Crime Scene: LDS building

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72 Mormon sexual abuse cases found

Crime scene: LDS building

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Michael Adamson
- was a church caretaker and organist in York, England; abused at least four children as young as seven years old; convicted; sentenced to prison in England in 2008 for child sexual abuse.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Other leader,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
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.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Bishop,
- Alleged crime: 1980s, 1990s, in California,
- Crime scenes: Bishop's office, LDS activity, LDS building, Recreational trip/outing,
George Barnett
- was a Mormon church member in Cerritos, California; accused in a 2025 lawsuit against the Mormon church of sexually abusing a child as part of a sex trafficking ring, and of covering up the abuse; the plaintiff said she was abused over 200 times at the Cerritos LDS stake center from 1979 to 1983.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Alleged crime: 1970s, 1980s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building,
Joseph Bishop
- was a Mormon church member and president of the Provo, Utah Missionary Training Center (MTC) in the 1980s; allegedly sexually abused multiple sister missionaries; not criminally charged because the statute of limitations had expired (in 1984, the legal deadline in Utah for filing a rape charge was four years); civil lawsuit was dismissed after an agreement by the plaintiff and the LDS church.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Police investigation,
- Civil: Dismissed, Dismissed with prejudice, Lawsuit v. LDS church,
- Positions: Mission president, Missionary, Other leader,
- Alleged crime: 1970s, 1980s, in Utah,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Nelson Bogero
- was an LDS church member and Primary children's teacher in Cordoba, Argentina; accused in 2017 of sexual abuse of two girls who were in his Primary class; a local LDS leader allegedly knew about the abuse but failed to report to police; in August 2024, Bogero was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Police investigation, Prison,
- Positions: Primary,
- Crime: 2010s, in Argentina,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Carlfred Broderick
- was a Mormon stake president in Cerritos, California; accused in a 2025 lawsuit against the Mormon church of sexually abusing a child as part of a sex trafficking ring, and of covering up the abuse; the plaintiff said she was abused over 200 times at the Cerritos LDS stake center from 1979 to 1983.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Alleged crime: 1970s, 1980s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building,
David Bromley
- was an LDS church member in Illinois; accused of sexual abuse.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Robert Campbell
- was an LDS church member in Nebraska; accused of sexual abuse.
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- Criminal: Unknown result,
- Civil: Unknown result,
- Positions: Missionary,
- Alleged crime: 1980s, in Idaho,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building,
Mark Chapman
- was an LDS church member, church janitor and scout leader in Michigan; served 9 years in prison in New York for charges of engaging in criminal sexual conduct with a person below the age of 17; sentenced to prison in 2022 in Michigan for sexually assaulting two children; some of the abuse took place at an LDS chapel.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Plea agreement, Prison, Registered sex offender,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Scout leader,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Perpetrator's home, Victim's home,
Kevin Curlew
- was an LDS church member in Methuen, Massachusetts; accused of sexually abusing a child in an LDS chapel; convicted and sentenced to prison; in 2008, a victim's mother filed a civil lawsuit against the the Mormon church, claiming the church allowed the accused to babysit children despite his prior convictions for child sexual abuse, and that LDS leaders failed to report her child's abuse to police.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Civil: Judgment for plaintiff, Lawsuit v. LDS church,
- Positions: Other leader,
- Crime: 2000s, in Maine, Massachusetts,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
John d'Aquin
- was an LDS church member; convicted in 1994 in Louisiana of contributing to the delinquency of juveniles performing sexually immoral acts; convicted in 2007 in Louisiana of indecent behavior with juveniles.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Unknown result,
- Positions: Missionary,
- Crime: 1990s, in Louisiana,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Buckland Darrell
- 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.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Admitted guilt, Convicted, Plea agreement, Pleaded guilty, Prison,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Primary,
- Crime: 2010s, 2020s, in Washington,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Victim's home,
George Davis
- was an LDS church member in Rhode Island; accused of sexual abuse that allegedly took place in an LDS chapel.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Jury trial, Prison,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s, in Rhode Island,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Larry Deutsch
- was a Mormon bishop in Missouri; arrested in 2020 and charged with possession of child pornography (child sexual abuse material, or CSAM) and accused of luring an underage teenager from Arizona to Missouri; pleaded guilty; sentenced in 2021 to 12 years in federal prison plus a lifetime of supervised release; in 2024, the victim filed a civil lawsuit against the LDS church.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Prison,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Bishop, Scout leader, Sunday school, Temple worker, Youth leader,
- Crime: 2010s, 2020s, in Arizona, Maricopa County (Arizona), Missouri,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Online,
John Doe
- was a Mormon bishop in or near Salt Lake City, Utah; accused of sexual abuse of a 13-year-old boy; the alleged sexual assault took place in the Salt Lake Temple in the 1980s (approximately 1986), during a visit to perform baptisms for the dead.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishop, Temple worker,
- Alleged crime: 1980s, in Salt Lake County (Utah), Utah,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, LDS temple,
John Doe
- was a Mormon church member in Tacoma, Washington; sexually abused a preschooler in his ward in the 1980s; the LDS church settled with the abuse survivor for $1.1 million in 2023.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- LDS church payment: $1,100,000
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Alleged crime: 1980s, in Washington,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
John Doe
- was an LDS church member in Australia; accused of sexual abuse.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
John Doe
- was a Mormon bishop in Pocatello, Idaho; an abuse survivor told FLOODLIT that Doe sexually abused them in his office at church in late 1999.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Unknown result,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishop,
- Alleged crime: 1990s, in Idaho,
- Crime scenes: Bishop's office, LDS building,
John Doe
- was a Mormon temple worker in Los Angeles, California; accused in a 2025 lawsuit against the LDS church of sexually assaulting a man in 1984 while performing a private anointing ritual in the Los Angeles LDS temple.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Temple worker,
- Alleged crime: 1980s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, LDS temple,
Cesar Duran
- was a Mormon bishopric counselor in a Spanish-speaking LDS ward in Orem, Utah (Geneva Height Stake); arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl in his ward; the alleged abuse took place inside an LDS church building.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Unknown result,
- Positions: Bishopric counselor,
- Alleged crime: 2010s, in Utah, Utah County (Utah),
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Frederick Edvalson
- was a Mormon in Utah and Camp Springs, Prince George's County, Maryland; convicted 3 times of sexual abuse in Maryland in the 1980s; third conviction: while on probation, groomed a 10-year-old girl and sexually assaulted her in a room inside a Mormon chapel on multiple occasions from 1983 to 1984; reportedly told her he was giving her "special religious training;" sentenced to 8 years in prison.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Ministering/home teacher, Other leader, Scout leader,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Dennis Empey
- was a Mormon church member and scout leader in Blackfoot, Idaho; accused of sexually abusing many children; his stake president allegedly knew Empey was abusing kids; convicted of child molestation in May 1991; sentenced to two years probation.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Probation,
- Positions: Scout leader,
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s, in Idaho,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Christopher Fleming
- was an LDS church member in Chesapeake, Virginia; found guilty of 10 counts of various sexual abuse to a minor; currently incarcerated in Virginia.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Youth leader,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Juan Flores Atenco
- was a Mormon branch president in West Valley City, Utah for five years, including in the early 2000s; accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl in his office and another room at an LDS church building; convicted in 2012 of misdemeanor forcible sexual abuse and unlawful detention; sentenced to zero to one year in jail; in March 2025, charged with rape and object rape (alleged crimes in 2002).
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Jail, Ongoing,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Branch president,
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s, in Salt Lake County (Utah), Utah,
- Crime scenes: Bishop's office, LDS building, Vehicle,
Samuel Gardner
- was an LDS bishop in the Oklahoma City First Ward in the early 1960s; accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy in the bishop's office at a Mormon chapel in about 1961; died in 1968.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishop, Stake high council,
- Crime scenes: Bishop's office, LDS building,
Gene Guinn
- was an LDS church member; accused of sexual abuse.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: High priest,
- Crime: 1990s, in Texas,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Victim's home,
Larry Harmston
- was an LDS church member in Utah; accused of sexual abuse which allegedly took place at a Mormon chapel in Orem, Utah; convicted; charged again (result unknown).
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Unknown result,
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s, in Utah,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Craig Harward
- was a Mormon ward executive secretary and former elementary "teacher of the year" in Santa Clara County, California; accused of sexual abuse of at least 10 children; pleaded guilty to charges related to sexual abuse of four children over a six-year period; sentenced to 14 years in prison; in 2024, a lawsuit said the LDS church failed to report abuse; as of 2024, lives in St. George, Utah.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender, Released,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Missionary, Other leader, Ward executive secretary,
- Crime: 1990s, 2000s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building, Recreational trip/outing,
James Hayes
- was an LDS bishop in the Timmins - North Bay area, Ontario, Canada; convicted of sexual exploitation in November 2001; molested an underage girl in his ward while serving as her bishop.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Bishop,
- Crime: 2000s, in Canada,
- Crime scenes: Bishop's office, LDS building,
Brandon Hernandez
- was an LDS church member in Tempe, Arizona; accused of sexually abusing a victim inside a Mormon church; convicted of four fourth degree felony counts of abuse of a child or vulnerable adult.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Plea agreement, Pleaded guilty, Unknown result,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Other leader,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
James Hogan
- was a Mormon church member and scout leader in Oregon; in 1989, was sentenced to five years in prison for child sexual abuse; released in 1994; in 2011, a victim filed a civil lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America, seeking $5.2 million.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- LDS church payment: Undisclosed amount
- Criminal: Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Released,
- Civil: Settlement,
- Positions: Church employee, Scout leader,
- Crime: 1970s, 1980s, in Oregon,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Douglas Holyoak
- 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).
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Bishop,
- Alleged crime: 2000s, in Illinois,
- Crime scenes: Bishop's office, LDS building,
Houska
- was an LDS church member in California; accused of sexual abuse.
- Learn more »
- Positions: Bishop,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Kenneth Jenks
- was an LDS church member in California (Milpitas Ward); was a ward executive secretary and ward librarian; charged with sexual abuse; convicted; served 14 years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor under duress; three victims sued the LDS church, claiming it knew about Jenks's abuse but allowed him to work with children.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison, Registered sex offender,
- Positions: Other leader,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building, Recreational trip/outing,
Gary Jones
- was a Mormon church member in Cerritos, California; accused in a 2025 lawsuit against the Mormon church of sexually abusing a child as part of a sex trafficking ring, and of covering up the abuse; the plaintiff said she was abused over 200 times at the Cerritos LDS stake center from 1979 to 1983.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Alleged crime: 1970s, 1980s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building,
Christopher Kite
- was an LDS church member in Chicago, Illinois; accused of sexual abuse.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Unknown result,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
George Koford
- was a Mormon bishop in Cerritos, California; accused in a 2025 lawsuit against the Mormon church of sexually abusing a child as part of a sex trafficking ring, and of covering up the abuse; the plaintiff said she was abused over 200 times at the Cerritos LDS stake center from 1979 to 1983.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Alleged crime: 1970s, 1980s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building,
James Larsen
- was a Mormon church member in Magna, Utah; accused of putting cameras in LDS church bathrooms as well as a private rental; pleaded guilty; sentenced in 2018 to prison.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Plea agreement, Pleaded guilty, Prison,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime: 2010s, in Utah,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Victim's home,
Richard McClung
- was a Mormon bishopric counselor in the Rockford, Illinois area; convicted in 2007 and 2014 of child sexual abuse; accused in a 2025 lawsuit against the Mormon church of sexually abusing an 8-year-old girl; allegedly was not removed from bishopric despite charges.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Found guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Bishopric counselor,
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s, in Illinois,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building, Perpetrator's home,
Chester Meek
- was a Mormon bishop in Grand Prairie, Alberta, Canada when he sexually abused a woman; convicted of sexual assault against a female church member; there were several victims in this case over a period of five years; at least one reported abuse taking place in the bishop's office inside an LDS chapel.
- Learn more »
- LDS church payment: Undisclosed amount
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Bishop, Other leader,
- Crime scenes: Bishop's office, LDS building, Victim's home,
John Midgett
- was a Mormon church member and Sunday school teacher in the San Diego area, California; also was a Navy petty officer first class; initially pleaded not guilty to 43 felony counts of child molestation; later pleaded guilty; sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing eight girls ages 5 to 10 in his LDS sunday school class; as of 2024, lives in Bountiful, Utah as a registered sex offender.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Primary,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Victim's home,
Ronald Mills
- was an LDS church member in Orange, New South Wales, Australia; accused of sexual abuse; convicted; sentenced in or around 1982 to 3 years in jail.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
John Misseldine
- was a Mormon missionary in Nevada; charged with sexually abusing two little children at an LDS chapel in the Las Vegas area; in 2005, made a plea deal to avoid prison, via an Alford plea to two counts; a lawsuit said a local Mormon leader failed to report abuse to police; in 2008, sentenced to prison after violating the plea deal; as of 2024, lives in Las Vegas, Nevada as a registered sex offender.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- LDS church payment: $782,000
- Criminal: Alford plea, Convicted, Probation, Registered sex offender,
- Civil: Dismissed, Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement, Unknown result,
- Positions: Missionary,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Aaron Montoya
- was a Mormon children's Primary teacher and law enforcement officer in Utah; found guilty of sexually abusing children during LDS church meetings and at his home; later pleaded guilty in another case; in all, at least nine victims came forward; sentenced to prison in 2005; as of March 2025, is out of prison on parole and lives in Woods Cross, Utah as a registered sex offender.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison, Registered sex offender, Released,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Primary,
- Crime: 2000s, in Utah,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building, Perpetrator's home, Vehicle,
F N
- was an LDS bishop in California; 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.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Unknown result,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Bishop,
- Alleged crime: 1960s, 1970s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Perpetrator's home,
Ralph Neeley
- was an LDS church member in the Beaumont, Texas area; was sentenced in January 1994 to life in prison in Texas for repeated sexual abuse of an 8-year-old girl in an LDS chapel during church meetings and in other locations; died in prison in 2020; the Mormon church reportedly paid several million US dollars in a settlement to the victim.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- LDS church payment: $3,000,000
- Criminal: Admitted guilt, Convicted, Prison,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s, in Arkansas, Texas,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Gordon Neeley
- was an LDS church member and daycare owner in Salt Lake City, Utah; plead guilty to ATTEMPTED - AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD; convicted; died in 2018.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: High priest, Missionary,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Perpetrator's workplace,
Joseph Neipp
- was a former LDS bishop in San Jose, California; in 2021, pleaded no contest to four molestation counts and was given an 18-year prison sentence, with credit for the three years he spent in county jail prior to his sentencing; father of convicted Mormon child sexual abuser Samuel Neipp.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result,
- Positions: Bishop,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building,
Michael Pratt
- was a former LDS seminary principal; arrested in 2009; convicted and sentenced in 2010 for the sexual abuse of a 16-year-old seminary student.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Plea agreement, Pleaded guilty, Prison,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishopric counselor, Church employee, Other leader, Seminary teacher,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Public,
Carl Pratt
- was a Mormon bishop in San Manuel, Arizona; allegedly sexually abused a boy in his ward, in the bishop's office at an LDS chapel; died in 2006.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishop, High priest, Other leader, Scout leader, Stake high council, Temple worker,
- Crime scenes: Bishop's office, LDS building,
Gary Reese
- was a Mormon bishopric counselor, seminary teacher and Boy scoutmaster; accused of sexually molesting several boys in his scout troops.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Dismissed with prejudice, Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result,
- Positions: Bishopric counselor, Missionary, Scout leader, Seminary teacher,
- Alleged crime: 1970s, in Washington,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building, Perpetrator's home, Recreational trip/outing, Scout activity,
Daniel Robison
- was a Mormon church member and bankruptcy attorney in St. George, Utah; charged in 2024 with 11 felonies related to sexual abuse of four children.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Ongoing,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
UNKNOWN Ross
- was an LDS high priest and stake seventy in California; 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.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: High priest, Stake seventy,
- Alleged crime: 1970s, 1980s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Nefi Rubalcava
- was a Mormon bishop in Norwalk/Cerritos in southern California; accused of child sexual abuse in two lawsuits filed against the Mormon church in 2025; he was the foster father of one of his alleged victims and the bishop of both of them; he allegedly participated in a sex trafficking ring involving at least one other bishop and a stake president.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Alleged crime: 1970s, 1980s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building,
Vernon Sanford
- was an LDS church member in San Diego, California; died in 2000; in 2024, accused in a civil lawsuit of child sexual abuse, along with his son, Vernon Sanford Jr; the suit was one of 91 or more coordinated civil suits filed in California in 2024 against the Mormon church; the alleged abuse occurred between 1961 and 1970; the Sanfords were the plaintiff's LDS home teachers.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Other leader,
- Alleged crime: 1960s, 1970s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Perpetrator's home, Vehicle,
Vernon Sanford
- was an LDS church member in San Diego, California; died in 2000; in 2024, accused in a civil lawsuit of child sexual abuse, along with his father, Vernon Sanford Sr; the suit was one of 91 or more coordinated civil suits filed in California in 2024 against the Mormon church; the alleged abuse occurred between 1961 and 1970; the Sanfords were the plaintiff's LDS home teachers.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Alleged crime: 1960s, 1970s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Perpetrator's home, Vehicle,
Jack Schofield
- was an LDS church member, school administrator and state senator in Las Vegas, Nevada; accused of sexual harassment; died in 2015; a victim told FLOODLIT he sold her repeatedly to sex trafficking clients at a motel in Las Vegas.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Thomas Schofield
- 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.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Bishop,
- Alleged crime: 2000s, in California,
- Crime scenes: Bishop's office, LDS activity, LDS building, LDS temple,
Michael Simms
- was a Latter-day Saints (LDS) church member, organist and music teacher in Oregon; accused in a civil lawsuit of sexually abusing a boy about 100 times between 1974 and 1976.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Unknown result,
- Civil: Unknown result,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Alleged crime: 1970s, in Oregon,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
UNKNOWN Smith
- was a Mormon bishop in Lancaster, California; a 2024 civil lawsuit said he took part with two Melchizedek priesthood holders in sexually assaulting an underage boy inside an LDS church building on a weekly basis from 2001 to 2003, starting when the victim was 15 years old.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Bishop,
- Alleged crime: 2000s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Mark Stevens
- was a Mormon bishop in Utah in 2006; charged in 2025 with sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl that allegedly took place in his office at church.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Ongoing,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishop, Missionary,
- Alleged crime: 2000s,
- Crime scenes: Bishop's office, LDS building,
Arthur Stout
- was a Mormon church member in Littlerock, California; in 2024, a civil lawsuit said he sexually assaulted a girl "on a weekly basis" from 1991 to 1997, starting when she was 5 years old; some of the alleged abuse took place in an LDS church building.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Other leader,
- Alleged crime: 1990s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Perpetrator's home, Vehicle, Victim's home,
Todd Summers
- was an LDS church member and videographer for local children's events in Costa Mesa, California; accused of child sexual abuse that allegedly took place in a Mormon chapel and other locations; a 2009 civil suit against him ended with a $100,000 settlement payment by the Mormon church to the plaintiff.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- LDS church payment: $100,000
- Criminal: Never charged,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement,
- Positions: Missionary,
- Alleged crime: 1990s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Public, Victim's home,
Kendall Traxler
- was an LDS church member in Gallman and Hazelhurst, Mississippi; died in 2015; a victim told FLOODLIT that Traxler sexually abused them when they were a child; the abuse allegedly took place during Sunday branch meetings; the branch president and stake president allegedly knew about the abuse but failed to report it to law enforcement.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Sunday school, Youth leader,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Bob UNKNOWN
- was a Mormon church member and Melchizedek priesthood holder in Lancaster, California; a 2024 civil lawsuit said he took part with a Mormon bishop and another Melchizedek priesthood holder in sexually assaulting an underage boy inside an LDS church building on a weekly basis from 2001 to 2003, starting when the victim was 15 years old.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Alleged crime: 2000s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Jim UNKNOWN
- was a Mormon church member and Melchizedek priesthood holder in Lancaster, California; a 2024 civil lawsuit said he took part with a Mormon bishop and another Melchizedek priesthood holder in sexually assaulting an underage boy inside an LDS church building on a weekly basis from 2001 to 2003, starting when the victim was 15 years old.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Other leader,
- Alleged crime: 2000s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Bruce Van Horn
- was a Mormon church member in Cerritos, California; accused in a 2025 lawsuit against the Mormon church of sexually abusing a child as part of a sex trafficking ring, and of covering up the abuse; the plaintiff said she was abused over 200 times at the Cerritos LDS stake center from 1979 to 1983.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Alleged crime: 1970s, 1980s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building,
Thomas Wallin
- was a Mormon church member in South Jordan, Utah; admitted to sexually abusing a child within an LDS chapel.
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- Criminal: Convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Ryan Whitaker
- was an LDS church member and divorce lawyer in Vancouver, Washington; charged with sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl in his Sunday School class during church meetings; convicted in 2013 and sentenced to prison; registered sex offender.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Positions: Missionary, Primary, Sunday school,
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, in Washington,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Gary Woolstenhulme
- 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.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor,
- Alleged crime: 1970s, in California,
- Crime scenes: Bishop's office, LDS building,
Ruth Worthen
- was a Mormon church member in Hyde Park, Cache County, Utah; accused of child sexual abuse by one adult in a 2019 civil lawsuit and in 2023 by four adults (one of whom was the 2019 plaintiff); arrested and charged in June 2024 with numerous felonies related to child sexual abuse.
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- Criminal: Ongoing,
- Civil: Dismissed with prejudice,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Alleged crime: 1980s, 2000s, in Cache County (Utah), Utah,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Public,
Jeffrey Young
- was a Mormon church member in Lehi, Utah; convicted of 12 counts of VOYEURISM BY ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT CONCEALED OR DISGUISED, one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of obstructing justice.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Crime: 2010s, in Utah,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,

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International map of locations where active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints perpetrated or allegedly perpetrated sexual abuse or other sex crimes, or where LDS leaders failed or allegedly failed to help abuse survivors.

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72 Mormon sexual abuse cases found

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View the Mormon Sexual Abuse Map

Browse the Mormon Sexual Abuse Database