34 LDS sex abuse cases found
Alleged church action: A ward official was accused of failure to report allegations to civil authorities
- Church action: Ward official accused of failure to report
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- Paul Adams (1982 – 2017) was an LDS church member in Arizona; sexually abused two children for several years after confessing to his bishop; arrested and charged; died by suicide in 2017 while in custody awaiting trial; as of October 2025, a lawsuit against the church is ongoing
Alleged crime: 2010s, 
Alleged crime state:
Arizona,
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LDS positions: Not active LDS, Unknown position, - Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Died awaiting trial, Not convicted, Suicide,
- Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Alleged failure to report
Alleged church actions: Church officials accused of failure to warn ward members, Excommunicated, Ward official accused of failure to report, - View report »
Alleged crime state:
2025: Arizona Court of Appeals reinstated a lawsuit v. the Mormon church
"They said, 'You absolutely can do nothing.'
"
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- Nicholas Alahverdian (1987 – ) was an LDS church member in Rhode Island and Orem, Utah; allegedly sexually assaulted a 19-year-old woman in Rhode Island in 2006; she told Floodlit in 2025 that she reported to Mormon officials, and that two missionaries overheard; Alahverdian was convicted in two rape trials in 2025
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime state:
Rhode Island, Utah,
Convicted:
2008, 2025, 
LDS positions: Not active LDS, 
Criminal case(s): Convicted, Found guilty, Prison, 
Alleged failure to report
Alleged church actions: Ward official accused of failure to report, "The guilt is heavy because [...] I may have been one of the first of his victims, if not the first. [...] He is a monster. It sickens me that not only did everyone turn a blind eye, but he went on to become a member at other LDS churches when the whole point of alerting the church was to excommunicate him and that hadn't been done."
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- Michael Antrobus (1947 – 2023) was a former Mormon branch president (similar to a bishop) and bishop in Connersville, Indiana for 10 years (approximately 1974-84); convicted of child sexual abuse charges (9 counts, 6 victims) in Sacramento County, California in 2021-2022; sentenced to 8 years in San Quentin State Prison; died by suicide in prison in September 2023; allegedly had at least a dozen victims
- Convicted:
2021, 2022,
- LDS positions: Bishop, Branch president, Missionary,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty,
- Alleged failure to report
- Alleged church actions: Excommunicated, Stake official accused of failure to report, Ward official accused of failure to report,
- View report »
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- Bishop Baldwin was a Mormon bishop in Pittsburg, California in 1989; in 2024, accused in a civil lawsuit of child sexual abuse that allegedly lasted from 1989 to 1997, when the victim was 5 to 13 years old; the suit was one of 91 or more coordinated civil suits filed in California in 2024 against the Mormon church
- Alleged crime: 1980s, 1990s,
- Alleged crime state:
California,
LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Ward official accused of failure to report, -
- Craig Capron (1965 – ) was a podiatrist; Mormon branch president in Macy, Nebraska (1999-2002), then a stake/ward executive secretary in Wyoming; allegedly sexually abused at least five children over a span of 20-plus years, despite LDS officials allegedly knowing of the first victim and prohibiting Capron from teaching kids; convicted in 2024 in Wyoming; sentenced to six to 12 years in prison; convicted again in 2025
- Convicted:
2024,
- LDS positions: Branch president, Other leader, Ward executive secretary,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender,
- Alleged church actions: Church officials accused of failure to warn ward members, Released from church position, Ward official accused of failure to report, Ward officials restricted accused from working with children,
- View report »
Mormon officials allegedly assigned Capron to leadership positions despite forbidding him from teaching children - more than 20 years prior to his conviction
"I just want what's best for you."
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- Niles Carr was a Mormon missionary in Ireland in the late 1980s, originally from California; convicted of child sexual abuse charges; Mormon leaders allegedly assigned Carr to work with Boy Scouts after knowing he was sent home from his mission due to child sex abuse allegations
- Crime: 1980s,
- Crime state:
California,
- Crime country:
Ireland,
Crime country:
LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Ward official accused of failure to report, -
- Wade Christofferson (1953 – ) was accused, per Floodlit's sources, of sexually abusing up to 12 children in Illinois, Ohio and Utah between 1985-2025, including while in bishopric; excommunicated in 1996 for child sexual abuse; rebaptized in 1997, was bishopric counselor 2006-11, 2016-19; charged in 2025 with child sexual abuse (alleged between 2016-25); his brother, apostle Todd Christofferson, knew by around 2020 of abuse
- Alleged crime: 1980s, 1990s, 2010s, 2020s,
- Alleged crime state:
Illinois, Ohio, Utah,
LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Missionary, Sunday school, Ward clerk, Criminal case(s): Not convicted, Ongoing, Police investigation, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Church officials accused of failure to warn ward members, Church position after excommunication, Excommunicated, High-level official accused of failure to report, Rebaptized, Ward official accused of failure to report, "I am deeply sorry for what I have done and will be meeting with my bishop to start the repentance process." - Wade Christofferson, Nov. 6, 2025 text message to the father of a girl Wade allegedly sexually abused
"The Church strongly condemns and does not tolerate abuse and honors the courage and respects the rights of survivors. Regarding the history of Wade Christofferson: President D. Todd Christofferson was never in a position to know about and, in fact, did not know about or influence the ecclesiastical decisions regarding his brother’s membership. While he and other family members were told of Wade’s... excommunication, he was not informed of the specific reasons and had no reason to suspect it was for abuse. It was not until around 2020 that President Christofferson first learned of — through family disclosure — some of his brother’s history of abuse from thirty years earlier; he respected the adult victims’ wishes not to involve law enforcement at that time. However, upon learning of a recent allegation involving a minor, President Christofferson immediately reported it to legal authorities."
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- Francis Cochran (1921 – 2005) was a Mormon high priest in the Seattle 6th Ward in Seattle, Washington in the 1980s; convicted twice in the 1980s of crimes related to sexual abuse of multiple children; allegedly assaulted multiple young girls on LDS property, including during church meetings; a 2025 lawsuit (Floodlit broke the story) said stake president Paul Diehl & multiple ward bishops covered up allegations against Cochran
- Crime: 1980s,
- Crime state:
Washington,
Convicted:
1987, 1988, LDS positions: High priest, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Church officials accused of failure to warn ward members, Excommunicated, Ward official accused of failure to report, Stake president and two LDS bishops allegedly covered up abuse allegations
"Despite numerous red flags, Defendants continued to give High Priest Cochran access to minor church members. Defendants allowed High Priest Cochran to continue to attend and volunteer at church events, including those attended by minors. Defendants also allowed High Priest Cochran to continue to transport young girls, including vulnerable refugee girls, to and from church events."
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- Buckland Darrell (1979 – ) was a former LDS Primary teacher in Redmond, Washington; accused of molesting young boys in sacrament meeting and at their homes; charged with first-degree felony child molestation in 2022-23 (5 victims); admitted to sexually abusing around 6 to 8 boys; pleaded guilty; sentenced in 2024 to at least 8 years in prison; faced two additional counts in March 2025 after two more victims came forward
- Crime: 2010s, 2020s,
- Crime state:
Washington,
Convicted:
2024, LDS positions: Primary, Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Ward official accused of failure to report, Ward official accused of pressuring victim not to seek accountability, -
- Randall Deaton (1959 – ) was an LDS church member in the Holmes Lake Ward, Lincoln Nebraska Stake; convicted in 2002 of attempted 1st degree sexual assault of a minor; the abuse took place before Deaton joined the LDS church; subsequently called as counselor in a YSA ward bishopric
- Crime: 1990s, 2000s,
- Crime state:
Nebraska,
Convicted:
2002, LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Registered sex offender, Unknown result, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Church officials accused of failure to warn ward members, Ward official accused of failure to report, Convicted:
2012, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Excommunicated, Ward official accused of failure to report, -
- John Doe was a Mormon missionary in Ireland; accused of sexual abuse
- LDS positions: Missionary,
- Criminal case(s): Unknown result,
- Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result,
- Alleged failure to report
- Alleged church actions: Ward official accused of failure to report, Ward official accused of pressuring victim not to seek accountability,
- View report »
LDS positions: Other leader, Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Excommunicated, Ward official accused of failure to report, -
- Todd Edwards (1964 – ) was a Mormon bishop in Menifee, Riverside County, California; in 2013, sentenced to three years in prison for sexual abuse of one teenage girl in 2006 and another in 2012; was bishop at the time of the 2012 abuse; in 2024, two victims sued the LDS church in separate lawsuits; one said a stake president and LDS law firm Kirton McConkie hindered police
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s,
- Crime state:
California,
Convicted:
2013, LDS positions: Bishop, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Church officials accused of failure to warn ward members, Counseling/therapy for victim, Ward official accused of failure to report, -
- David Gomez (1946 – ) was an LDS bishop in West Valley City, Utah in the late 1980s and early 1990s; allegedly raped, sodomized and fondled several boys he met as their bishop; charged in 2004 with six felonies; charges were dropped in 2005 due to statutes of limitations issues; church officials excommunicated Gomez, but allegedly failed to report to civil authorities for six or seven months
- Alleged crime: 1980s, 1990s,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor, Scout leader, Criminal case(s): Charges dropped, Expunged, Not convicted, Police investigation, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Excommunicated, Stake official accused of failure to report, Ward official accused of failure to report, Ward officials restricted accused from working with children, Despite excommunicating Gomez, church officials did not tell police of the alleged abuse for six or seven months until his 2004 arrest
"We'd like to keep this low key."
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- Gene Guinn (1932 – 2008) was an LDS church member in the Dallas Seventh Ward, Texas; in 2000, found guilty by a jury of indecency with a child and sentenced to 68 years in prison; the victim was 10 years old at the time of the crime; Mormon officials allegedly knew about the abuse but failed to report to police
- Crime: 1990s,
- Crime state:
Texas,
Convicted:
2000, LDS positions: High priest, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Found guilty, Jury trial, Prison, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Excommunicated, Ward official accused of failure to report, Ward official accused of pressuring victim not to seek accountability, -
- Russell Harbin (1974 – ) was a Mormon church member in Polson, Montana; convicted of sexual intercourse without consent with an 11-year-old child; the alleged abuse lasted from 2022 to 2024; he allegedly was assigned to be a Primary teacher sometime after the abuse began; sentenced in 2025 to 40 years in prison; the judge suspended 20 years of the 40-year term
- Crime: 2020s,
- Crime state:
Montana,
Convicted:
2025, LDS positions: Primary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Ward official accused of failure to report, -
- William Harding (1940 – ) was a Mormon branch president, elders quorum president and ward clerk in Tasmania and Queensland, Australia; charged in or before 2023 with multiple counts of sexual assault of a minor in two states in Australia; allegedly had as many as 40 victims; in 2024, pleaded guilty to reduced charges and was sentenced to 9 months in jail in Brisbane; in 2025, faced new charges in Tasmania
- Crime: 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s,
- Crime country:
Australia,
LDS positions: Branch president, Ward clerk, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Ongoing, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Church officials accused of failure to warn ward members, Church position after conviction, Excommunicated, Rebaptized, Released from church position, Ward official accused of failure to report, -
- 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
- Alleged church actions: No church discipline, Ward official accused of failure to report, Ward official accused of pressuring victim not to seek accountability,
- View report »
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- Craig Hill (1972 – ) was an LDS church member in Ogden, Utah; convicted of sexual abuse in 1990;
- Convicted:
1990,
- LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Youth leader,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, guilty, pled guilty,
- Alleged failure to report
- Alleged church actions: Ward official accused of failure to report,
- View report »
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- Douglas Holyoak (1960 – ) was a Mormon bishop in Sycamore, Illinois from about 1999 to 2004; accused in a 2024 civil lawsuit of sexual assault of an underage girl in his office at church when she reported sexual harassment by other youth; allegedly covered up the assault with the help of a stake presidency counselor (Michael John Evans)
- Alleged crime: 2000s,
- Alleged crime state:
Illinois,
LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Stake official accused of discouraging victim or others from reporting, Ward official accused of discouraging victim or others from reporting, Ward official accused of failure to report, -
- Jesus Hurtado (1953 – ) was a Mormon church member in Utah; accused of sexual abuse
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
1994, LDS positions: Sunday school, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Civil case(s): Settlement, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Church members wrote letters of support, Ward official accused of failure to report, per a 2016 lawsuit, a victim told two bishops, who did not alert police; she said one told her to repent and the other said he would no longer allow Hurtado to be her Sunday school teacher
"Nobody did anything. Nobody called the police."
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- Christopher Jensen (1991 – ) was a Mormon church member in Utah and West Virginia; sentenced to 35 to 75 years in prison for sexually abusing two children; local LDS church coverup alleged; LDS church settled civil lawsuit mid-trial in 2018 for $32 million, also spending over $27 million on legal fees; FLOODLIT.org discovered the settlement details in 2025 and made them public for the first time
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah, West Virginia,
Convicted:
2013, LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Found guilty, Jury trial, Prison, Registered sex offender, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement, Alleged failure to reportChurch paid $32,000,000Alleged church actions: Church officials accused of failure to warn stake members, Church officials accused of failure to warn ward members, Excommunicated, Stake official accused of pressuring victim not to seek accountability, Ward official accused of failure to report, Ward official accused of pressuring victim not to seek accountability, -
- Melvin Johnson (1936 – ) was a Mormon seminary teacher and Brigham Young University (BYU) religion professor; accused by multiple victims of sexually abusing them when they were children; excommunicated and rebaptized; reportedly confessed to sexual abuse, but was not criminally charged; two victims filed lawsuits against him; one named the Mormon church as a defendant; it settled out of court
- Alleged crime: 1960s, 1970s,
- Alleged crime state:
California, Utah,
LDS positions: BYU, Church employee, Other leader, Seminary teacher, Stake high council, Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Never charged, Not convicted, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement, Unknown result, Alleged failure to reportChurch paid $unknownAlleged church actions: Church officials accused of failure to warn ward members, Excommunicated, Officials allegedly gave the accused a church duty after admission of wrongdoing, Rebaptized, Ward official accused of failure to report, excommunicated, rebaptized with a church record flagging him as a sex offender; top Mormon officials later removed the annotation
"We didn't choose this. It happened to us. It wasn't our choice. But we're damn sure going to do something about it."
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- Craig Mathias (1960 – ) was a Mormon scout leader in Santa Clarita, California; was in the Northridge 1st Ward until 1983; convicted in 1987 of sexually molesting five boy scouts at his home; the alleged abuse involved up to 11 scouts; reportedly urged one victim on a recorded phone call not to tell police about the abuse; sentenced to six years in prison; released in 1990; registered sex offender (2025)
- Crime: 1980s,
- Crime state:
California,
Convicted:
1987, LDS positions: Missionary, Scout leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Registered sex offender, Released, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Unknown church action, Ward official accused of discouraging victim or others from reporting, Ward official accused of failure to report, Ward official accused of pressuring victim not to seek accountability, Ward official accused of saying victim was responsible, -
- Jeffrey Rock (1955 – ) was a former Mormon branch president and U.S. State Department employee; lived in California, Utah, Fiji and Thailand; pleaded guilty in 2025 to three charges of sexual battery; sentenced in February 2026 in Utah to 18 months in jail; the Mormon church knew about alleged child sex abuse but failed multiple times over years to alert civil authorities, according to Rock’s relatives
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime state:
California, Utah,
- Crime country:
Thailand,
Convicted:
2025, LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Branch president, Elders quorum, Nursery, Primary, Scout leader, Stake high council, temple liaison, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Convicted, Jail, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Church officials accused of allowing interaction with children after notice of wrongdoing, Counseling/therapy for victim, Disfellowshipped, High-level official accused of failure to report, Officials allegedly gave the accused a church duty after admission of wrongdoing, Ward official accused of failure to report, Mormon officials were accused of failure to report Rock’s sexual abuse of children
"Myself, my mom and my sister reached out to the LDS Church for help. He lied to them. They protected him with misguided mercy."
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- Thomas Schofield (1955 – ) was a Mormon bishop in Elk Grove, Sacramento County, California; accused in a 2024 civil lawsuit of sexually abusing a 16-year-old child in 2004-05 while he was a Mormon Bishop; some of the alleged abuse took place in the Salt Lake City and Oakland LDS temples and the bishop's office at church
- Alleged crime: 2000s,
- Alleged crime state:
California, Utah,
LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Ward official accused of failure to report, -
- Joseph Smith (1805 – 1844) was the founder of the LDS church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon church); was publicly accused during his life (1805-1844) of sexual misconduct, including adultery and illegal polygamy; in May 1844, a Hancock County, Illinois grand jury indicted Smith for perjury, fornication and polygamy; died in June 1844
- Alleged crime: 1830s, 1840s,
- Alleged crime state:
Illinois, Missouri, Ohio,
LDS positions: Apostle, Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Ward official accused of failure to report, -
- Murray Stubbs (1965 – ) was a Mormon church member in Canberra ACT Australia; accused of grooming a child using the internet because of sexually explicit texts; was found guilty in 2010 of using the internet in an offensive way
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime country:
Australia,
Convicted:
2010, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Found guilty, Hung jury, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Ward official accused of failure to report, -
- Robert Tubbs (1951 – ) was an LDS scout leader in Slaterville, Weber County, Utah; admitted he told a Mormon bishop in the early 1970s he had molested multiple boys; Tubbs said the bishop kept the abuse secret; nearly 20 years passed and Tubbs molested others; in the 1990s, Tubbs pleaded guilty to child sexual abuse charges; sentenced to six years to life in prison; paroled in 2000; violated parole; released in 2008
- Crime: 1990s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Missionary, Scout leader, Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Convicted, Parole, Prison, Registered sex offender, Released, Violated parole/probation, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Ward official accused of failure to report, -
- Jared Wilson (1976 – ) was an LDS church member in Raleigh, North Carolina; convicted in 2011 of crimes related to child sexual abuse (six total counts of indecent liberties with a child); released from prison in 2015; no longer a registered sex offender as of 2025; in 2013, the alleged victims' mother sued the Mormon church, a stake president and two bishops; the case settled in 2015
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s,
- Crime state:
North Carolina,
Convicted:
2011, LDS positions: ever-ward-missionary, Music leader, Sunday school, Sunday school teacher, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement, Unknown result, Alleged failure to reportChurch paid $unknownAlleged church actions: Church officials accused of failure to warn stake members, Stake official accused of failure to report, Stake official accused of pressuring victim not to seek accountability, Ward official accused of failure to report, -
- Gary Woolstenhulme (1933 – 2002) was a Mormon bishop in Imperial Beach, California in 1978; died in 2002; in 2024, accused in a civil lawsuit of child sexual abuse; the suit was one of 91 or more coordinated civil suits filed in California in 2024 against the Mormon church (plaintiff John Roe JB 65 - San Diego 24CU008107, CASD 3:24-cv-02349-AJB-MSB); allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy in his office at church
- Alleged crime: 1970s,
- Alleged crime state:
California,
LDS positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor, Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Ward official accused of failure to report, -
- Brigham Young (1801 – 1877) was the second president of the Mormon church; married 56 women, including a 15-year-old and three 16-year-olds; was publicly accused during his life (1801-1877) of sexual misconduct, including adultery and illegal polygamy; never charged with a sex crime; arrested and charged with adultery in 1871; not convicted
- Alleged crime: 1840s,
- Alleged crime state:
Illinois, Utah,
LDS positions: Apostle, Missionary, Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Ward official accused of failure to report, -
- Karey Zimmerman (1962 – ) was a Mormon church member in Utah and Nevada; in 2025, was accused in a civil lawsuit of child sexual abuse that allegedly took place in Nevada and Utah; the Mormon church was also named as a defendant; the lawsuit said a Utah bishop failed to report abuse allegations to police
- Alleged crime: 2000s, 2010s,
- Alleged crime state:
Nevada, Utah,
LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Alleged failure to reportAlleged church actions: Ward official accused of failure to report, Filters
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