75 LDS sex abuse cases found
perpetrator's home
- Crime scene: Perpetrator's home
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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,
-
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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- James Adams (1954 – ) was a Mormon church member in Beckley, West Virginia; sentenced to prison in 1994 for sexually abusing multiple children; in 1996, a $750 million lawsuit was filed against the Mormon church alleging coverup; the suit was settled out of court in 2000
Crime: 1980s, - Crime state:
West Virginia,
Convicted:
1994, 
LDS positions: Other leader, 
Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement, 
Alleged failure to reportAbuse went on for five years after Adams first told Mormon officials, including a bishop and stake president, the lawsuit said
"The church is not in the business of covering up."
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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 report2025: Arizona Court of Appeals reinstated a lawsuit v. the Mormon church
"They said, 'You absolutely can do nothing.'
"
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- Jared Anderson (1988 – ) was a high school teacher (and one-time "teacher of the year") and Mormon church group leader in the San Antonio, Texas area; also lived in Millington, Tennessee and Ogden, Utah; sentenced to 10 years in prison for hosting sex parties for teenage boys
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Texas,
Convicted:
2017, LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, -
- Arlo Atkin (1956 – ) was a former LDS bishop in or near Chandler, Maricopa County, Arizona; accused of raping and impregnating a 14-year-old girl in his ward while he was her bishop; pleaded guilty, spent 132 days in jail
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s,
- Crime state:
Arizona,
LDS positions: Bishop, Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation, Violated parole/probation, Civil case(s): Dismissed with prejudice, Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result, Alleged failure to report-
- Alan Bassett (1948 – ) was a Mormon church member and air traffic controller in Fruit Heights, Utah; accused in a 2019 civil lawsuit of child sexual abuse (dismissed without prejudice); charged in June 2024 with child sexual abuse; over 80 victims came forward; admitted to molesting many neighbor girls; tried to get his case dismissed due to an unsigned 1989 agreement with a deputy Davis County attorney
- Alleged crime: 1980s,
- Alleged crime county:
UT - Davis,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Other leader, Scout leader, Ward clerk, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, Civil case(s): Dismissed without prejudice, Alleged failure to reportDozens of women told the court Bassett abused them as children; he attempted to get the case dismissed
"Why didn't they call us in? Why didn’t they call the kids in?"
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- Gary Bell (1956 – ) was an LDS church member and former prosecutor in Utah; pleaded guilty in December 2022 to four second degree felony charges related to child sexual abuse; sentenced in January 2023 to one to 15 years in prison; in June 2023, was convicted of 15 counts of 2nd degree felony sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of class B misdemeanor voyeurism; no additional prison time was added
- Crime: 2020s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2022, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, -
- 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
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2013, LDS positions: Church employee, Stake high council, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Alleged failure to reportLDS positions: Seminary teacher, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, Unknown result, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Alleged failure to report-
- Mark Chapman (1971 – ) 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
- Convicted:
2022,
- LDS positions: Scout leader,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Prison, Registered sex offender,
- View report »
LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Unknown result, -
- 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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- 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 city:
WA - Seattle,
- Crime county:
WA - King,
- 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 reportStake 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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- Stephen Coleman (1971 – ) was an LDS church member and analyst in the Utah state Office of Planning and Budget; accused of sexual abuse in 2011; convicted and sentenced to prison; as of 2016, was serving two sentences of 15 years to life in prison in Utah
- LDS positions: Unknown position,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison,
- View report »
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- David Curtis (1969 – ) was a Mormon church member and middle school counselor in St. George, Utah; in 2025, pleaded guilty to child sexual abuse charges and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison
- LDS positions: Scout leader, Youth leader,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison,
- View report »
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- Broch DeGraff (1985 – ) was an LDS church member and private school teacher at Liahona Preparatory Academy in Pleasant Grove, Utah; pleaded guilty to child sexual abuse charges; sentenced in 2013 to up to 20 years in prison
- Convicted:
2013,
- LDS positions: Missionary,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison,
- View report »
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- Richard Dilley (1959 – ) was an LDS church member and scout leader in Burien, near Seattle, Washington; dishonorably discharged from the Navy in 1983 after admitting to abusing boys in a Scouting program in Athens, Greece; pleaded guilty in 1990 to one count of third degree child rape and five counts of child molestation for "repeated" offenses over two years of the scouts in his LDS troop; sentenced to 9 years in prison
- Crime: 1980s,
- Crime state:
Washington,
- Crime country:
Greece,
Crime country:
LDS positions: Scout leader, Sunday school, Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, -
- Jane Doe was an LDS church member in Australia; accused of sexual abuse
- LDS positions: Sunday school,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty,
- View report »
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- Matthew Doyle (1973 – ) was an LDS bishop in Copperas Cove, Texas (2nd Ward) in the 2000s; was a high school basketball coach; convicted in 2011 of sexual assault
- LDS positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted,
- Alleged failure to report
- View report »
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- 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 report-
- Anthon Ellsworth (1982 – ) was an LDS bishopric counselor in Arizona; in 2021, pleaded guilty to three felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and was sentenced to seven years in prison
- Crime: 2020s,
- Crime state:
Arizona,
Convicted:
2021, LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Alleged failure to report-
- Dennis Empey (1957 – ) was a Mormon church member in Driggs, Idaho and scout leader in Provo, Utah; accused of sexually abusing many children between 1981 and 1990; a stake president and four Mormon bishops allegedly failed to report abuse for years; convicted in 1991 in Utah of child molestation; sentenced to one year in jail and three years probation; charged in 2025 in Idaho with sex crimes
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s,
- Crime city:
UT - Provo,
- Crime state:
Idaho, Utah,
Convicted:
1991, LDS positions: Scout leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Probation, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result, Alleged failure to reportEmpey's alleged sex crimes span at least 44 years (1981 - 2025)
"This man has molested so many children that it involved four Bishops from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints."
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- Carlos Escalante was an LDS branch president in San Nicolas, Argentina; sexually abused his stepdaughter for 5 years, including while branch president; the victim asked local LDS leaders for support, but allegedly received none; she was punished by the church for "refusing to forgive" and for "failing to comply with worthiness standards;" Escalante was sentenced in 2018 to 14 years in prison
- Convicted:
2018,
- LDS positions: Branch president,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison,
- Alleged failure to report
- View report »
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- Pierre Euvrard (1949 – 2000) was a Mormon mission president from 1991 to 1994 in the Mascarene Islands mission / South Africa Durban mission; died in 2000; accused in a 2020 Arizona lawsuit of sexually abusing two underage teen boys for years while working as a mission president
- LDS positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor, Mission president, Missionary, Other leader, Stake high council, Temple worker,
- Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result,
- Alleged failure to report
- View report »
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- William Gillespie (1936 – ) was an LDS church member in Montgomery, Alabama; accused of reaching inside the swimsuits of two girls and fondling them in his backyard pool in 1987; convicted in 1988 of three charges of first-degree sexual abuse and sentenced to one year in prison, plus four years of probation; conviction was reversed on appeal, then upheld; was allegedly excommunicated from the Mormon church
- Crime: 1980s,
- Crime state:
Alabama,
LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Overturned/reversed, Prison, Probation, Unknown result, Alleged 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 city:
crime-city-ut-west-valley,
- Alleged crime county:
UT - Salt Lake,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor, Scout leader, Criminal case(s): Charges dropped, Expunged, Not convicted, Police investigation, Alleged failure to reportDespite 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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- John Goodrich (1959 – ) was a former Mormon bishop and dentist in Idaho; accused of child sexual abuse and of having nonconsensual sex with a woman he admitting to drugging; given a withheld judgement; in December 2023, the AP reported that the Mormon church had offered $300,000 to a victim and her mother to not use her story to sue the church, and to keep the NDA secret; arrested in Virginia in March 2024
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime state:
Idaho, Virginia,
Convicted:
2017, LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Charges dropped, Convicted, Withheld judgment, Civil case(s): Settlement, Alleged failure to report-
- Alan Grant (1959 – ) was an LDS church member and primary teacher in Utah; found guilty of child sexual abuse; sentenced in August 1998 to two months in jail
- Crime: 1990s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Primary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, -
- Jay Grant (1902 – 1988) was a Mormon bishop of the Adams Ward in Los Angeles, California; charged in 1981, at age 79, with five counts of forcible sexual abuse; sexually assaulted three young girls; convicted of all five counts; died in 1988 in Orem, Utah; ran "Grandpa Grant's Memory Club," a neighborhood study group for up to 175 LDS children; Grant sometimes had "students" spend the night at his apartment
- LDS positions: Bishop, Youth leader,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted,
- View report »
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- Lincoln Gygi (1988 – ) was a Mormon church member in Pleasant Grove, Utah; convicted in 2020 of sexually abusing a 7-year-old boy
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime county:
UT - Utah,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2020, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, 
LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Other leader, Sunday school, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, -
- Douglas Hall (1982 – ) was a Mormon church member and real estate agent in Idaho; pleaded guilty in 2025 to first-degree felony object rape in Utah, and to lewd conduct with a minor under the age of 16 in Idaho; other charges in both cases were dropped via plea agreements; sentenced to five years to life in prison in Utah, and to eight years to life in prison in Idaho, per court documents
- Crime: 2020s,
- Crime city:
UT - St. George,
- Crime county:
UT - Washington,
- Crime state:
Idaho, Utah,
Convicted:
2025, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Hall allegedly assaulted a child hundreds of times, per Utah court documents
"Doug [...] would use religious manipulation to pressure [the victim] to stop listening to heavy metal music, promising her that if she stopped listening to inappropriate music, 'Heavenly Father and Jesus would help her forgive him.'"
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- David Hamblin (1954 – ) was a Mormon church member and former elders quorum president in Utah; arrested in 2022 and charged with child sexual abuse in three separate cases; investigated along with ex-wife Roselle Stevenson (arrested in 2023) for alleged ritualistic sexual abuse; in 2025, a court dismissed one case with prejudice after "discovery issues;" one case remained as of March 2025
- Alleged crime: 1980s, 1990s, 2000s,
- Alleged crime city:
UT - Provo,
- Alleged crime county:
UT - Utah,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Elders quorum, Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Ongoing, Police investigation, Alleged failure to report-
- Vance Hein (1951 – ) was an LDS church member and scoutmaster in West Bradford, Pennsylvania; was convicted in 1999 of a misdemeanor for sexually abusing one of his boy scouts; sentenced in 2000 to 15 years of probation; arrested in 2011 for possessing child pornography; sentenced in 2012 to 15 to 30 years in prison; the Mormon church settled a related lawsuit in 2014
- Crime: 1990s, 2010s,
- Crime state:
Pennsylvania,
- Crime country:
Canada,
Convicted:
1999, 2000, 2012, LDS positions: Scout leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Probation, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement, Alleged failure to report-
- 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
- Crime: 1990s, 2000s,
- Crime county:
WA - King,
- Crime state:
Washington,
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 reportone boy estimated that Herget abused him 1,400 times
"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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- 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 report-
- 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 city:
UT - Provo,
- Alleged crime county:
UT - Utah,
- 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 reportexcommunicated, 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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- Brent Johnson (1973 – ) was a Mormon church member in Cedar Hills, Utah; charged in 2024 with multiple felonies related to child sexual abuse; police said they found three videos of Johnson in 2013 where he was recording himself sexually abusing an 11-year-old child while she was sleeping
- Crime: 2010s, 2020s,
- Crime county:
UT - Utah,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2025, LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Unknown result, -
- Ronald Jones (1937 – ) was a former Mormon bishop, stake president and temple presidency counselor; Military Relations director for the LDS church from 1989 to 1991; convicted of sex solicitation in Utah in 1990 and 1995; charged in 2025 with three first-degree felony counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, one first-degree felony child kidnapping count, and two related misdemeanors
- LDS positions: Bishop, Branch president, Other leader, Scout leader, Stake presidency counselor, Stake president, Temple worker, Unknown position, Ward executive secretary,
- Criminal case(s): Ongoing,
- View report »
became temple presidency counselor and sealer despite two convictions for sex solicitation
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- Larry Judd (1936 – ) was an LDS church member in Mesa, Arizona; accused of sexual abuse; admitted to molesting 12 girls over a period of about 20 years; some of the alleged abuse took place at church and at church-sponsored summer camps
- LDS positions: Scout leader,
- Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Convicted, Unknown result,
- Alleged failure to report
- View report »
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- David Keller (1970 – ) was a Mormon temple worker, Sunday school teacher and former stake presidency member in Paradise, Cache Valley, Utah; admitted in May 2024 to child sexual abuse and was charged with seven first-degree felony counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child
- Alleged crime: 2000s, 2010s,
- Alleged crime county:
UT - Cache,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Stake presidency counselor, Sunday school, Temple worker, Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Ongoing, -
- Scott Kidman (1977 – ) was a Mormon church member in Cache County, Utah; investigated in 2015-16 for alleged sexual abuse of multiple children, but charges were never filed; arrested in 2025 for alleged object rape; allegedly repeatedly sexually abused at least four young girls over a period of several years
- LDS positions: Unknown position,
- Criminal case(s): Ongoing, Police investigation,
- View report »
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- Timothy Kimball (1979 – 2023) was an LDS church member in San Antonio, Texas; charged in 2022 with child sexual abuse; died by suicide in June 2023 while awaiting indictment
- LDS positions: Missionary, Other leader,
- Criminal case(s): Died awaiting trial, Not convicted, Suicide,
- View report »
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- Virgil Larson was a Mormon church member and first counselor in an LDS ward bishopric in Chubbuck, Idaho; arrested in September 2024 and charged with sexual abuse of five boys, ages 12-15; he knew the boys from LDS ward activities and was their priesthood leader; as of March 2025, a jury trial was scheduled for April 8
- LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Youth leader,
- Criminal case(s): Ongoing,
- Alleged failure to report
- View report »
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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 city:
CA - Los Angeles, CA - Santa Clarita,
- Crime county:
CA - Los Angeles,
- Crime state:
California,
Convicted:
1987, LDS positions: Missionary, Scout leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Registered sex offender, Released, Alleged failure to report-
- Richard McClung (1943 – ) 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
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s,
- Crime state:
Illinois,
Convicted:
2007, LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Found guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Alleged failure to report-
- David McConkie (1978 – ) was a Mormon bishop (approximately 2013-16), stake president (2016-21) and deputy district attorney in Colorado; paternal grandson of Mormon apostle Bruce R. McConkie; arrested in 2023 and charged with felony sexual assault on a child by someone in a position of trust; allegedly confessed child sexual assault to a Mormon church leader in 2008; in July 2025, sentenced to five years probation
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s,
- Crime state:
Colorado,
LDS positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor, Missionary, Scout leader, Stake president, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation, Alleged failure to report-
- Maynard McFarland (1959 – ) was an LDS church member in California and Minnesota; sentenced in 2005 to 32 years in prison for sexually abusing his daughter for many years; released from prison in 2020; as of 2024, lives in Chula Vista, California as a registered sex offender
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s, 2000s,
- Crime state:
California, Minnesota,
Convicted:
2005, LDS positions: Scout leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Registered sex offender, Released, Civil case(s): Dismissed with prejudice, Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement, Alleged failure to reportAccording to a 2022 lawsuit, a bishop knew McFarland was abusing his daughter, but didn't report the abuse to police, and continued to let McFarland participate actively in church ceremonies and meetings, including baptizing his daughter
"I allowed Satan to be my lord."
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- Aaron Montoya (1972 – ) was a Mormon children's Primary teacher and law enforcement officer in Utah; found guilty in 2005 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
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2005, LDS positions: Primary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Found guilty, Jury trial, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender, Released, -
- Timothy Monzello was a Mormon bishop in Azusa, California (Azusa 1st Ward, Glendora California Stake) from about 2005 to 2010; accused in a 2024 civil lawsuit of sexual abuse that allegedly took place between 2008 and 2010, starting when the victim was seven years old; the alleged abuse took place in the bishop's office at church and at Monzello's home
- Alleged crime: 2000s,
- 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 report-
- Shawn Mortensen (1965 – ) was a former Mormon bishop and stake presidency member in Albuquerque, New Mexico; in February 2021, admitted to police that he had sexually abused an 11-year-old girl in January 2021; convicted of child sexual abuse; sentenced in 2022 to prison in New Mexico
- Crime: 2020s,
- Crime state:
New Mexico,
Convicted:
2022, LDS positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor, Other leader, Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, -
- 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
- Alleged crime: 1960s, 1970s,
- Alleged crime state:
California,
LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Unknown result, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Alleged failure to report-
- Zander Nunley (1998 – ) was a police officer and former Mormon missionary in Salt Lake City, Utah; went on an LDS mission to Nicaragua in 2018 to 2019; accused in December 2024 of sexual assault of a woman who said he met her via an online dating app; she said he invited her to his home to watch a Christmas devotional broadcast by worldwide Mormon leaders; she said he removed his LDS temple garments to assault her
- Alleged crime: 2020s,
- Alleged crime county:
UT - Utah,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Ongoing, -
- DeRon Olsen (1944 – ) was a former Mormon bishop and stake presidency counselor in Spokane, Washington; in 2024, pleaded guilty to one felony count of child molestation and one felony count of child rape; sentenced to prison
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s, 2020s,
- Crime state:
Washington,
Convicted:
2024, LDS positions: Bishop, Nursery, Primary, Stake presidency counselor, Sunday school, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Alleged failure to report-
- 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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- Eneudo Petit (1972 – ) was a Mormon bishop in Provo, Utah; while bishop, allegedly sexually abused a child; accused of molesting another child before becoming a bishop; allegedly avoided arrest warrant for child sexual abuse by fleeing the US to Venezuela; arrested in Texas in 2021; convicted in Utah in 2022 and sentenced to prison; as of July 2024, is in the Uintah County Jail
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2022, LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Fled or failed to appear, Prison, Alleged failure to report-
- Brian Pickett was a Mormon branch president and leader at a youth program picking pineapples in Maui, Hawaii; accused of sexual abuse in a civil lawsuit that also named the LDS church; the suit was dismissed with prejudice after a settlement in 2016
- Alleged crime: 1980s,
- Alleged crime state:
Hawaii,
LDS positions: Branch president, Stake high council, Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, Civil case(s): Dismissed with prejudice, Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement, Alleged failure to report-
- Richard Ray (1942 – 2019) was an LDS church member in Arizona; sentenced in 1984 to 61 years in prison for molesting five girls; allegedly had more than 30 victims; the LDS church was involved in a lawsuit regarding clergy-penitent privilege; the church settled out of court for an undisclosed amount just before trial
- Crime: 1970s, 1980s,
- Crime state:
Arizona,
LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement, Alleged failure to report-
- Gary Reese (1938 – 2014) was a Mormon bishopric counselor, seminary teacher and Boy Scout leader in Washington; accused of sexually molesting several boys in his scout troops; never charged; two plaintiffs sued the Mormon church; lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice in 2011; Reese died in 2014
- Alleged crime: 1970s,
- Alleged crime state:
Washington,
LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Missionary, Scout leader, Seminary teacher, Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, Civil case(s): Dismissed with prejudice, Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result, Alleged failure to report-
- Douglas Richens (1972 – ) was former international director of the Mormon church's disability services and prison ministry; worked for the LDS church for 23 years; retired, became a professional life coach in Tooele, Utah; charged with sodomy on a child and aggravated sexual abuse; court ordered him held without bail as of Mar. 21, 2025
- LDS positions: Church employee, Missionary, Other leader, Seminary teacher, Unknown position,
- Criminal case(s): Ongoing, Police investigation,
- View report »
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- Rene Rodriguez (1982 – ) was a Mormon elders quorum presidency member and sheriff in Shoshone, Lincoln County, Idaho; accused in 2019 of child sexual abuse that allegedly took place from 2005 to 2014; faced criminal charges in multiple Idaho counties; in one, was acquitted by a jury; in another, was convicted in 2020 and sentenced to 14 to 28 years in prison
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s,
- Crime state:
Idaho,
Convicted:
2020, LDS positions: Elders quorum, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, -
- Vernon Sanford Jr 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
- Alleged crime: 1960s, 1970s,
- Alleged crime state:
California,
LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Alleged failure to report-
- Vernon Sanford Sr 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
- Alleged crime: 1960s, 1970s,
- Alleged crime state:
California,
LDS positions: Other leader, Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Alleged failure to report-
- Kyle Saucier was a Mormon missionary in Utah; charged in 2007 with aggravated sexual abuse of a child, but the charges were dropped after prosecutors said they could not proceed due to "witness problems"
- LDS positions: Missionary,
- Criminal case(s): Charges dropped, Not convicted,
- View report »
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- Dennis Schult (1935 – ) was a Mormon church member and scout leader in southern California; pleaded no contest to two counts of child molestation as part of a plea agreement wherein six other molestation charges were dropped; sentenced in 1991 to eight years in prison for sexually abusing two of his scouts for several years; as of 2024, registered sex offender living in Granada Hills, California
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s,
- Crime state:
California,
Convicted:
1991, LDS positions: Scout leader, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, No contest, Plea deal, Prison, Registered sex offender, Alleged failure to report-
- Wade Schvaneveldt (1971 – ) was an LDS church member and high school girl's basketball coach in or near Grace, Idaho; accused of raping a child numerous times over a period of several years, including at his home while his family was attending LDS church meetings; in April 2023, accepted a plea deal to two felony counts of rape; in June 2023, was sentenced to 8 to 18 years in prison
- Crime: 2010s, 2020s,
- Crime state:
Idaho,
Convicted:
2023, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, -
- 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 report-
- Michael Stillman (1939 – 2020) was a Mormon Tabernacle Choir member and professional scouter with the Boy Scouts of America in Monroe, Sevier County, Utah; accused in 1989 of having sexually abused a boy between the ages of 13 and 15 in the mid-1970s; decided to resign as district scout executive as long as it did not imply guilt; was never reported to police or charged with a crime
- Alleged crime: 1970s,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Scout leader, Tabernacle Choir, Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, Alleged failure to report-
- 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
- Alleged crime: 1990s,
- Alleged crime state:
California,
LDS positions: Other leader, Criminal case(s): Never charged, Not convicted, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Alleged failure to report-
- Sean Sund (1972 – ) was an LDS primary teacher in Utah; arrested in 2018 and accused of sexually abusing an 8-year-old girl from his LDS ward during sleepovers at his home on multiple occasions; pleaded guilty in 2022 to second-degree felony sex abuse of a child and was sentenced to 361 days in jail; registered sex offender for life
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2022, LDS positions: Other leader, Primary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Registered sex offender, -
- Kimball Ungerman (1957 – ) was an LDS bishopric counselor in California; moved to Utah; pleaded guilty in 2020 to one felony count related to child sexual abuse; sentenced to prison, but term was suspended; sentenced to probation; as of 2023, registered sex offender, lives in Orem, Utah; a 2021 California lawsuit against the church said bishop Phil Stewart failed to protect a victim, and a mission president didn't report
- LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Missionary, Seminary teacher,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Probation, Registered sex offender,
- Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement,
- Alleged failure to report
- View report »
"The Church does not keep a repository of documents relating to allegations, claims, or notification of child sexual abuse. There is no 'sexual abuse' file."
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- James Victor (1960 – ) was a Mormon missionary in Canada in the 1980s; allegedly sexually abused a 12-year-old boy while on his mission; an LDS stake president and a mission president (David Sorensen) allegedly covered up abuse allegations; Sorensen later became an LDS general authority
- Alleged crime: 1980s,
- Alleged crime country:
Canada,
LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Police investigation, Unknown result, Alleged failure to report-
- Alexander Winward was an LDS church member in Utah; pleaded guilty to 4 felony counts of child sex abuse, with all victims under the age of 7
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2018, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Prison, -
- 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 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 county:
UT - Salt Lake,
- 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 reportFilters
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