14 matching Mormon sex abuse cases

  • Crime location: Illinois
    • Rodney Bailey was an LDS church member in Medora, Illinois; accused of sexual abuse; convicted
    • Emer Broadbent was an LDS church member; accused of sexual abuse; died in 2017
    • Malcolm Goodwin was a former Mormon bishop and retired pathologist and coroner's physician in O'Fallon, Illinois; US Army Reserves and Air Force veteran; arrested in 2022 for Predatory Sexual Assault of a Child; charged with six felony counts of predatory criminal sexual assault involving minors
    • Douglas Holyoak was a Mormon bishop in Sycamore, Illinois from about 1999 to 2004; accused in a 2024 civil lawsuit of sexual assault of an underage girl in his office at church when she reported sexual harassment by other youth; allegedly covered up the assault with the help of a stake presidency counselor (Michael John Evans)
    • Church officials allegedly failed to report abuse
    • Harry Jones was an LDS church member in Illinois; sentenced to 30 months of probation for possession of child pornography (child sexual abuse material or CSAM)
    • Harry Jones IV was a Mormon church member in Buffalo Grove, Illinois; convicted of possessing CSAM; is a registered sex offender
    • Richard McClung was a Mormon bishopric counselor in the Rockford, Illinois area; convicted in 2007 and 2014 of child sexual abuse; accused in a 2025 lawsuit against the Mormon church of sexually abusing an 8-year-old girl; allegedly was not removed from bishopric despite charges
    • Church officials allegedly failed to report abuse
    • Joseph Smith was the founder of the LDS church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon church); was publicly accused during his life (1805-1844) of sexual misconduct, including adultery and illegal polygamy; in May 1844, a Hancock County, Illinois grand jury indicted Smith for perjury, fornication and polygamy; died in June 1844
    • Church officials allegedly failed to report abuse
    • Kay Walker was a Mormon church member and Nauvoo Inn owner in Nauvoo, Illinois; charged with sexually abusing his employees; entered an Alford plea in 2004, resulting in a conviction while maintaining his innocence before the court; January 2024: lives in Idaho Falls, Idaho
    • Brigham Young Second president of the Mormon church; married 56 women, including a 15-year-old and three 16-year-olds; was publicly accused during his life (1801-1877) of sexual misconduct, including adultery and illegal polygamy; never charged with a sex crime; arrested and charged with adultery in 1871; not found guilty; died in 1877
    • Church officials allegedly failed to report abuse