Location Crime: Arizona

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April 16, 2025

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50 Mormon sexual abuse cases found

Crime location: Arizona

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Paul Adams
- 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.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Died awaiting trial, Not convicted, Suicide,
- Civil: Dismissed,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Alleged crime: 2010s, in Arizona,
- Crime scenes: Perpetrator's home, Victim's home,
Leizza Adams
- was the wife of sexual abuser Paul Douglas Adams; sentenced in 2018 in Arizona to 2.5 years in prison after pleading no contest to two felony counts of child abuse (not sexual abuse).
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, No contest, Plea agreement, Prison,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime: 2010s, in Arizona,
Manuel Archibeque
- was a Mormon church member in Maricopa County, Arizona; allegedly admitted to his bishop that he had sexually touched a child; charged in two cases in 2006 with sexual conduct with a minor and three counts of molestation of a child, all class two felonies; one case was dismissed in 2006 without prejudice; in the other, pleaded guilty to two reduced charges of child abuse.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Pleaded guilty,
- Positions: Unknown position,
Mathew Arrington
- was a Mormon church member and foster child advocate in Arizona; found guilty of child sexual abuse; sentenced in 2021 to 15 years in prison.
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- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime: 2010s, in Arizona,
Arlo Atkin
- 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.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Jail, Plea agreement, Pleaded guilty, Probation, Violated parole/probation,
- Civil: Dismissed with prejudice, Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result,
- Positions: Bishop, Missionary,
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s, in Arizona,
- Crime scenes: Perpetrator's home,
Coy Ball
- was an LDS church member in Mesa, Arizona; was charged with 11 various abuses to a child; pled guilty to 3 counts of Molestation of a child.
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- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Scout leader, Sunday school,
- Crime: 1990s, in Arizona, Maricopa County (Arizona),
James Bayless
- was a Mormon church member in Gilbert, Arizona; pleaded guilty in 2015 to two counts of molestation of a child; as of 2024, is a registered sex offender living in Mesa, Arizona.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Pleaded guilty,
- Crime: 2010s, in Arizona, Maricopa County (Arizona),
David Borg
- was a Mormon church member and scout leader; pleaded guilty to molesting multiple boys; sentenced to 34 years in prison.
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- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Scout leader, Youth leader,
- Crime: 1980s, in Arizona,
- Crime scenes: Unknown crime scene,
Donnie Boring
- was a Mormon bishop and stake high council member in California / Arizona; pleaded guilty in 2017 to a felony charge of sexual abuse; died in December 2017.
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- Criminal: Convicted, Unknown result,
- Positions: Bishop, Missionary, Seminary teacher, Stake high council, Temple worker, Youth leader,
Rachel Brock
- was a Mormon church member; pleaded guilty to sexually abusing the same boy that her mother, Susan Brock, was convicted of molesting.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Unknown position,
Susan Brock
- was an LDS church member; was sentenced in April 2011 to 13 years in prison for engaging in a three-year-long sexual relationship with a boy, beginning when he was 14 years old; was released in December 2021.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Unknown position,
David Cannata
- was a Mormon church member in Tuscon, Arizona; convicted of sexual abusing a close family member that was 5-6 years old; convicted in 2019.
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- Criminal: Convicted, guilty,
- Positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor, high counselor,
- Crime: 09/27/2005, 2000s, in Arizona, tuscon,
Christopher Church
- was a Mormon high priest and anesthesiologist in Arizona; had his license revoked in 2011 for a pattern of touching women's breasts while they were unconscious; 2012 civil suit was dismissed.
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- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Settlement,
- Alleged crime: 2010s, in Arizona,
Michael Coleman
- was an LDS bishop and former sound recording engineer in Mesa, Arizona (Lehi 2nd Ward); arrested in 2014 for sexual solicitation of a minor online; the alleged crime took place while he was bishop.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Unknown result,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishop,
- Alleged crime: 2010s, in Arizona, Brazil,
- Crime scenes: Online,
Kenneth Copple
- was a Mormon church member in Arizona; found guilty of child sexual abuse and sentenced in 2019 to prison.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Found guilty, Jury trial, Prison,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime: 1980s, in Arizona, Maricopa County (Arizona),
Larry Deutsch
- 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.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Prison,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Bishop, Scout leader, Sunday school, Temple worker, Youth leader,
- Crime: 2010s, 2020s, in Arizona, Maricopa County (Arizona), Missouri,
- Crime scenes: LDS building, Online,
Michael Driggs
- was a Mormon missionary in Brazil in the early 1970s; allegedly sent to a different mission in the United States after being found having inappropriate relationships with young boys; convicted of child sexual abuse in 1985 in Arizona; convicted again of child sexual abuse in 2013 in Utah; he met his victim in the Utah case at church, according to court documents.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Plea agreement, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Missionary,
- Crime: 1980s, 2000s, in Arizona, Maricopa County (Arizona), Salt Lake County (Utah), Utah,
Anthon Ellsworth
- was an LDS bishopric counselor and returned missionary in Arizona; in 2021, pleaded guilty to three felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Plea agreement, Pleaded guilty, Prison,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishopric counselor, Missionary,
- Crime: 2020s, in Arizona,
- Crime scenes: Perpetrator's home, Victim's home,
Rowan Ellsworth
- was an LDS church member and schoolteacher in Arizona; molested a 14-year-old girl at an LDS girls camp in mid-1990; the abuse was reported to a bishop Burgess, who allegedly failed to report to police, but instead encouraged the victim to forgive; sentenced to prison in 1999 for two counts of child sexual abuse; released in 2007.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Missionary,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity,
Daniel Galloway
- was an LDS church member in Arizona City, Pinal County, Arizona; found guilty of sexually abusing an 8 year old foster child.
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- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Youth leader,
Floyd Godfrey
- was a Mormon church member and sexual orientation conversion therapist in Arizona; accused of sexual misconduct by two employees; in 2023, Godfrey was forced to surrender his license.
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- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
Brandon Hernandez
- was an LDS church member in Tempe, Arizona; accused of sexually abusing a victim inside a Mormon church; convicted of four fourth degree felony counts of abuse of a child or vulnerable adult.
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- Criminal: Convicted, Plea agreement, Pleaded guilty, Unknown result,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Other leader,
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
Roy Hunt
- was a Mormon church member in Maricopa County, Arizona; former city manager in Snowflake and Holbrook and a public finance banker at the National Bank of Arizona; accused of child sexual abuse in 2004; pleaded guilty in 2005 to a reduced charge; sentenced to prison in Arizona in 2005.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Prison,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s, in Arizona, Maricopa County (Arizona),
Larry Judd
- was an LDS church member in Mesa, Arizona; accused of sexual abuse; admitted to molesting 12 girls over a period of about 20 years.
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- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Scout leader,
Robert Kempton
- was a former Mormon bishop and stake president in Arizona; was an attorney and served a mission as a legal counsel for the LDS church in Africa; arrested in 2014 in a police sting for prostitution.
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- Criminal: Police investigation, Unknown result,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor, Missionary, Scout leader, Stake president, Youth leader,
- Alleged crime: 2010s, in Arizona,
Cody Lara
- was an LDS church member in Arizona City, Pinal County, Arizona; accused of sexual abuse in 2018; convicted in 2019 of three reduced counts of abuse of a child or vulnerable adult.
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- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Unknown position,
Derek Layton
- was an LDS church member in Arizona; accused of sexual abuse in the late 1980s; convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison for "sexual with minor and dangerous crimes against children".
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
Edwin McClellan
- was a Mormon bishop in Cottonwood, Arizona; accused of sexually abusing 3 female family members from the 1980s-2000s.
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- Criminal: Never charged,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishop,
- Alleged crime: 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, in Arizona,
John McKown
- was an LDS church member in Arizona; charged in 2023 with child sexual exploitation.
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- Criminal: Ongoing, Unknown result,
- Alleged crime: 2020s, in Arizona,
Robert Metcalf
- was an LDS church member in California and Arizona; convicted three times of child sexual abuse; sentenced in 1979 to 6 years in prison for sexually abusing a child; returned to the Mormon church after being released from prison, was made a scout leader and allegedly molested a scout on a campout in about 1987, according to a civil lawsuit; sentenced in Arizona in 1989 to 37 years in prison.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Positions: Scout leader,
- Crime scenes: Recreational trip/outing, Scout activity,
Russell Millsaps
- was an LDS church member and retired police sergeant in Arizona; sentenced in 2016 to 323 years in prison for child sexual exploitation.
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- Criminal: Convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Other leader,
- Crime: 1990s, 2010s, in Arizona,
- Crime scenes: Unknown crime scene,
Paul Nelson
- was an LDS church member in Arizona; accused of sexual abuse; sentenced to prison in November 2023; failed to appear at his sentencing and went missing; reportedly planned to turn himself in in March 2024 on the condition that his $100k bail be returned to his family; arrested in April 2024 in Tucson, Arizona and extradited to Gilbert, Arizona.
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- Criminal: Convicted, Fled or failed to appear, Prison,
- Positions: Missionary,
Brett Nichols
- was an LDS church member in Arizona; convicted of child sexual abuse; sentenced to 10 years in prison; baptized again after excommunication; ward members reportedly were not told of his criminal past when he returned after his prison time.
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- Criminal: Convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
Christopher Nuttall
- was an LDS church member in Mesa, Arizona; arrested in an FBI sting operation and convicted of LURE MINOR FOR SEX EXPLOIT and ATTEMPT TO COMMIT - SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH MINOR .
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- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Primary,
- Crime: 2010s, in Arizona, Maricopa County (Arizona),
Bruce O'Dell
- was a Mormon bishop and dermatologist in Show Low, Navajo County, Arizona; in 1999, was charged with 48 counts of sexual abuse.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Unknown result,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishop, Youth leader,
- Alleged crime: 1990s, in Arizona,
- Crime scenes: Unknown crime scene,
David Owens
- was an LDS elders quorum president in Tempe, Arizona; accused of sexual abuse; sentenced in 2018 to 20 or more years in prison for sexually assaulting three young men in his Mormon ward.
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- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Elders quorum,
- Crime: 2010s, in Arizona, Maricopa County (Arizona),
Leslie Paul
- was an LDS church member in Arizona; charged with child sexual abuse; sentenced in about 1989 to over 400 years in prison.
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- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Scout leader,
Richard Peterson
- was an LDS church member in Mesa, Arizona; accused of sexual abuse.
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- Criminal: Unknown result,
Arthur Phillips
- was a Mormon church member in Arizona; sexually molested a 14-year-old girl; sentenced to prison for one year and placed on probation for four years.
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- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime: 1990s, in Arizona,
Carl Pratt
- was a Mormon bishop in San Manuel, Arizona; allegedly sexually abused a boy in his ward, in the bishop's office at an LDS chapel; died in 2006.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishop, High priest, Other leader, Scout leader, Stake high council, Temple worker,
- Crime scenes: Bishop's office, LDS building,
Richard Ray
- 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.
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- Alleged coverup
- LDS church payment: Undisclosed amount
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Settlement,
- Positions: Missionary,
- Crime: 1970s, 1980s, in Arizona,
- Crime scenes: Perpetrator's home,
Chance Ray
- was a Mormon church member and scout leader in the Mesa, Arizona area; convicted of child sexual abuse and sentenced to prison in Arizona; spent approximately 14 years in prison; released in July 2020.
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- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Scout leader,
- Crime: 2000s, in Arizona,
Richard Sampson
- was a Mormon bishop, stake high council member and doctor in Provo, Utah; Director of Medical Affairs for the LDS Missionary Training Center; 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.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Parole, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender, Released,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishop, Church employee, Other leader, Stake high council,
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s, in Arizona, Maricopa County (Arizona), Provo (Utah), Utah, Utah County (Utah),
Glendon Templeton
- was a Mormon bishop, Sunday school teacher and scout leader in Arizona; was bishop of the Maryvale Ward in West Phoenix from 2014 to 2019; excommunicated in 2019; also was a volleyball coach for high school-aged girls; accused numerous times and arrested, but never prosecuted for alleged sex crimes; sued in 1997 for alleged sexual abuse; allegedly sexually assaulted multiple teenage girls.
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- Criminal: Never charged, Not convicted,
- Civil: Unknown result,
- Positions: Bishop, Sunday school,
- Alleged crime: 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, in Arizona, Maricopa County (Arizona),
- Crime scenes: Bishop's office, LDS building,
Jordan Udall
- was a Mormon church member and police officer in St. Johns Arizona; pleaded guilty in 2022 to knowing access to child pornography.
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- Criminal: Convicted, Unknown result,
- Positions: Missionary,
- Crime: 2010s, in Arizona,
Marcus Udall
- was an LDS church member in Maricopa County, Arizona; accused of child sexual abuse; pleaded guilty in 2014 to a reduced felony charge; .
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted,
William Whitmore
- was an LDS church member in Mesa, Arizona; found guilty of sexual abuse .
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- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Unknown position,
Kenne Worthen
- was a Mormon elementary school teacher and BYU-Idaho adjunct professor who sexually abused a 12-year-old child; 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.
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- Criminal: Convicted, Plea agreement, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Probation,
- Positions: BYU, Scout leader,
Harvey Wright
- was an LDS church member and Scout leader in Flagstaff, AZ; in 1988 pleaded guilty to "Attempted Sexual Abuse/Dangerous Crimes Against Children" and received 90 days in jail and 4 years probation; placed on the BSA Confidential Files.
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- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Scout leader,
- Crime: 1980s, in Arizona,
Mitchell Young
- was an LDS missionary in Canada; in 1980, sent home after allegedly molesting children; convicted in Arizona (1985) and Utah (1988) of child sexual abuse; in 1993, sentenced in Utah to 15 years in prison for molesting a child for five years; a 2002 lawsuit against the LDS church accused Mormon leaders of providing a safe harbor for him; as of 2024, lives in Ogden, Utah; registered sex offender.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result,
- Positions: Missionary,
- Crime: 1980s, 1990s, in Arizona, Canada, Utah,

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50 Mormon sexual abuse cases found

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Browse the Mormon Sexual Abuse Database