4 LDS sex abuse cases found

Alleged church action: Church officials accused of allowing the accused to interact with children after receiving notice of wrongdoing
  • Church action: Church officials accused of allowing interaction with children after notice of wrongdoing
    • Lynn Egley (1964 – ) was a former Mormon bishop in Benson, Cache County, Utah; accused of sexual abuse in 2018; the alleged abuse took place in the 1990s
    • Alleged crimeAlleged crime: 1990s,
    • Alleged crime scenesAlleged crime city: ID - Cub River, UT - Benson,
    • Alleged crime scenesAlleged crime state: Idaho, Utah,
    • Church positionsLDS positions: Bishop,
    • Criminal casesCriminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted,
    • Alleged failure to reportAlleged failure to report
    • "My [stake president] informed me that “Salt Lake” had called and asked him if there was a need for a disciplinary council for my wife and I because of our public opposition to the brethren. He told them no and that instead they should drive up to Idaho and apologize to us." -Alleged victim, Reddit 2019
      "The brethren are aware of the issue and it has been handled properly despite what [victim] and [victim's wife] have stated."
      — Alleged response by stake leaders as instructed by Area Authority Presidency Member and Stake President
    • View report »
    • Larry Harmon (1932 – 2012) was a Mormon in Utah; sentenced to jail and probation in 2005 for aggravated sex abuse of a child; charged in 2012 with first-degree felony aggravated sex abuse of a child; according to police, Harmon was allowed to be around children at an LDS ward Christmas party (where the alleged abuse took place in 2011) despite being a registered sex offender; died in 2012, so the charge was dismissed
    • CrimeCrime: 2000s, 2010s,
    • Alleged crime scenesCrime city: UT - Orem,
    • Alleged crime scenesCrime county: UT - Utah,
    • Alleged crime scenesCrime state: Utah,
    • ConvictedConvicted: 2005,
    • Church positionsLDS positions: Missionary, Senior missionary, Temple worker,
    • Criminal casesCriminal case(s): Convicted, Died awaiting trial, Jail, Probation, Registered sex offender,
    • According to police, Harmon was allowed to be around children at an LDS ward Christmas party despite being a registered sex offender
      "[T]he defendant was at his LDS Church building in Orem assisting members of the ward in setting up for a Christmas party. He located the 12-year-old female victim alone in the kitchen of the church."
      — 2012 police probable cause statement
    • View report »
    • David Herget (1943 – 2005) was a Mormon high priest in Washington; convicted of child rape and child molestation in 1993; sentenced to 180 days in jail and was a registered sex offender; arrested in 2005, died by suicide in jail the next day; detectives identified at least seven victims; one child estimated that Herget abused him 1,400 times; in a 2025 lawsuit against the church, four plaintiffs said officials failed them
    • CrimeCrime: 1990s, 2000s,
    • Alleged crime scenesCrime county: WA - King,
    • Alleged crime scenesCrime state: Washington,
    • ConvictedConvicted: 1993,
    • Church positionsLDS positions: High priest, Seminary teacher, Ward Santa Claus,
    • Criminal casesCriminal case(s): Convicted, Died awaiting trial, Jail, Prison, Registered sex offender, Suicide,
    • Civil casesCivil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
    • Alleged failure to reportAlleged failure to report
    • one boy estimated that Herget abused him 1,400 times
      "This isn't a case of ignorance, it's a case of betrayal. The church knew exactly who this man was and what he had done. Nonetheless, they gave a convicted predator a position of trust and authority, which allowed him to exercise power over young boys. These kids deserved safety. Instead, they were left vulnerable to unimaginable harm."
      — Alexandra Walsh, partner, Anapol Weiss law firm
    • View report »
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