5 LDS sex abuse cases found
withheld judgment
- Criminal case result: Withheld judgment
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- Scott Ashton (1976 – ) was a Mormon in Richland, Washington; in 2015, arrested at Coeur d'Alene Casino in police sting operation; initially booked for Patronizing a Prostitute; pleaded guilty to reduced misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace (non-sexual crime); given a withheld judgment, a special sentencing option allowing him to avoid conviction & have case dismissed; in 2016, completed probation, case dismissed
Alleged crime: 2010s, 
Alleged crime state:
Idaho, Washington,
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LDS positions: Youth leader, - Criminal case(s): case dismissed, Not convicted, Pleaded guilty, Probation, Withheld judgment,
Alleged church actions: Unknown church action, - View report »
Alleged crime state:
Ashton avoided conviction despite entering a guilty plea, thanks to a withheld judgment arrangement
"I asked Ashton if this was his first time doing this, and he stated no."
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- Noah Bloomfield (1999 – ) was a Mormon church member in McKinney, Texas; convicted of charges related to sexual abuse in 2017; and given a deferred judgement in 2022
- Convicted:
2017, 2022,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Withheld judgment,
- View report »
The girl said Bloomfield told her it was their secret and had her "pinky promise that she would not tell anyone,"
"the girl said Bloomfield touched her private parts "multiple times" while buckling the jacket. He then asked the child if he could do something else to her, and she told him no."
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- 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-
- 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 reportChurch paid $300,000
Alleged church actions: Excommunicated, -
- Derrick Starley (1991 – ) was a full-time LDS missionary in Chubbuck, Idaho; from Utah; was charged in 2013 with sexual battery of a child 16 or 17 year old; per Idaho State Journal, the alleged crime occurred during his mission in October 2012; pled guilty in 2013 to felony injury to a child; sentenced to 10 days in jail; was given a withheld judgment; in 2016, guilty plea was set aside and case was dismissed
- Crime: 2010s,
- Crime state:
Idaho,
Convicted:
2013, LDS positions: Missionary, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Jail, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation, Withheld judgment, Alleged church actions: unknown, Filters
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