255 LDS sex abuse cases found
pleaded guilty
- Criminal case result: Pleaded guilty
-
- Michael Rosser (1961 – ) was an LDS church member in Indiana; accused in 2023 of child sexual abuse; made a plea agreement in February 2024, agreeing to plead guilty to reduced charges; convicted in 2024 and sentenced to six years in prison with two years probation
Convicted:
2024, 
Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Probation, - View report »
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- 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,
- View report »
Crime city:
Crime state:
-
- Tim Ryan was allegedly an LDS church member in Idaho; accused of sexual abuse; pleaded guilty in 2008 to a felony charge of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 16; detectives said the victim's family reported the abuse in 1999, but that it was dropped when they wouldn't cooperate with investigators
- Crime: 1990s,
- Crime state:
Idaho,
Convicted:
2008, 
LDS positions: Unknown position, 
Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, 
Alleged failure to report-
- 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,
Crime county:
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-
- 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, -
- Darran Scott (1964 – ) was a Mormon church member and filmmaker in Archies Creek, Victoria, Australia; pleaded guilty in 2017 to 16 charges related to the sexual abuse of 11 boys over a 25-year period; sentenced in 2017 to 10 years in prison
- Crime: 1990s, 2000s, 2010s,
- Crime country:
Australia,
Crime country:
Convicted:
2017, LDS positions: Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, -
- Frank Selas (1939 – 2021) was an former childrens TV host/entertainer in California who joined the LDS church in the 1990s; pleaded guilty to one count of indecent behavior with a child; the crime took place in the 1970s
- Crime: 1970s,
- Crime state:
California,
LDS positions: Scout leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, -
- Carl Sepos (1945 – ) was an LDS temple worker and high priest in Payson, Utah; pleaded guilty in 2015 to sexually abusing an adult woman with Down syndrome and autism at a hotel swimming pool; he blamed his sex crime in part on an addiction to pornography; sentenced to 150 days in jail, 36 months of probation and 100 hours of community service
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2015, LDS positions: High priest, Temple worker, Criminal case(s): Community service, Convicted, Jail, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation, -
- Stewart Singley (1937 – ) was an LDS church member in Ohio; convicted in 1975 of child molestation that occurred in 1974; in 1997, convicted and sentenced to one year in jail or prison; as of 2024, is a registered sex offender; lives in East Waterford, Pennsylvania
- Crime: 1970s, 1990s,
- Crime state:
Ohio,
LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Registered sex offender, Released, -
- James Sirles (1924 – 2018) was a Mormon church member in Chesterfield, Virginia; convicted of possession of child pornography and production and distribution of child pornography
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime state:
Virginia,
Convicted:
2005, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Unknown result, -
- Bradley Spencer (1958 – ) was a Mormon church member and Middleton city councilman in Idaho; convicted in 2015 of sexual battery of a minor; sentenced to eight years in prison; registered sex offender
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime city:
ID - Nampa,
- Crime state:
Idaho,
Convicted:
2015, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, -
- Kent Staheli (1958 – ) was an LDS church member in California and Utah; served as first counselor in a Mormon bishopric; convicted in federal court in 2010 of charges related to child sex trafficking
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2010, LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender, -
- Robert Stahn (1958 – ) was an LDS church member and therapist in Idaho Falls, Idaho; accused in April 2023 of sexual abuse; once served as clinical director of Operation Shield, counseling child sexual trauma survivors; pleaded guilty in October 2023 to felony sexual abuse or exploitation of a vulnerable adult
- Convicted:
2023,
- LDS positions: Unknown position,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Unknown result,
- View report »
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- Derrick Starley was an LDS church member and full-time missionary in Chubbuck, Idaho; originally from Utah; perpetrated a sex crime while on his Mormon mission in October 2012; convicted in 2013 of felony injury to a child and sentenced to 10 days in jail
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Idaho,
Convicted:
2013, LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation, -
- Terry Stidd (1960 – ) was an LDS church member in Kearns, Utah; in 1998, pleaded guilty to rape in the first degree and sodomy in the first degree and was sentenced to 10 years in prison; as of 2024, is out on parole and lives in Salt Lake City, Utah
- Crime: 1990s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Released, -
- Bradley Stowell (1972 – ) was a Mormon church member and scout leader in Idaho; confessed to sexually abusing 24 boys; pleaded guilty to molesting two boys; sentenced in 1997 to 150 days in prison and 15 years of probation; local LDS church coverup alleged; one of Stowell's victims, Adam Steed, came forward, spurring lawsuits against the Mormon church and the BSA; as of 2024, lived in Herriman, Utah
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s, 2000s,
- Crime state:
Idaho,
Convicted:
2005, 2008, LDS positions: Missionary, Scout leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Probation, Registered sex offender, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result, Alleged failure to report-
- Kevin Sykes (1967 – ) was an LDS church youth leader in Utah; arrested for possessing child pornography; later arrested for forcible sodomy, human trafficking, sexual abuse of a minor, child abuse and obstructing justice; pleaded guilty in February 2023 to four counts of felony child sexual abuse; in November 2023, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in Utah
- Crime: 2020s,
- Crime county:
UT - Utah,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2023, LDS positions: Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, -
- Todd Tanner (1970 – ) was a Mormon church member in the Cortez/Durango, Colorado area and St, George, Utah; co-founder of Utah-based dirty soda business Swig Drinks in approximately 2010; charged in 2010 in Colorado with crimes related to child sexual abuse; convicted in 2011 and sentenced to 48 months probation; allegedly was a Sunday School teacher in St. George, Utah after his conviction
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime county:
UT - Washington,
- Crime state:
Colorado,
Convicted:
2011, LDS positions: Stake high council, Sunday school, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Ongoing, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation, Registered sex offender, After Tanner's 2011 conviction in Colorado, the Mormon church allegedly assigned him to be a Sunday School teacher for LDS teenagers in St. George, Utah
"All I wanted was to go far away to a place where you could not hurt me [..] Now I speak for the 12-year-old girl I once was. [...] You changed how I feel about myself [...] You don't deserve that kind of power. [...] Many days, it seems I feel ready to give up. [...] I continually uncover the hidden wounds that will need to be healed. [...] I choose to take back my power and relinquish the power he held over me."
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- Bagley Tara was an LDS church member in Idaho; pleaded guilty to two counts of Sexual Battery of a Child 16 or 17 years of age and was sentenced to 13 years in prison
- LDS positions: Youth leader,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty,
- View report »
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- Heidi Tasso (1968 – ) was an LDS church member and school teacher/counselor in St. George, Utah; charged in 2016 with child sexual abuse; pleaded guilty in June 2018 to one third-degree felony count of unlawful sexual activity with a minor; sentenced in August 2018 to 120 days in jail, 36 months probation and 200 hours of community service
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime county:
UT - Washington,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2018, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Community service, Convicted, Jail, Pleaded guilty, Probation, -
- Peter Taylor was a Mormon church member in Washington; confessed to sexual abuse of his two underage stepdaughters; convicted; Mormon church lost a civil lawsuit and was court ordered to pay the victims $2.5 million; the church appealed and the amount was reduced to $1.2 million
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s,
- Crime state:
Washington,
Convicted:
2001, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Civil case(s): Judgment for plaintiff, Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement, Alleged failure to report-
- Brent Taylor (1948 – ) was the Utah Valley Youth Symphony orchestra director and an LDS Sunday school teacher; accused in 2018 of sexually abusing multiple boys; a judge ruled in 2023 that he had exaggerated his health issues to avoid trial; pleaded guilty in June 2024; sentenced twice to prison in two separate child sex abuse cases in 2024
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s, 2000s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2024, LDS positions: Sunday school, Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Fled or failed to appear, Ongoing, Pleaded guilty, Prison, -
- 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-
- Anthony Teeples (1968 – ) was an LDS church member in Cache County, Utah; accused of sexual abuse; convicted in 1989 and in 2019
- Crime: 1980s, 2010s,
- Crime county:
UT - Cache,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2019, LDS positions: Youth leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Unknown result, -
- Arturo Tenorio (1953 – ) was an LDS church member in Utah; accused of sexual abuse
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime county:
UT - Salt Lake,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2013, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Unknown result, -
- Patrick Tervort (1992 – ) was a reportedly a Mormon church member in St. George, Utah; pled guilty and convicted of three counts of FORCIBLE SEXUAL ABUSE a 2nd Degree Felony; sentenced 1-15 years for each conviction; all prison time suspended.
- Crime: 2020s,
- Crime city:
St. George,
- Crime county:
Washington,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2023, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Probation, Registered sex offender, 
LDS positions: High priest, Scout leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result, Alleged failure to report-
- Russell Tolbert (1980 – ) was a Mormon church member in Rigby, Idaho; accused of sexual abuse
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation,
- View report »
Convicted:
2006, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, -
- Charles Tyhurst (1947 – ) was a former LDS bishop and optometrist in southwest Virginia; accused of sexual abuse; convicted; 2020: sentenced in Virginia to prison for five years for aggravated sexual battery of a minor; 2024: registered sex offender; lives in Richmond, Virginia
- LDS positions: Bishop,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty,
- View report »
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- 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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- Alva Van Wagoner (1929 – 2019) was a Mormon church member; accused of sexual abuse
- Convicted:
1999,
- LDS positions: Branch president, Ministering/home teacher, Other leader, Sunday school,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty,
- View report »
"The judge also noted that he had never received so many letters in support of anyone who had come to his court before as a defendant in a criminal case."
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- Jeffrey Vargo was an LDS church member in Washington County, Utah; accused of sexual abuse; pleaded guilty
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime county:
UT - Washington,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2001, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, -
- Matthew Wallis (1984 – ) was a Mormon church member in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana and in Ogden, Utah; pleaded guilty to a charge related to child sexual abuse
- Crime: 1990s, 2000s,
- Crime state:
Louisiana,
Convicted:
2015, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Alleged failure to report-
- Curtis Ware (1968 – ) was a Mormon church member and football coach for Grantsville High School in Utah; convicted in June 2018 of one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a 16- or 17-year-old and two counts of dealing in materials harmful to a minor, all class A misdemeanors; also pleaded guilty to class B misdemeanor tampering with a witness in a separate case
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2018, LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Unknown result, -
- Charles Weber (1947 – ) was an LDS church member and principal in Heber, Utah; convicted of forcible sodomy, forcible sexual abuse unlawful sexual activity with a minor; admitted to sexually abusing children throughout his 35 year career
- Crime: 2000s,
- Crime county:
UT - Salt Lake,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2013, 2014, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, -
- Anthony Webster was an LDS church member and fitness center employee in Collierville, Tennessee; accused of sexually molesting three young girls; in 2013, pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated sexual battery and was sentenced to 16 years in prison
- Convicted:
2013,
- LDS positions: Unknown position,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison,
- View report »
Convicted:
2012, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, -
- Robert Westover (1972 – ) was a former LDS bishop and attorney in Dallas, Texas; arrested in 2021 for allegedly recording a minor; pleaded guilty in 2023 and sentenced to 4 years probation
- Convicted:
2023,
- LDS positions: Bishop, Missionary,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation,
- View report »
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- Dylan Whiting (1988 – ) was an LDS bishop in Nampa, Idaho; was removed from his position in 2021 after child sexual abuse allegations surfaced; was charged with four sex crimes; pleaded guilty to one felony count; sentenced in 2022; FLOODLIT is seeking info on the sentence
- Crime: 2010s, 2020s,
- Crime state:
Idaho,
Convicted:
2022, LDS positions: Bishop, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Registered sex offender, Alleged failure to report-
- Daniel Willard (1988 – ) was a Mormon church member in St. Charles, Missouri; pleaded guilty to Possession Of Child Pornography and Furnish Pornographic Material Or Attempt To Furnish To A Minor; registered sex offender
- LDS positions: Primary,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Unknown result,
- View report »
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- Keith Williams (1956 – ) was a Mormon church member in Clearfield, Utah; accused of sexual abuse; allegedly molested a boy for three years; Mormon leaders allegedly failed to report the abuse to police, but approved Williams for an LDS temple wedding; convicted in 1991
- Crime: 1980s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Alleged failure to report-
- Robert Wily (1979 – ) was an Mormon church member in Utah; in 2004, pleaded guilty to four class A misdemeanor counts of sexual battery; arrested in 2020 for allegedly possessing several child exploitation images; convicted of one felony count in 2022; sentenced to 365 days in jail and 48 months probation
- Crime: 2000s, 2020s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2004, 2020, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Pleaded guilty, Probation, -
- 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, -
- Byron Wiscombe (1977 – ) was an LDS bishopric counselor and Ammon, Idaho city councilman; signed a plea agreement indicating he would admit to committing lewd conduct with a minor; sentenced to prison in 2023
- Crime: 2010s, 2020s,
- Crime state:
Idaho,
Convicted:
2023, LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Alleged failure to report-
- LaVar Withers (1936 – 2005) was a Mormon and physician in Rexburg, Idaho; accused of sexually abusing at least 133 women and children as young as 13 years old over a period of 30 or more years; admitted to sexual abuse; in 1996, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery; sentenced to 30 to 60 days in jail and two years probation; the Mormon church placed him on probation and took his temple recommend; died in 2005
- Crime: 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s,
- Crime city:
ID - Rexburg,
- Crime state:
Idaho,
LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Stake high council, Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Convicted, Jail, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation, Alleged failure to report-
- Stephen Wold (1988 – ) was a Mormon church member and former full-time missionary (to Panama) who lived in Highland, Utah; convicted in 2017 of first-degree felony aggravated sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Convicted:
2017, LDS positions: BYU, Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, -
- Lamar Woodbury (1954 – ) was a Mormon church member; pleaded guilty of sexual abuse on a child under the age of 14, a second degree felony
- LDS positions: Unknown position,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty,
- View report »
-
- Kenne Worthen (1988 – ) was a Mormon elementary school teacher and BYU-Idaho adjunct professor in Arizona who sexually abused a 12-year-old child; in 2015, pleaded guilty to sexual conduct with a minor and two counts of attempt to commit child molestation; sentenced to 25 years in prison and a lifetime of probation after
- Convicted:
2015,
- LDS positions: BYU, Scout leader,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Probation,
- View report »
-
- Harvey Wright (1945 – ) was an LDS church member and scout leader in Flagstaff, AZ; in 1988, pleaded guilty to "Attempted Sexual Abuse/Dangerous Crimes Against Children" and was sentenced to 90 days in jail and four years probation; placed in the BSA Confidential Files ("Perversion Files")
- Crime: 1980s,
- Crime state:
Arizona,
LDS positions: Scout leader, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation, 
Convicted:
2010, LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Alleged failure to report-
- 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, -
- Scott Zaugg (1970 – ) was allegedly a Mormon church member in Utah; was raised in the Mormon church; convicted in 2000 of second-degree felony sex abuse of a child; was sentenced to one to 15 years in prison; as of 2025, was a registered sex offender living in Roy, Utah
- Convicted:
2000,
- LDS positions: LDS status unknown, Unknown position,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender, Released,
- View report »
-
- Jeffrey Zaugg was allegedly a Mormon church member in Utah; was raised in the Mormon church; convicted in 1995 of first-degree felony sodomy on a child; was sentenced to 10 years to life in prison; as of 2025, was out on parole (Utah offender #73345)
- Convicted:
1995,
- LDS positions: LDS status unknown, Unknown position,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Parole, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender,
- View report »
-
- Justin Zierke (1980 – ) was a Mormon church member and middle school teacher in Idaho Falls, Idaho; Zierke accepted a plea deal and pled guilty of injury to a child; received 30 days in jail and 2 years probation; lost teaching license
- Crime: 2020s,
- Crime state:
Idaho,
Convicted:
2025, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation, Filters
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