Convicted:
1998, 
LDS positions: Missionary, - During crime: Missionary,
- LDS mission:
Uruguay - Uruguay 1962-1964
- Alleged:
5 victims,
- Alleged crime scenes:
Perpetrator's home,
Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, - Alleged church actions: unknown,
updated Apr 24, 2026 - request update | add info
Crime: 
Crime city:
Crime county:
Crime state:
Crime country:
LDS positions: 
Alleged:
Alleged crime scenes:
Criminal case(s): 
Arvid Oakley was a Mormon church member in Springville, Utah who was convicted of child sexual abuse in 1998.
Someone familiar with Oakley said that Oakley sexually abused a 6-year-old girl during an LDS mission in 1963.
In 1991, Oakley opened a daycare program called Superkids. The day care program held activities all day and overnight camping trips.
Oakley was accused by a 4-year-old girl and a 5-year old girl who attended his day care of touching them inappropriately.
A 5-year-old girl at a public pool also accused Oakley of touching her inappropriately.
According to one article, witnesses also told investigators that they saw Oakley taking photographs of naked young girls.
In 1998, Oakley was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
As of April 2026, Oakley is an inmate in the Utah State Correctional Facility.
Have any info on this Mormon sex abuse case? Contact us.
Sources
- Witnesses tell how they lived in fear of man convicted of child sex abuse,
- Abuser asks for civil suit delay A conviction may prejudice a retrial jury, he writes,
- Camp operator faces charges of sex abuse,
- Springville abuser gets maximum term,
- Springville man to serve five years to life for sexual assault ,
- 2nd jury is hearing evidence in abuse trial,
- Day-care operator goes on trial,
- Taped interview OK'd in abuse case,
- Arvid Mark Oakley,
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1. Witnesses tell how they lived in fear of man convicted of child sex abuse
PROVO -- Maria Suarez wishes she had told somebody a man had sexually abused her when she was 6 years old.
But 35 years later, she is glad to be able to look convicted child sex abuser Arvid Oakley in the eye and testify against him.Oakley, 54, was found guilty in September of sexually abusing a 4-year-old neighbor girl in his home two years ago. Prosecutors accused him of setting up a free day care, Superkids of America Inc. in Springville, as a ruse to create opportunities to see young girls naked and touch them.
A trembling and tearful Suarez testified at Oakley's sentencing hearing Thursday. The sentencing, however, was delayed until next week.
"It's time. Other children don't deserve to go through what I did," she said.
Suarez, at the request of Utah County Attorney Kay Bryson, testified Oakley sexually abused her several times while he was teaching her family on his LDS mission 35 years ago in Uruguay. She said he abused her at home and at church.
"I was petrified of him," she said.
Suarez did not tell anyone what was going on because she had been taught to respect adults, especially a man whom her parents trusted.
"I knew I had to obey," she said.
When she was 8 years old and after Oakley returned from his LDS mission, her family moved to Spanish Fork, where he lived. Her father eventually discovered what had happened to his daughter and forbid Oakley to see her. The family moved to Salt Lake City. Suarez and her seven children now live in Miami.
Two other parents testified that Oakley had abused their young daughters. One woman said her daughter told her he claimed to be an emergency medical technician or an Army doctor in order to examine her. A licensed clinical social worker testified that an 11-year-old intellectually disabled girl with whom she worked told her Oakley had also sexually abused her.
Under Superkids, Oakley took children camping, bowling, swimming and roller-skating and frequently invited them to sleepovers at his home. The young victim in the case in which Oakley is convicted told a social worker that Oakley fondled her after a bath.
Oakley was not sentenced. Defense attorney Victor Lawrence said he wanted more time to prepare because he did not receive Oakley's pre-sentence report until Tuesday. Sentencing is set for this coming Tuesday.
Lawrence also objected to the presentations of testimony about alleged victims. Prosecutor Sherry Ragan argued that the testimonies prove "the threat he is to society."
View Comments"All of these things are certainly relevant," she said.
Judge Anthony Schofield allowed the testimony.
Several members of Bikers Against Child Abuse attended the hearing and one, in tears, hugged Suarez after the hearing.
"We are so proud of you. You are doing so much for so many people," the woman said.
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2. Abuser asks for civil suit delay A conviction may prejudice a retrial jury, he writes
PROVO -- A Springville man in prison for child sexual abuse has asked a judge to put on hold a civil lawsuit filed by his victims.
Arvid Oakley, 55, was sentenced in December to serve five years to life for aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony. Earlier this year, a Springville couple who said three of their children were among Oakley's victims filed a personal injury lawsuit seeking an unspecified amount of money from Oakley. In a handwritten letter sent from the Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison, Oakley asked a 4th District judge to delay the civil suit while he appeals his criminal conviction. In February, Oakley appealed his case to the Utah Supreme Court, which later sent it to the Utah Court of Appeals.
During a trial last year, a 6-year-old Springville girl testified that when she was 4, Oakley fondled her while giving her a bath at his home. Prosecutors charged that Oakley ran a free day care called Superkids of America to lure children into his home so he could victimize them.
Although Oakley was convicted on just one count, the Springville family's lawsuit alleges that several other children were abused by Oakley. Prosecutors said they had evidence that Oakley abused other children, although some of them weren't willing to testify in court.
In his letter, Oakley said that he used all his money and sold his possessions to pay his attorneys, and that the victims' families had nothing to gain from suing him. As he did throughout the trial, Oakley denied that he sexually abused children. He called his accusers irrational.
"I can only pity them and those who conspire with them for bringing condemnation unto themselves," Oakley wrote.
The family's lawsuit said their children were abused by Oakley during four years, causing "permanent, painful and ongoing emotional trauma." Oakley should be required to compensate his victims for therapy and treatment costs, the suit says.
View CommentsBut Oakley said he expects a retrial of his case, and he said he doesn't want a civil verdict to prejudice a potential jury.
"If I win my appeal, (the civil suit's) charges won't carry much weight," Oakley wrote. "If I lose my appeal, I expect to spend the rest of my life here in prison and eventually die here."
Oakley's letter was a mixture of accusations, scriptures and philosophy. At one court hearing last year, Oakley told the victims' families that he might be condemned but so would they for what he said were lies. In his letter, he accused the family filing the lawsuit of being overly vengeful, and he claimed to be at peace with himself.
"In the words of an ancient Greek philosopher, 'I hope for nothing, I fear nothing. I am free,' " Oakley wrote, signing the letter "Inmate No. 28388."
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3. Camp operator faces charges of sex abuse
A Springville man who operates a free day-care camp for children out of his home is facing a charge of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony.
Arvid Oakley, 53, was arrested last week and booked into the Utah County Jail. He was released Wednesday after posting $5,000 bail and is awaiting a preliminary hearing.About six years ago, Oakley started a free day-care program called Superkids of America. Oakley, a former elementary teacher in the Uintah School District, provides day care in his home, takes participants in the program on daylong activities and overnight camping trips. He incorporated the organization with the state in 1995.
According to court affidavits filed by investigators from Utah County and Springville, Oakley is accused of using the program, toys and gifts to build relationships with young children. He is accused of fondling and photographing them, clothed and naked, after gaining their trust.
Springville police believe Oakley fondled a 5-year-old girl and 4-year-old girl who participated in Superkids. In April, officials at Primary Children's Medical Center notified investigators after the 5-year-old told therapists that Oakley touched her private parts and told her not to tell anyone.
Other participants in Superkids told investigators that Oakley examined young girls with their clothes off and bathed them at his home. While the girls were naked, he would allegedly examine them for pin worms and ticks in a camper or a room at his home called "the tick room."
View CommentsIn 1992, a Mapleton man filed a complaint with investigators after his 5-year-old daughter accused Oakley of grabbing her private parts at the Springville Community Swimming Pool. Before the girl and older sister left the pool, Oakley gave them a Superkids business card.
Investigators say they also have witnesses who say they saw Oakley photographing naked young girls in his basement.
According to court affidavits, Oakley said the examinations were part of training to become a paramedic. He also told investigators that the examinations for worms and ticks were done with parental permission. He denies abusing any children in his program and said he has always shows concern for the children's welfare.
If convicted, Oakley could face a minimum-mandatory sentence of five years to life in prison.
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4. Springville abuser gets maximum term
PROVO -- After hearing statements from prosecutors that former kids club operator Arvid Oakley has a history of abusing children, a 4th District judge Tuesday sentenced the Springville man to the maximum prison sentence he could.
Oakley, 55, got the mandatory sentence of five years to life for sexually abusing a 4-year-old neighbor girl. He was found guilty by a jury in September of the first-degree felony. Prosecutors accused him of setting up a free day care, Superkids of America Inc. in Springville, as a ruse to create opportunities to see young girls naked and touch them.
Utah County Attorney Kay Bryson said the charges against Oakley were "just the tip of the iceberg." Bryson said Oakley admitted in his presentence report that he has abused several young girls in different manners. But his statement doesn't agree with how the girls say he abused them.
"He has abused so many children that he can't keep his victims straight," Bryson said.
Bryson said during Oakley's trial, his office would get calls from other women and parents of girls who said they were abused by Oakley.
A 41-year-old Florida woman testified Oakley had abused her multiple times, when she was 6 and while Oakley was serving as a LDS missionary in Uruguay 35 years ago.
Under Superkids, Oakley took children camping, bowling, swimming and roller skating and frequently invited them to sleepovers at his home. The young victim told a social worker that he fondled her after a bath.
Judge Anthony Schofield also ordered Oakley to participate in a sexual offender rehabilitation program at the prison and pay for any counseling the young victim needs.
Defense attorney Victor Lawrence had asked the judge to put Oakley on probation. Schofield denied that, saying that one of the requirements for probation is that Oakley admit he committed the crime.
"This is trial by ambush," Lawrence said.
But Oakley hasn't admitted the crime, either at the trial or when he made his remarks in court Tuesday.
"If I took enough time to refute all the lies that have been perpetrated against me, it would take three hours," Oakley said. "The very jaws of hell have opened today."
He accused state and county investigators of misusing their power. Oakley also accused the victim and her family of lying.
"I'll probably burn in hell for my transgression, but a lot of people in this room will be there with me," Oakley said. "They could probably go to prison themselves."
Oakley's friends and family portrayed Oakley as a man who loved children but never abused them or even behaved inappropriately toward them.
"He just loved children and wanted to spend his money to help him," said Glen Lowder.
Lowder said because Oakley is a single man who wanted to be near children, he has been unfairly branded as a child abuser.
The family of the victim said Oakley gained children's trust by giving them toys and other things their parents couldn't afford and then selfishly used them to gratify himself.
View Comments"You have sentenced my child to a lifetime of problem marriages, insecurities and a lifetime of counseling," one said.
The three family members who spoke at Tuesday's hearing said they were glad that Oakley would not be able to abuse more children.
"He has taken advantage of so many people that the numbers are staggering," one said.
Oakley's attorney took exception to the claims of alleged victims not proven in court.
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5. Springville man to serve five years to life for sexual assault
A Springville man was sentenced Dec. 15 to serve a minimum of five years, with the possibility of a life term in the Utah State Prison.
Arvid Oakley, 55, was convicted on Sept. 25, in the Utah Fourth District Court by an eight-member jury for the aggravated sexual assault of a child.
The crux of the jury's decision rested on the video testimony of the 4-year-old victim that was recorded shortly after the she was assaulted, said a member of the jury Ronald Guymon, a Sophomore accounting major from Provo.
The prosecution, Utah County Attorney, and Oakley's Defense brought forth several witnesses during the sentence hearing.
One of the witnesses for the prosecution was an alleged victim of Oakley's. The witness claimed she had been assaulted as a child by Oakley nearly 35 years ago in Uruguay, according to the prosecution. Oakley had been serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the time.
Oakley's case originally had come before the courts in May, 1998. Because of a mistrial, the case was postponed until September. Because of several difficulties, Oakley's sentencing did not occur until mid-December.
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6. 2nd jury is hearing evidence in abuse trial
A second jury is hearing evidence against a Springville man accused of sexually abusing a child.
This time there are two alternate jurors who can serve if something goes wrong. A mistrial was declared during Arvid Oakley's first trial in May after the judge learned some jurors had discussed the trial over lunch despite his admonishments.Fourth District Judge Anthony Schofield said that while it's not his normal practice to select alternates for what is expected to be a short-term trial, in this case he wants to be prepared for whatever might happen.
Oakley, 54, the founder of the nonprofit Superkids of America organization, is accused of sexually abusing a 4-year-old girl who lived a couple of blocks from his home and who frequently visited his home along with other children in the neighborhood.
The girl, now nearly 6 years old, was scheduled to testify Thursday but refused and hid behind her mother instead. Friday, the girl pointed out Oakley while sitting on her mother's lap. But she basically said nothing in her testimony.
Oakley's attorney challenged the girl's competency to testify. The judge, however, did not agree.
"She is a whole lot more scared today. She was articulate in the last trial. I don't think we can say she's not competent," Schofield said.
Oakley has pleaded not guilty to the charge - aggravated sexual abuse, a first degree felony. His attorneys say he is "a serious humanitarian" who is alone and thus an easy target for accusation. If convicted, he faces as much as five years to life in prison.
Witnesses for the prosecution said Oakley encouraged children to spend time at his home. He provided a wide variety of toys and activities and frequently set up parties and sleepovers for them.
Former neighbor Amanda Cragun said she allowed her sons and her daughter to go to Oakley's home until it became apparent something was not right.
View CommentsCragun said her daughter came home in different pajamas and with wet hair after having a bath at Oakley's house. She said when the sleepovers occurred, the boys were in the garage and shed while the girls were in the home.
She said her daughter, the alleged victim and a cousin, all started exhibiting sexually charged behavior after spending time at Oakley's house.
Jamus Johnson, one of the attorneys for Oakley, said Oakley is a Vietnam veteran who simply wanted to make a difference, so he started the Superkids club.
Johnson questioned social worker Barbara Bair's videotaped interview with the alleged victim, suggesting that children are easily led. In the videotape, played for the jury, the girl said Oakley touched her inappropriately.
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7. Day-care operator goes on trial
A 4th District jury will decide this week whether a Springville man was running a legitimate day-care club or if he was using the organization as front to sexually abuse children.
Testimony began Monday in the trial of Arvid Oakley, 54, former operator of Superkids of America. Oakley is charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony. Utah County prosecutors allege that Oakley abused a 5-year-old girl while she bathed at his home. The incident allegedly occurred between December 1996 and April 1997. Oakley pleaded not guilty in April.
Prosecutors are expected to present a videotaped interview the young girl had with a state social worker where she says Oakley touched her "private parts" while bathing her. The tape was used during Oakley's preliminary hearing, and the victim took the witness stand and identified Oakley.
Oakley incorporated Superkids of America in 1995. Investigators say children participating in the organization went on overnight camping trips with Oakley and sometimes stayed overnight at his Springville home.
Investigators say Oakley inspected some naked children in a room in his house that he called "the tick room." They also allege that he photographed some children during the inspections.
Detectives testified at Oakley's preliminary hearing that Oakley said the examinations were part of his training to become a paramedic.
In opening arguments Monday, prosecutors said they plan to show that Oakley has a sexual preference for children and has had these feelings since his teen years. The prosecution also plans on recounting interviews Oakley had on three separate occasions with Springville officers about his sexual preference for young girls and calling himself "an opportunist."
Prosecutors say Oakley used toys, games and other programs of Superkids of America to gain the trust of children.
Oakley's attorney plans to show that Oakley is a selfless man who wanted to help children and families through his non-profit club.
The trial is expected to last through Thursday. If convicted, Oakley faces a possible sentence of five years to life in prison.
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8. Taped interview OK'd in abuse case
A judge ruled Wednesday that Utah County prosecutors can use as evidence a videotaped interview between a state social worker and a young child in the preliminary hearing of a Springville day-camp operator charged with sexual abuse.
Arvid Oakley, 53, was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday in 4th District Court on a charge of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony.Instead, Oakley's attorneys used the hearing to try to suppress the videotape, claiming it is unreliable. On the tape, a young child tells a Division of Family Services investigator about allegedly being fondled by Oakley.
Judge Guy R. Burningham found no evidence supporting Oakley's argument. The state investigator testified the tape was accurate and that she operated the recording equipment. Burningham rescheduled the preliminary hearing for Oct. 29. Oakley remains free on $5,000 bail.
According to court documents, Oakley started a free day-care program in 1991 called Superkids of America. The former elementary teacher in the Uintah School District provided day care in his home, and took participants on daylong activities and overnight camping trips. The organization was incorporated in 1995.
The charge Oakley faces involves a 5-year-old girl who allegedly told officials at Primary Children's Medical Center that Oakley touched her private parts and told her not to tell anyone. The child, who participated in Superkids, later told the story to state investigators.
Investigators from Utah County and Springville allege that Oakley used the day-camp program, toys and gifts to build relationships with young children. After gaining their trust, he fondled and photographed them clothed and naked.
According to court documents, other participants in Superkids told investigators that Oakley examined young girls with their clothes off and bathed them at his home. While the girls were naked, he would allegedly examine them for pinworms and ticks in a camper or a room at his home called "the tick room."
Oakley told investigators that the examinations were part of training to become a paramedic. He also told investigators that the worm and tick examinations were done with parental permission. He denied the allegations and said Superkids was established for the welfare of children.
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9. Arvid Mark Oakley
Name: Arvid OAKLEY Registration #: 685
Aliases: Arvid Mark OAKLEY
Status: IncarceratedPhysical Description
• Age: 82 (DOB: 11/05/1943) • Height: 5'11''
• Sex: M • Weight: 145lbs
• Race: White • Eyes: Hazel
• Hair: Gray
• Scars/Tattoos:Address
[REDACTED] Salt Lake City, UT 84116
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Other Known Addresses
Offenses
• Description: 76-5-404.1 - AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD/1ST DEGREE FELONY
• Date Convicted: 12/15/1998
• Conviction State: Utah
• Release Date: 05/15/2012
• Details:
• Counts: 1
Documents
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