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Donate »7 Mormon sexual abuse cases found
Kevin Bowman
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- was an LDS first counselor in a ward bishopric and a restaurant owner in Spanish Fork, Utah; was an LDS missionary in Taiwan 1999-2001; accused of sexual abuse of a teenage girl who worked in his restaurant; arrested in July 2023; in June 2024, found guilty by a jury of forcible sexual abuse (second-degree felony) and lewdness (class B misdemeanor); sentencing set for July 29, 2024.
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Alleged coverup- Criminal: Convicted, Found guilty, Jury trial,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishopric counselor, Missionary, Other leader,
- Crime scenes: Perpetrator's workplace,
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Cesar Duran
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- was a Mormon bishopric counselor in a Spanish-speaking LDS ward in Orem, Utah (Geneva Height Stake); arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl in his ward; the alleged abuse took place inside an LDS church building.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Unknown result,
- Positions: Bishopric counselor,
- Alleged crime: 2010s, in Utah, Utah County (Utah),
- Crime scenes: LDS building,
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Anthon Ellsworth
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- 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,
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Thomas Forrest
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- was an LDS church member in Mississippi; accused of sexual abuse; convicted.
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- Criminal: Convicted, Pleaded guilty, Released,
- Positions: Bishopric counselor,
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Virgil Larson
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- was a Mormon church member and first counselor in an LDS ward bishopric in Chubbuck, Idaho; arrested in September 2024 and charged with sexual abuse of five boys, ages 12-15; he knew the boys from LDS ward activities and was their priesthood leader; as of March 2025, a jury trial was scheduled for Apr. 8.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Ongoing,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishopric counselor, Youth leader,
- Crime scenes: Perpetrator's home,
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Richard McClung
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- 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.
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- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Found guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Positions: Bishopric counselor,
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s, in Illinois,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building, Perpetrator's home,
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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.
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- 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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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.
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