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Donation options »50 Mormon sexual abuse cases found
Terry Allen
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- was an LDS church member in California; in 1987, was found guilty of sexual abuse of a child and was sentenced to six years in prison; was assigned to multiple trusted church positions, including Sunday school president, despite the Mormon church being aware that he had raped a teenager; LDS leaders were accused of hiding his abuse from local church members; as of 2024, lives in Grapevine, Texas.
- Learn more »
Alleged coverup- Criminal: Convicted, Prison, Registered sex offender, Released,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishopric counselor, Other leader, Stake high council, Sunday school, Youth leader,
- Crime: 1980s, in California, Connecticut,
- Crime scenes: Unknown crime scene,
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Alan Andrus
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- was a Mormon bishop in Placerville, El Dorado County, California; accused of sexual abuse in 2020; as of June 2024, the case is proceeding through the trial setting process.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Jury trial, Ongoing,
- Positions: Bishop, Missionary,
- Alleged crime: 2010s, in California,
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Michael Antrobus
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- 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; our sources report that he had at least a dozen victims.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Pleaded guilty,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishop, Branch president, Missionary,
- Crime scenes: Unknown crime scene,
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Jose Arias
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- was a Mormon church missionary in Palm Desert, California; accused of sexual abuse; civil suit filed against LDS church and Arias; judge awarded judgment by default for the plaintiff (victim) against Arias in 2017 in the amount of approximately $4.2 million; the LDS church was not found liable.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Judgment for plaintiff, Lawsuit v. LDS church,
- Positions: Missionary,
- Alleged crime: 1980s, in California,
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John Baca
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- was an LDS church member in California; found guilty of LEWD OR LASCIVIOUS ACTS WITH A CHILD UNDER 14 YEARS OF AGE.
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- Criminal: Convicted, Prison, Released,
- Crime: 1990s, in California,
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Christian Bearnson
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- was a Mormon church member in Los Angeles, California in the early 1990s; molested a 13-year-old girl; the LDS church settled, reportedly for millions of dollars (US).
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
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LDS church payment: $2,000,000
- Criminal: Convicted, Probation,
- Civil: Judgment for plaintiff, Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity,
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David Bennett
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- was an LDS church member and scout leader in California and Korea; convicted in 1987 in California of child sexual abuse; moved to Korea; was assigned to be an LDS young men's president and scoutmaster; was accused of molesting several boys; disappeared in 1991; FLOODLIT is attempting to locate him.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Fled or failed to appear, Pleaded guilty,
- Civil: Unknown result,
- Positions: Scout leader, Youth leader,
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George Brown
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- was a Mormon church member in Benicia, California; accused of sexually abusing an infant until age 4, and of creating/having CSAM on computer; allegedly attempted sexual abuse on a second infant.
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Dustin Cassady
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- was a Mormon church member in the Sacramento, California area (Carmichael); accused of child sexual exploitation; pleaded guilty; as of March 2024, lives in Roseville, California as a registered sex offender.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Registered sex offender,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Youth leader,
- Crime: 2010s, in California,
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Richard Cole
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- was an LDS church member in Santa Rosa, California; accused of sexually and physically abusing his wife; in 1975 was murdered by his wife when she said needed the abuse to stop.
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Alan Dunn
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- was a Mormon church member and scout leader in Venice, California (Los Angeles); accused in 1978 of child sexual abuse; confessed to the police.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Unknown result,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Scout leader,
- Crime scenes: Recreational trip/outing, Scout activity,
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Larry Dyke
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- was a Mormon church member; accused of sexual abuse.
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- Criminal: Unknown result,
- Positions: Scout leader,
- Alleged crime: 1980s, in California,
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Todd Edwards
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- 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.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Plea agreement, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Bishop, Youth leader,
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s, in California,
- Crime scenes: Perpetrator's home, Vehicle,
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Stephen Field
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- was a Mormon church member; accused of sexual abuse; sentenced to prison.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Scout leader,
- Crime: 1970s, 1980s, in California,
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Richard Freeman
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- was an LDS church member and high school teacher in Fresno, California; accused of sexual abuse; convicted; moved to Provo, Utah.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Crime: 1990s, 2000s, in California,
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Luis Gonzales
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- was a Mormon bishop in Sacramento, California; charged with 20 counts of child molestation, battery, rape, bigamy, stalking, and fraud; in 2002, was found guilty of bigamy, spousal abuse (battery) and child molestation.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Bishop,
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Eugene Hansen
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- was a Mormon church member and scout leader in California; accused of child sexual abuse.
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- Criminal: Unknown result,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Scout leader,
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Harvey Harper
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- was an LDS church member and deputy county district attorney in Los Angeles, California; arrested in 1984 and charged with child sexual abuse; jumped bail; found guilty; sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison; lived secretly in Colorado for 20 months until federal investigators found him; local LDS church coverup alleged.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Positions: Unknown position,
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Craig Harward
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- was a Mormon ward executive secretary and former elementary "teacher of the year" in Santa Clara County, California; accused of sexual abuse of at least 10 children; pleaded guilty to charges related to sexual abuse of four children over a six-year period; sentenced to 14 years in prison; in 2024, a lawsuit said the LDS church failed to report abuse; as of 2024, lives in St. George, Utah.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender, Released,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Missionary, Other leader, Ward executive secretary,
- Crime: 1990s, 2000s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building, Recreational trip/outing,
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James Haskell
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- was a former Mormon bishop and practicing attorney in Vacaville, California; charged with 14 felonies and three misdemeanors for allegedly sexually abusing four children; was an LDS stake high council member when charged; pleaded not guilty; in June 2024, found not guilty in a jury trial of 16 of 17 counts; jurors deadlocked on one count of felony injury upon a child.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Acquitted, Found not guilty, Hung jury, Ongoing,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishop, Scout leader, Stake high council,
- Alleged crime: 2020s, in California,
- Crime scenes: Unknown crime scene,
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Hayden Hunter
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- 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.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Released,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Missionary,
- Crime: 2020s, in California,
- Crime scenes: Online,
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Kenneth Jenks
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- was an LDS church member in California (Milpitas Ward); was a ward executive secretary and ward librarian; charged with sexual abuse; convicted; served 14 years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor under duress; three victims sued the LDS church, claiming it knew about Jenks's abuse but allowed him to work with children.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison, Registered sex offender,
- Positions: Other leader,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building, Recreational trip/outing,
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Thad Jesperson
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- was an LDS church member in Murietta, California; accused of sexually abusing 8 of his elementary students at Toler Elementary School.
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- Criminal: Convicted, Overturned/reversed,
- Crime: 2000s, in California,
- Crime scenes: Victim's school,
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Kevin Kirkland
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- was a Mormon seminary teacher and school teacher in the Redlands, California area; accused of sexual abuse; pleaded guilty in 2016 to molesting four female students from May 2015 to May 2016; sentenced to two years in prison; released in June 2017.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Jail, Pleaded guilty,
- Civil: Settlement,
- Positions: Seminary teacher,
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Craig Mathias
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- was a Mormon church member and scout leader in Granada Hills, California; was in the Northridge ward until 1983; convicted in 1987 of sexually molesting multiple boy scouts; sentenced to six years in prison.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Scout leader,
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Glen McGhie
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- was a Mormon church member in Santa Clara, California; found guilty of lewd or lascivious act on a child age 14/15 a felony; lost his physical therapy license.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Crime: 2000s, in California,
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John Midgett
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- was a Mormon church member and Sunday school teacher in the San Diego area, California; also was a Navy petty officer first class; initially pleaded not guilty to 43 felony counts of child molestation; later pleaded guilty; sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing eight girls ages 5 to 10 in his LDS sunday school class; as of 2024, lives in Bountiful, Utah as a registered sex offender.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Primary,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Victim's home,
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Daniel Montoya
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- was a Mormon church member and scout leader in Long Beach, California; pleaded guilty in 1986 to charges of child sexual abuse.
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- Criminal: Convicted, Pleaded guilty,
- Positions: Missionary, Scout leader,
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Joseph Neipp
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- was a former LDS bishop in San Jose, California; in 2021, pleaded no contest to four molestation counts and was given an 18-year prison sentence, with credit for the three years he spent in county jail prior to his sentencing; father of convicted Mormon child sexual abuser Samuel Neipp.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result,
- Positions: Bishop,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building,
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Samuel Neipp
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- was an LDS church member and middle school teacher in California; once named "teacher of the year" by the Union School District in the San Jose, California area; son of convicted child sexual abuser Joseph Neipp; pleaded no contest in 2019 to 12 charges related to sexual abuse; sentenced to 56 years in prison.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, No contest, Prison,
- Civil: Ongoing,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime: 2010s, in California,
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Eric Olsen
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- was an LDS church member and schoolteacher in Bakersfield, California; admitted to Ontario, California police that he had sexually abused between 200 to 300 girls, with as many as 30 victims in Kern County; convicted in 2007 in California of 6 felony counts of child sexual abuse; sentenced to five years in prison; lifetime registered sex offender; as of 2023, lives in Brigham City, Utah.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison, Registered sex offender,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime scenes: Perpetrator's workplace, Victim's school,
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John Parkinson
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- was a Mormon stake president (1981-1991) and physician in Fairfield, California; sentenced to prison in 1997 for sexually abusing two female patients, but the judge delayed the sentence pending an appeal; his conviction was later reversed.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Jury trial, Overturned/reversed, Prison,
- Positions: Stake presidency counselor, Stake president, Sunday school,
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s, in California,
- Crime scenes: Perpetrator's workplace,
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David Phipps/Verity
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- was an LDS church member and dentist in Sacramento, California; pleaded nolo contendere in 1987 to two counts of misdemeanor sexual battery involving two of his patients; In 1994, also pleaded nolo contendere two counts of misdemeanor sexual battery; served time in jail and had dental license revoked.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, No contest, Plea agreement,
- Civil: Judgment for plaintiff,
- Crime scenes: Health appointment, Perpetrator's workplace,
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Eldon Saling
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- was a Mormon church member in California and Utah; convicted in 1987 in California and in 1993 in Utah of charges related to sexual abuse; as of 2024, lives in Burley, Idaho as a registered sex offender.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Registered sex offender,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s, in California, Utah,
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Vernon Sanford
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- 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.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Other leader,
- Alleged crime: 1960s, 1970s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Perpetrator's home, Vehicle,
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Vernon Sanford
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- 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.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Alleged crime: 1960s, 1970s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Perpetrator's home, Vehicle,
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Dennis Schult
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- 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.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, No contest, Prison, Registered sex offender,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Scout leader, Youth leader,
- Crime scenes: Perpetrator's home,
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Eric Senior
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- was an LDS church member in Santa Clara County, California; accused of sexual abuse in the 1990s; convicted; sentenced to prison; lost an appeal with the California Supreme Court; as of March 2024, lives in Provo, Utah as a registered sex offender.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison, Registered sex offender,
- Crime: 1990s, in California,
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Michael Shean
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- was a Mormon bishopric counselor and temple worker, and deputy district attorney in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County, California; convicted of sexually molesting boys and sentenced to prison; the Mormon church made a settlement payment to a victim who said a stake president covered up the abuse for years.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
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LDS church payment: Undisclosed amount
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Civil: Judgment for plaintiff, Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement,
- Positions: Bishopric counselor, Missionary, Seminary teacher, Temple worker,
- Crime: 1980s, in California,
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William Shubeck
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- was a Mormon church member in San Bernardino, California; accused 2003 of sexual abuse in a civil lawsuit against the LDS church.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Alleged crime: 1960s, in California,
- Crime scenes: Victim's home,
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Neil Shumate
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- was an LDS church member and scout leader in Pleasanton, California; was also a kindergarten teacher; arrested in 1994 and charged with molesting several of his students; convicted on all 16 counts; sentenced to 12 years in prison.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Civil: Unknown result,
- Positions: Scout leader,
- Crime scenes: Perpetrator's workplace, Victim's school,
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Todd Summers
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- was an LDS church member and videographer for local children's events in Costa Mesa, California; accused of child sexual abuse that allegedly took place in a Mormon chapel and other locations; a 2009 civil suit against him ended with a $100,000 settlement payment by the Mormon church to the plaintiff.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
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LDS church payment: $100,000
- Criminal: Never charged,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement,
- Positions: Missionary,
- Alleged crime: 1990s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Public, Victim's home,
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James Ungricht
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- was a Mormon church member and junior high school science and math teacher in San Diego, California; arrested in 2017 for lewd conduct in public; pleaded no contest in 2018 to a misdemeanor charge of lewd conduct in a public place; sentenced to serve 30 days in county jail, plus three years probation.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Jail, No contest, Probation,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Crime: 2010s, in California,
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Bob UNKNOWN
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- was a Mormon church member and Melchizedek priesthood holder in Lancaster, California; a 2024 civil lawsuit said he took part with a Mormon bishop and another Melchizedek priesthood holder in sexually assaulting an underage boy inside an LDS church building on a weekly basis from 2001 to 2003, starting when the victim was 15 years old.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Alleged crime: 2000s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
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Jim UNKNOWN
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- was a Mormon church member and Melchizedek priesthood holder in Lancaster, California; a 2024 civil lawsuit said he took part with a Mormon bishop and another Melchizedek priesthood holder in sexually assaulting an underage boy inside an LDS church building on a weekly basis from 2001 to 2003, starting when the victim was 15 years old.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Other leader,
- Alleged crime: 2000s, in California,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
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David Webb
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- was an LDS church member and oral surgeon in Vacaville, California; accused of sexual abuse of multiple patients in 2021 and again in 2022; gave up his license to practice in 2023; got a license to practice dentistry in Idaho; as of March 2024, a criminal case and several civil cases in California are ongoing.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Ongoing,
- Civil: Ongoing,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Alleged crime: 2010s, 2020s, in California,
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Michael Woodbury
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- was a Mormon young men's president and attorney in Sacramento, California; sentenced in 2006 to six months in prison for sexually abusing a boy; contrary to a news article report, did not register as a sex offender.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Positions: Missionary, Youth leader,
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Gary Woolstenhulme
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- was a Mormon bishop in Imperial Beach, California in 1978; died in 2002; 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 (plaintiff John Roe JB 65 - San Diego 24CU008107, CASD 3:24-cv-02349-AJB-MSB); allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy in his office at church.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor,
- Alleged crime: 1970s, in California,
- Crime scenes: Bishop's office, LDS building,
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Chauncey Worthley
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- was a former LDS bishop in Orange County, California; admitted to sexual abuse and had his foster parent license taken away.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Admitted guilt, Never charged, Not convicted,
- Positions: Bishop,
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Timothy Wright
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- was a Mormon church member in Santa Clara, California; convicted in 1994 of one or more felonies related to child sexual abuse; a 1994 civil lawsuit against the Mormon church said he molested a boy between 1989 and 1992, when the boy was 14 to 17 years old (actions for which he was convicted); the suit was dismissed in 1995 for failure to appear by the plaintiff's attorneys.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Jail,
- Civil: Dismissed, Lawsuit v. LDS church,
- Positions: Other leader,
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s, in California,
- Crime scenes: Unknown crime scene,
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View the Mormon Sexual Abuse Map
International map of locations where active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints perpetrated or allegedly perpetrated sexual abuse or other sex crimes, or where LDS leaders failed or allegedly failed to help abuse survivors.
Visit the FLOODLIT Map