8 LDS sex abuse cases found
Alleged church action: Church officials allegedly did not discipline the accused
- Church action: No church discipline
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- George Aaron (1941 – ) was a former Mormon bishop in a college ward in Provo, Utah; allegedly sexually abused two teenage girls in the 1980s and early 1990s; no criminal charges; in 2001, a jury found him liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of fiduciary duty, and reckless disregard toward the younger plaintiff; was ordered to pay $25,000 in punitive damages; the church was not a defendant
Alleged crime: 1980s, 1990s, 
Alleged crime city:
UT - Provo, - Alleged crime county:
UT - Utah,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
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LDS positions: Bishop, - Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil case(s): Judgment for plaintiff,
- Alleged failure to report
- View report »
Alleged crime city:
Alleged crime county:
Alleged crime state:
Aaron's standing in the church reportedly didn't change despite his loss in court
"I was sitting in a room, full of women, who had been sexually abused by a family member — most of them [saying], 'My father abused me. I told the bishop. Nothing happened.' I just knew that wasn't going to be my story. I wasn’t going to allow that to be my story."
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- 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 crime: 1990s,
- Alleged crime city:
ID - Cub River, UT - Benson,
- Alleged crime state:
Idaho, Utah,
LDS positions: Bishop, 
Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, 
Alleged 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."
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- Arlin Hatch was a Mormon church member in Riverside, California; accused of sexual abuse in a 2025 lawsuit against the Mormon church; dismissed without prejudice
- LDS positions: Missionary,
- Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil case(s): Dismissed, Dismissed without prejudice, Lawsuit v. LDS church,
- Alleged failure to report
- View report »
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- Paul Mayer (1975 – ) was a former Mormon bishop in Sandy, Utah; accused of recording a 16-year-old in a bedroom and bathroom on a GoPro; charged with 19 counts related to sexual abuse of a minor; pled guilty to aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and voyeurism; sentenced in 2025 to 1-15 years in prison and 0-364 days in jail
Crime: 2020s, - Crime city:
Sandy, Utah,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2025, LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, -
- Jeffery Niemi (1985 – ) was a Mormon church member in Duluth, Minnesota; convicted in 2016 and again in 2025 of felonies related to child sexual exploitation; sentenced in 2025 to 30 years in prison
- Crime: 2020s,
- Crime state:
Minnesota,
Convicted:
2016, 2025, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, -
- Jason Pedersen (1979 – ) was an LDS church member in Heber City, Utah; convicted guilty of first-degree felony attempted aggravated sex abuse of a child; as of April 2024, lives in Riverton, Utah as a registered sex offender and is an LDS elders quorum president
- LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Elders quorum, Missionary, Scout leader, Ward clerk,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Registered sex offender, Released,
- View report »
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- Jason Smith (1970 – ) was an LDS church member in Indiana; in 2019, confessed to sexually abusing a child; pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 2021 to 728 days of probation for battery against a child under 14 years old
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Indiana,
Convicted:
2021, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Convicted, Probation, -
- Sterling Van Wagenen (1947 – ) was a co-founder of Sundance Film Festival and director of some Mormon temple endowment videos; publicly accused of sexual abuse of two children in two separate instances; sentenced to prison in 2019 for child sexual abuse
- Crime: 1990s, 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2019, LDS positions: BYU, Stake high council, Sunday school, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Alleged failure to reportFilters
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