave as of now. He elected to resign."-
