36 LDS sex abuse cases found
defendant was convicted
- LDS position during crime: Bishop
- Criminal case result: Convicted
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- Michael Antrobus (1947 – 2023) was a former Mormon branch president (similar to a bishop) and bishop in Connersville, Indiana for 10 years (approximately 1974-84); convicted of child sexual abuse charges (9 counts, 6 victims) in Sacramento County, California in 2021-2022; sentenced to 8 years in San Quentin State Prison; died by suicide in prison in September 2023; allegedly had at least a dozen victims
Convicted:
2021, 2022, 
LDS positions: Bishop, Branch president, Missionary, 
Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, - Alleged failure to report
- View report »
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- Geoffrey Ashdown (1947 – ) was a Mormon bishop and deputy school principal in Australia; convicted after alleged sexual abuse of two boys; the alleged abuse took place while Ashdown was a bishop; died in 2012
- Convicted:
1994,
- LDS positions: Bishop, Scout leader,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted,
- Alleged failure to report
- View report »
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- 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,
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- 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
- View report »
Crime state:
-
- Gordon Bodily (1949 – ) was a Mormon bishop and physical education teacher in Hyrum, Cache Valley, Utah; accused in 2000 of luring a 17-year-old North Carolina girl to Utah for sex while serving as an LDS bishop; sentenced in 2001 to 21 months in federal prison
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2001, 
LDS positions: Bishop, Missionary, 
Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, 
Alleged failure to report-
- Paul Burdick (1972 – ) was an LDS bishop and drivers education teacher in Oregon; arrested in 2019 and charged with child sexual abuse; pleaded guilty to third-degree sex abuse involving underage female students in his job as a drivers ed teacher
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Oregon,
Convicted:
2020, LDS positions: Bishop, Elders quorum, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Probation, Alleged failure to report-
- David Cannata (1965 – ) was a Mormon bishop in Tucson, Arizona in 2005 when he sexually abused a child who was 5 or 6 years old; was a stake high council member sometime in the 2010s; was confronted by the victim and turned himself into the police; convicted in 2019 and sentenced to seven and a half years in prison; was excommunicated from the Mormon church because of the abuse
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime state:
Arizona,
Convicted:
2019, LDS positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor, Stake high council, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Alleged failure to report-
- James Carnegie was a Mormon bishop in Silverdale, Washington in the mid-1980s (Silverdale 3rd Ward, Silverdale Washington Stake); convicted in 2009 and sentenced to jail for child molestation
- Convicted:
2009,
- LDS positions: Bishop,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail,
- Alleged failure to report
- View report »
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- Clark Crookston (1949 – ) was a former Mormon bishop, dentist and college professor in Orem, Utah; accused of nearly 60 years of sex abuse of multiple children; pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated child sexual abuse; sentenced in 2022 to up to 35 years in prison
- Crime: 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s,
- Crime county:
UT - Utah,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Crime county:
Convicted:
2022, LDS positions: Bishop, High priest, Missionary, Stake high council, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Alleged failure to report"I assumed I was alone. I felt guilty even to question his worthiness. [...] I buried the hurt and kept it secret for over 30 years. [...] The children who came forward are my heroes. These are the brave souls [who] broke the curse that has been happening for nearly 60 years."
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- James Denos (1929 – 2017) was a former LDS bishop and junior high school teacher in Utah; previously lived and served as a Mormon bishop in 1970 in Westminster, Orange County, California; sentenced in 2002 to a minimum of 20 years in a Utah state prison for sexually abusing four minor girls living in Utah; allegedly began molesting kids as early as 1950
- Crime: 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2002, LDS positions: Bishop, Missionary, Stake high council, Temple worker, Ward clerk, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Alleged failure to report"In public, my father was always so perfect, and he told us he was perfect. [...] He went to church every Sunday, we had family home evening and we read the Scriptures. People put him on a pedestal. But he was molesting children … right under our noses."
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- 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-
- 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, Registered sex offender,
- 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-
- Rex Furness (1923 – 2005) was a former Idaho state senator and Mormon bishop in Idaho; in 1996, pleaded guilty to sexual battery for fondling an underage girl; was sentenced to 60 days in jail; given a withheld judgment: if he did not violate the terms of his probation, the felony conviction would be kept from his record
- Crime: 1990s,
- Crime state:
Idaho,
LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation, Withheld judgment, Alleged failure to report-
- Keith Gillins (1947 – ) was a former mayor, LDS bishop and high school teacher in Fillmore, Utah; arrested on charges of having sex with a 17-year-old girl; convicted in 2009 of first degree felony attempted rape, first degree felony attempted sodomy and second degree felony forcible sexual abuse; sentenced in 2009 to three sentences of three years to life in prison
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2009, LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Alleged failure to report-
- 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 judgment; in 2023, the AP reported that the church paid $300,000 to a victim and her mother under conditions of secrecy; in 2024, a criminal case opened in Virginia; in December 2025, another alleged victim sued the church
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime state:
Idaho, Virginia,
Convicted:
2017, LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Charges dropped, Convicted, Ongoing, Withheld judgment, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Settlement, Alleged failure to report-
- Douglas Hall (1952 – ) was an LDS bishop and retired Utah Highway Patrol sergeant in Monticello, Utah; pleaded guilty in 2001 to two third degree felony counts of attempted forcible sexual abuse; pleaded guilty in 2002 to one second degree felony count of sex abuse of a child
- Crime: 1990s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2001, 2002, LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Unknown result, Alleged failure to report-
- Timothy Hallows (1958 – ) was a Mormon bishop in Kaysville, Utah when he perpetrated sex crimes; sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM); released in January 2023; as of February 2024, lives in Pleasant View, Utah
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime county:
UT - Davis,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2020, LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Released, Alleged failure to report-
- James Hayes (1956 – ) 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
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime country:
Canada,
Crime country:
Convicted:
2001, LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Alleged failure to report-
- Jeffrey Head (1964 – ) was an LDS bishop in Draper, Utah; committed sex crimes while serving as a Mormon bishop; in 2019, a jury found him guilty of attempted forcible sexual abuse, two counts of lewdness and sexual battery; sentenced to four months in jail and four years of probation
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2019, LDS positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor, Missionary, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Found guilty, Jail, Jury trial, Probation, Registered sex offender, Released, Alleged failure to report-
- Erik Hughes (1966 – ) was a Mormon bishop in Mapleton, Utah and a Mormon church senior product manager when he sexually abused two underage children in his LDS ward dozens of times; was sentenced to prison in 2017; released in 2023; as of 2024, registered sex offender living in Utah
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2017, LDS positions: Bishop, Church employee, Missionary, Stake high council, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Parole, Prison, Registered sex offender, Released, Alleged failure to report-
- Lon Kennard (1941 – 2019) was a former Mormon bishop in Heber City, Utah; in 2011, pleaded guilty to three felony counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child; sentenced in 2011 to three consecutive terms of five years to life in the Utah State Prison
- Crime: 1990s, 2000s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2011, LDS positions: Bishop, Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Alleged failure to report-
- Timothy McCleve (1956 – ) was a former Mormon bishop in Harrisville, Utah when he was charged with sexually abusing three children; some of the abuse took place while he was bishop; sentenced in 2008 to up to 30 years in prison for child sexual abuse; in 2024, charged in Utah with threatening a witness in a parole violation investigation
- Crime: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2008, LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Alleged failure to report-
- David Moss (1967 – ) was an LDS bishop (2015-19) and police officer in Lehi, Utah; arrested in 2019 for soliciting an undercover cop for sex; pleaded guilty in 2019 to a 3rd degree felony charge of exploiting a prostitute and a misdemeanor charge of patronizing a prostitute; sentenced to prison, but both terms were suspended
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2019, LDS positions: Bishop, Missionary, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Alleged failure to report-
- Steven Murdock (1963 – ) was a Mormon stake high council member and former LDS bishop in Holladay, Salt Lake County, Utah; allegedly sexually harassed multiple women in his ward while he was their bishop (he was bishop from 2013 to 2017); in 2019, was caught taking photos of a young woman in a dressing room in Tennessee; pleaded guilty in November 2019; sentenced in 2019 to one year probation, 48 hours community service
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Tennessee,
Convicted:
2019, LDS positions: Bishop, Stake high council, Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Community service, Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation, Released, Alleged failure to report-
- Paul Newman (1957 – ) was a former Mormon bishop in Highland, Utah; charged in 2020 with one second-degree felony count of attempted sex abuse of a child; the alleged abuse took place in 2013, while Newman was a bishop; in 2022, pleaded no contest to a reduced third-degree count; a prison term of up to five years was suspended; was fined $1,003 and placed on 48 months of probation; registered sex offender
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime city:
UT - Alpine,
- Crime county:
UT - Utah,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Crime city:
Convicted:
2022, LDS positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor, Scout leader, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, No contest, Probation, Registered sex offender, -
- Scott Owen (1959 – ) was a Mormon bishop (twice), stake presidency counselor and therapist in Provo, Utah; called himself the "Porn King;" accused by 7 former patients of sexually abusing them during sessions, and by a cousin (alleged sex abuse in 1980s); an LDS bishop, a stake president (his business partner) and Utah DOPL all allegedly failed to report to police; arrested in Nov. 2023; sentenced in 2025 to prison
- Crime: 1980s,
- Crime city:
UT - Provo,
- Crime county:
UT - Utah,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2025, LDS positions: Bishop, Missionary, Stake presidency counselor, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Alleged failure to report-
- Eddie Padilla was a Mormon bishop in Taos, New Mexico; accused of child sexual abuse; convicted twice
- LDS positions: Bishop,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison,
- Alleged failure to report
- 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-
- Ronald Phelps was an LDS bishop and stake executive secretary, and attorney, in Oklahoma; arrested for indecent exposure before becoming an LDS bishop; accused of child sexual abuse; Mormon church leaders allegedly covered up the abuse
- LDS positions: Bishop, Other leader,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Probation,
- Alleged failure to report
- View report »
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- Errol Pilling (1942 – ) was a Mormon bishop and licensed psychologist in Calgary, Alberta, Canada; went on an LDS mission to England in the early 1960s; pleaded guilty in 1988 and in 1994 to charges of sexual misconduct; in September 1994, his registration as a chartered psychologist with the Psychologists Association of Alberta was cancelled; in 1994, was excommunicated; as of February 2024, lives in Twin Falls, Idaho
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s,
- Crime country:
Canada,
LDS positions: Bishop, Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Civil case(s): Unknown result, Alleged failure to report-
- Geoffrey Powell (1947 – ) was an LDS bishop in Western Australia; accused of sexually abusing a seven-year-old girl in his ward; the alleged abuse took place while he was a bishop; the victim twice complained to the LDS church, but said she was not believed and was chastised, and it was suggested she should move away if she felt uncomfortable; in 2019, he was sentenced to 12 months in jail
- Crime: 1980s,
- Crime country:
Australia,
Convicted:
2019, LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Alleged failure to report-
- Keith Price (1956 – ) was a Mormon bishop in Pleasant Grove, Utah; convicted in 2018 of class A misdemeanor voyeurism; secretly recorded underage girls; the crime occurred while he was serving as bishop
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime county:
UT - Utah,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2018, LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Registered sex offender, Unknown result, Alleged failure to report-
- Alberto Reyes was a Mormon bishop in Argentina who sexually abused a child; allegedly sexually abused the victim for at least nine years; convicted in 2004
- Convicted:
2004,
- LDS positions: Bishop,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted,
- Alleged failure to report
- View report »
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- Richard Sampson (1945 – ) was a Mormon bishop, stake high council member and doctor in Provo, Utah; was director of medical affairs for the LDS Missionary Training Center; allegedly sexually abused at least seven children; convicted and sentenced in 2014 to one to 15 years in prison for child sexual abuse; as of 2024, was out on parole living in Holladay, Utah
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s,
- Crime city:
UT - Provo,
- Crime county:
AZ - Maricopa, UT - Utah,
- Crime state:
Arizona, Utah,
Convicted:
2014, LDS positions: Bishop, Church employee, Other leader, Stake high council, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Parole, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender, Released, Alleged failure to report-
- Douglas Stoddard (1949 – ) was an LDS bishop in Hurst, Texas; convicted in 1992 of a felony child sexual abuse charge of indecency with a child by contact; sentenced to 8 years of probation; a lifetime registered sex offender in Texas; named publicly in August 2023 by a victim who said Stoddard molested him and three other boys in his Mormon ward while serving as bishop
- Crime: 1980s,
- Crime state:
Texas,
LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Probation, Registered sex offender, Alleged failure to report-
- Keith Vallejo (1974 – ) was a Mormon bishop in Utah; accused of sexually abusing and raping two underage girls; in 2017, was found guilty in a jury trial of ten counts of second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse and one count of first-degree felony object rape; sentenced to five years to life in prison
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2017, LDS positions: Bishop, High priest, Other leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Found guilty, Jury trial, Prison, Alleged failure to reportFilters
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