2 LDS sex abuse cases found
Alleged church action: Church members wrote letters of support for the accused to a court of law or to church officials. (While it is common for family members of accused individuals to write letters of support to courts prior to criminal sentencing, we try to make note of instances where church members' support was noted by a judge or a church official, or where praise for the accused's history of church participation was a significant element of their support.)
- Church action: Church members wrote letters of support
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- Timothy Bothell (1969 – ) was a LDS church employee and stake high council member in Utah; pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 2013 to two years in jail for sexual abuse of two girls, ages 11 and 13
- View report »
Crime: 2010s, 
Crime state:
Utah,
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- Convicted:
2013,
LDS positions: Church employee, Stake high council, 
Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, - Alleged failure to report
Crime state:
-
- 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
- View report »
- Crime: 1990s, 2000s,
- Crime county:
WA - King,
- Crime state:
Washington,
one boy estimated that Herget abused him 1,400 times
Crime county:
Convicted:
1993, 
LDS positions: High priest, Seminary teacher, 
Criminal case(s): Convicted, Died awaiting trial, Jail, Prison, Registered sex offender, Suicide, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, 
Alleged failure to report"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."
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