Court docs: In the 1980s, Alan Bassett confessed child sexual abuse to his Mormon bishop, who told the stake president, who called Kirton McConkie “about what ought to be done.” Several parents + a victim said they met w/ bishop; he denied meeting them. Bassett, charged in 2024, could now walk free.
Details: https://floodlit.org/a/a780/
Floodlit purchased hearing transcripts in this case (Utah #241700988).
Key facts:
- In the 1980s, air traffic controller Alan Bassett of Fruit Heights, Utah, confessed child sexual abuse to his Mormon bishop, Dean Wade, who told his stake president, Larry Whiting, who called church law firm Kirton McConkie “about what ought to be done.” The church didn’t establish its telephone “help line” for officials until 1995. What instructions did it give them before then?
- Bassett was charged in 2024, but could now walk free, after a July 11, 2025 hearing, if Utah judge Jennifer Valencia honors a 1989 non-prosecution agreement Bassett says he made through his lawyer, Robert Faust, an apostle’s son who is now a judge.
- Read more: https://www.ksl.com/article/51344819/defense-seeks-dismissal-of-decades-old-fruit-heights-sex-abuse-case
- Download the motion to dismiss, including the 1989 agreement: https://floodlit.org/bassett-2024-motion-dismiss/
- Several parents and a victim said they met with Bishop Wade about Bassett’s abuse. In court, Wade denied meeting with them.
- Bishop Wade testified “there were a number of meetings that had extended from the time [Bassett] first came in [in 1977] until he moved out of the ward [in 1988 or 1989]” where the two discussed Bassett’s sexual abuse of children.
- Wade said, “That was something that was, right off the top, I told [Bassett] that if this ever — I would — I would abide by the — the priest penitent. But if I ever heard that anything was made aware of any, to me, I would be going immediately to the police. He understood that. I told him I wouldn’t even call him. I would simply call the police.”
- After Bassett confessed to Wade that he had sexually assaulted a child in the ward, Wade said he went to the stake president (Larry Whiting) to determine “what we ought to do.”
- President Whiting “happened to work for the church,” Wade said. “And so he was able to contact Kirton McConkie, which is the church legal department.”
- When asked whether President Whiting “escalate[d] the issue,” Wade answered, “Only to — to talk to Kirton McConkie about what ought to be done.”
- In approximately 1989, a victim said, she met privately with Bishop Wade when she was about 10 years old and told him Bassett had sexually abused her on multiple occasions.
- In court, Wade said, “If I ever heard anything from anybody about this at all, even the slightest thing, I would personally go to the police.” The prosecuting attorney said, “And you never did go to the police, right?” Wade answered, “No.”
- A mother and father of three victims met with Bishop Wade, according to their mother’s testimony. As they entered Wade’s office, Wade had his arm around Bassett and stated, “Alan’s been involved with some kids here in the ward,” she testified. No further details about the abuse were disclosed, leaving the parents without clarity.
- After returning home, the mother asked one of her daughters about the abuse. The girl said, “Why didn’t they call us in? Why didn’t they call the kids in?” and went out of the house crying and ran down the street. Under oath, Wade denied the meeting ever took place.
- In 2024, Bassett admitted to investigators to sexually abusing so many girls he couldn’t remember them all.
- Floodlit has received information from multiple people who knew Bassett. In all, they’ve told us, there may be over 80 victims.
- In court, a survivor said, “He needs to go to prison. He needs to pay for what he’s done. I’m living in my own prison. All these victims that have been victimized, have been living in their own prison.”
If you ever knew Bassett or lived in Fruit Heights in the 1980s, please contact us: https://floodlit.org/contact/
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