45 LDS sex abuse cases found
Online
- Crime scene: Online
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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,
-
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
- 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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- Brady Allen (1990 – ) was a Mormon church youth leader and Utah teacher in Davis County, Utah; admitted to trying to meet 13-year-old for sex; convicted; sentenced to 1-15 years in Utah State Prison
- LDS positions: Youth leader,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison,
- View report »
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- Benjamin Alyk (1997 – ) was an LDS church member from Utah and a missionary in Dominican Republic; confessed to making child sexual abuse material (CSAM); LDS church leaders allegedly knew about but did not report his criminal behavior to law enforcement
- LDS positions: Missionary,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted,
- Alleged failure to report
- View report »
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- Elwood Anderson (1967 – ) was a LDS bishopric counselor in Gig Harbor, Washington; allegedly downloaded and shared more than 9,000 images of young children engaged in sexually explicit activity; convicted; sentenced in 2014 to five years in jail
Crime: 2000s, 2010s, - Crime state:
Washington,
LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, 
Criminal case(s): Convicted, Unknown result, -
- Jared Buckley (1984 – ) was a Mormon church member and charter school director (Leadership Learning Academy) in Clearfield, Utah; was a Mormon missionary in the Philippines from 2004 to 2006 (Quezon City Mission); arrested in April 2025 on suspicion of child sexual exploitation; was reportedly a stake young men's president when arrested
- Alleged crime: 2020s,
- Alleged crime county:
UT - Davis,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
Alleged crime county:
LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, -
- Jacob Bunker (2000 – ) was a Mormon church member in Provo, Utah; charged with one count of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor 1st degree and three enticing a minor in the 2nd degree; due in court December 17, 2025
- Alleged crime: 2020s,
- Alleged crime city:
UT - Provo,
- Alleged crime county:
utah,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
Alleged crime city:
Criminal case(s): Ongoing, Some of the conversations found by investigators included Bunker stating that he wants to sexually abuse a preschool classroom and also wants a calling in his church overseeing young children. “I would molest every kid,” he stated, according to the charges. -KSL TV article 2025-11-29
"“I would molest every kid”"
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- Kevin Christensen (1960 – ) was a Mormon church member and judge in Brigham City, Utah; accused of receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to individuals he believed to be minor children; pleaded not guilty in July 2025
- Alleged crime: 2020s,
- Alleged crime city:
UT - Tremonton,
- Alleged crime county:
UT - Box Elder,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Stake high council, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, Allegedly sent young child's LDS directory photo to adult for rape fantasy
"We can't have it in our lives. It's the only way I can protect my kids. [...] He was a judge. He was a member of the LDS Church. He was a father. He was a grandfather. I mean, he saw his grandkids and his kids every day."
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- Wade Christofferson (1953 – ) was an LDS church member accused of sexually assaulting nine to 12 children in Illinois, Ohio and Utah starting in 1985; charged in 2025 with child sexual abuse (alleged between about 2016-25); excommunicated in 1990s, rebaptized, assigned to leadership positions, including bishopric counselor; brother of apostle Todd Christofferson, who allegedly knew by 2018 about 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 report"If you are a Survivor, please know you are not alone. You deserve to be heard and supported. If you are not a Survivor, please remember that, for many, Surviving is a daily battle. We call them Survivors for a reason."
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- Michael Coleman (1960 – ) was an LDS bishop and former sound recording engineer in Mesa, Arizona (Lehi 2nd Ward); arrested in 2014 for sexual solicitation of a minor online; the alleged crime took place while he was bishop
- Alleged crime: 2010s,
- Alleged crime state:
Arizona,
- Alleged crime country:
Brazil,
Alleged crime country:
LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Police investigation, Unknown result, Alleged failure to report-
- Stephen Cooper (1970 – ) was a Mormon church member; convicted of ATTEMPTED - SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR and DEALING IN MATERIALS HARMFUL TO MINOR-DEFENDANT18 AND OLDER, both 3rd degree felonies
- Crime: 2020s,
- Crime city:
Saratoga Springs,
- Crime county:
utah,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2024, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, guilty, Pleaded guilty, "“Again, this wasn’t a crime of opportunity that found you and you got caught up in it or made a wrong turn. You went looking anyway, deep down that rabbit hole.”"
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- Logan Cornwell (1991 – ) was a Mormon church member and dentist in Gilbert, Arizona; owned a Mesa dental office; accused in October 2025 of child sex trafficking and misconduct involving weapons
- Alleged crime: 2020s,
- Alleged crime county:
AZ - Maricopa,
- Alleged crime state:
Arizona,
LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, -
- Daniel Cupyrna was a Mormon assistant stake clerk and stake technology specialist in Middlesbrough Ward, Billingham Stake, UK; accused of possession of child sexual abuse material; admitted to wrongdoing; convicted
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime country:
England, United Kingdom,
LDS positions: Other leader, Stake clerk, Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Convicted, -
- Larry Deutsch (1966 – ) 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
- Crime: 2010s, 2020s,
- Crime county:
AZ - Maricopa,
- Crime state:
Arizona, Missouri,
Convicted:
2021, LDS positions: Bishop, Scout leader, Sunday school, Temple worker, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Probation, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Alleged failure to report-
- Isaac Durfey (1991 – ) was a Mormon church member in Eagle Mountain, Utah; convicted of sex crimes in 2014, 2015 and 2018; accused each time of offering money or gifts to teen boys (ages 16-17) in exchange for sex or explicit pictures; charges of which he was convicted included sexual exploitation of a minor, sexual battery and sexual solicitation of a child
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime city:
crime-city-ut-highland, crime-city-ut-lehi,
- Crime county:
UT - Utah,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2014, 2015, 2018, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender, Released, "When he saw the victim on Instagram he had intentions of helping him, but the bad side kicked in and it progressed from there,"
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- Jay Elggren (1972 – ) was a Mormon church member in Salt Lake County, Utah; accused of sexual abuse; convicted; sentenced to jail and probation
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime county:
UT - Salt Lake,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2017, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Probation, -
- Jacob Fisher (1978 – ) was a Mormon church member and ward young men's leader in Eagle Mountain, Utah; arrested in August 2025 for allegedly sending explicit videos of himself to, and attempting to meet to sexually assault, a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl
- Alleged crime: 2020s,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Missionary, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, -
- Jeffrey Fox (1947 – ) was a former state legislator (1977-1982) in Utah; convicted federally for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in 2013 and placed on probation for 15 years; in 2019, probation was terminated for completing terms; in 2022, arrested and charged in Utah with 8 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor; case dismissed without prejudice due to a federal charge
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2013, LDS positions: LDS status unknown, Not active LDS, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Ongoing, Pleaded guilty, Probation, -
- Russell Gatrell (1980 – ) was a Mormon or former Mormon church member in Cottonwood Heights, Utah; accused in 2025 of possession of up to 280 million CSAM images
- LDS positions: LDS status unknown, Not active LDS, Unknown position,
- Criminal case(s): Ongoing,
- View report »
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- Martin Gilmour was a Mormon church member in Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland; accused of sexual abuse of a 13-year-old child; was arrested in November 2024
- Alleged crime: 2020s,
- Alleged crime country:
Ireland,
LDS positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor, Stake high council, Temple worker, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, Unknown result, -
- Tyson Green was a Mormon church member; accused of sexual abuse
- Alleged crime: 2020s,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Stake high council, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, -
- Ned Hansen (1970 – ) was a fire chief/EMS in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; retired, then became Tremonton, Utah fire chief; arrested in Jan. 2025, charged with child sexual exploitation; accused of discussing ways to sexually abuse children with Box Elder County judge Kevin Christensen (a Mormon)
- Alleged crime: 2020s,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah, Wyoming,
LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, Civil case(s): Ongoing, -
- Collin Hawkins (1997 – ) was a Mormon church member and adjunct Russian professor at Brigham Young University-Idaho; was a Mormon missionary in St. Petersburg, Russia from 2015 to 2017; arrested in 2025 on suspicion of 20 felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor; the charges were related to CSAM (child sexual abuse material)
- Alleged crime: 2020s,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, Police investigation, -
- Mason Holzendorf (2000 – ) was a Mormon church member; convicted of enticing a minor by internet or text in 2023
- Crime: 2020s,
- Crime city:
UT - St. George,
- Crime county:
Washinton,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2023, Criminal case(s): Convicted, -
- Hayden Hunter (2001 – ) was a Mormon missionary in California; he was from Pleasant Grove, Utah; arrested in 2020 for distribution of child sexual abuse material (child pornography) while on his mission; convicted of possession of CSAM in 2021
- Crime: 2020s,
- Crime state:
California,
Convicted:
2021, LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Released, -
- Ángel Jaramillo was an LDS church member and city councilor in El Carmen, Jujuy, Argentina; arrested on child pornography and abuse charges (which includes distribution, tenancy, and production of material); in 2025, sentenced to two years of "prisión condicional" (akin to probation)
- Crime: 2020s,
- Crime city:
Argentina - Jujuy,
- Crime country:
Argentina,
Convicted:
2024, LDS positions: Church employee, Stake clerk, Stake high council, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation, Alleged failure to report-
- Spencer Kartchner (1965 – ) was an LDS church member in Utah; convicted of sex crimes in 2009 and 2021
- Crime: 2000s, 2020s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2009, 2021, LDS positions: Ward mission leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, -
- Isaac Kemp was a Mormon church member in Draper, Utah; allegedly sexually abused children in Draper and Nebraska; sentenced to prison in Nebraska until 2038
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime county:
UT - Salt Lake,
- Crime state:
Nebraska, Utah,
Convicted:
2017, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Ongoing, Prison, -
- Justin Knight (1983 – ) was a Mormon church member in Tucson, Arizona; in 2023, pled guilty to one third-degree count of SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR and one fourth-degree felony charge of Aggravated Taking Id Of Another Person Or Entity; sentenced to prison; registered sex offender as of Oct. 2025
- Crime: 2020s,
- Crime city:
AZ - Tucson,
- Crime county:
AZ - Pima,
- Crime state:
Arizona,
Convicted:
2023, LDS positions: Primary, Scout leader, Ward executive secretary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender, -
- Richard Mallard (1981 – ) was a Mormon church member in Orem, Utah; charged in July 2025 with 41 felony counts related to child sexual exploitation; in August 2025, was released on bond, despite initially being held without bail; several LDS church members sent the court letters of support on Mallard's behalf prior to his detention hearing
- Alleged crime: 2020s,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Missionary, Scout leader, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, -
- Samuel Mitchell (1983 – ) was raised in the Mormon church; in 2025, was charged with multiple felony counts related to child sexual exploitation
- Alleged crime: 2020s,
- Alleged crime county:
UT - Salt Lake,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, -
- Wyatt Mullen (1997 – ) was a Sandy, Utah man charged with sex crimes in October 2025; based on our initial research, FLOODLIT believes he is a former Mormon missionary and was active in the Mormon church at the time of his alleged crimes
- LDS positions: Missionary,
- Criminal case(s): Ongoing, Police investigation,
- View report »
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- 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, -
- Craig Pope (1963 – ) was a Mormon bishop or former Mormon bishop in St. Louis, Missouri; convicted in or prior to 2013 of possession of child pornography (child sexual abuse material); charge info: Child Porn - 2nd Subsequent Offense Or Poss > 20 Pictures/1 Film/video
- LDS positions: Bishop,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Registered sex offender, Unknown result,
- View report »
LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Convicted, Ongoing, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, -
- Kenneth Richens (1963 – ) was an LDS church member and chief information officer (CIO) of Central Valley Medical Center in Nephi, Utah; accused in 2023 of child sexual exploitation; pleaded guilty in February 2024 to two felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor; in April 2024, sentenced to two consecutive terms of one to 15 years in prison
- Crime: 2020s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2024, LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, -
- Lance Rushton (1970 – ) was an LDS church member in Provo, Utah; accused of photo shopping faces of family members, ward church members of adults and children on to pornographic material and distributing them; convicted in 2007 and sentenced to three months in jail and three years of probation
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime city:
UT - Provo,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2007, LDS positions: Music leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation, -
- Matthew Shepard (1974 – ) was an LDS church member in Salt Lake City, Utah; In October of 2019 chatted with online 13year old persona to try and meet for sex; found guilty to 3 counts of entice a minor by internet or text; currently in jail in Duchesne, Utah
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime city:
UT - Salt Lake City,
- Crime county:
UT - Salt Lake,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2021, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, -
- Paul Spencer (1970 – ) was a Mormon church temple prep instructor and mission leader in Riverton, Salt Lake County, Utah; charged in December 2024 with multiple felonies related to arranging to meet a police detective posing as a 13-year-old girl for sexual assault in Lehi, Utah
- Alleged crime: 2020s,
- Alleged crime county:
UT - Salt Lake,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Other leader, Ward mission leader, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, Police investigation, -
- 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 report-
- Keele Taylor was a Mormon church member in Farmington, Utah; convicted of possession of child pornography (child sexual abuse material / CSAM); in July 2019, pleaded guilty to possession of CSAM; the distribution charge was dropped due to a plea agreement
- Crime: 1990s, 2000s, 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2019, LDS positions: Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Alleged failure to report-
- Benjamin Turner (1959 – ) was a Mormon church member and LDS Primary teacher in Davis County, Utah; accused in the 2000s of child sexual abuse and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM); convicted on federal charges; sentenced to prison
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s, 2020s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Primary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Prison, Probation, Registered sex offender, -
- Kurt Vanwagoner (1966 – ) was a Mormon church member in Centerville, Utah who worked with young men in his ward as of March 2024; arrested and charged in March 2024 with 10 first degree felony counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor (sharing CSAM); police said he sent online chat messages talking about himself secretly taking photographs of women he found attractive in his LDS ward, during church services
- LDS positions: Missionary, Youth leader,
- Criminal case(s): Ongoing,
- View report »
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- Joseph Walker (1955 – ) was a former Mormon bishop, stake presidency counselor and LDS Public Affairs employee in Utah; charged in 2025 with three third-degree felony counts related to child sexual exploitation; allegedly "engaged in several sexually explicit conversations […] to seduce, lure, and entice [a 14-year-old girl] into engaging in multiple sexual acts;" released from jail after letters from church members
- Alleged crime: 2020s,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Bishop, Church employee, Missionary, Stake presidency counselor, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, Walker helped Mormon apostle Russell Ballard prepare speeches for years
"[Walker] needs to be with his community. He needs therapy, his ward, his family, his friends. He is not a risk to the community and never has been."
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- Cody Weaver (1993 – ) was a Mormon church member and ward executive secretary in Queen Creek, Arizona; charged in 2024 with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor for CSAM material investigators said they found on his home electronics
- Alleged crime: 2020s,
- Alleged crime county:
AZ - Maricopa,
- Alleged crime state:
Arizona,
LDS positions: Ward executive secretary, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, -
- Laron Zaugg (1967 – ) was a Mormon church member in Utah; went on an LDS mission to Vienna, Austria in 1986; in 2017, sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and sentenced in Utah to three years to life in prison for first-degree felony attempted sodomy on a child; as of 2025, in federal prison in Colorado (release date 2028)
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2017, LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Filters
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