Mormon sexual abuse cases: new updates

• Zac Rhodenizer
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  • Zac Rhodenizer (1974 – ) was an LDS church member and psychologist in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada; accused of sexual abuse
  • Criminal case(s): Unknown result,
  • View report »
• Christopher James Bartle
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  • Christopher Bartle (1960 – ) was a Mormon church member in Perth, Western Australia; accused of sexual abuse of four girls that allegedly took place between 1998 and 2007
  • Alleged crime: 1990s, 2000s,
  • Alleged crime country: Australia,
  • LDS positions: Unknown position,
  • Criminal case(s): Ongoing,
  • Alleged failure to report
  • Alleged church actions: Excommunicated, Rebaptized,
  • View report »
• Brandon Carl Halley
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  • Brandon Halley (1976 – ) was a Mormon church member in Esparto, California; convicted of LEWD & LASCIVIOUS ACTS W/CHILD UNDER 14 and MOLEST/ANNOY CHILD in 2007; is a registered sex offender living in Springville, Utah
  • Crime: 2000s,
  • Crime state: California, Utah,
  • Convicted: 2007,
  • LDS positions: Nursery, Youth leader,
  • Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty,
  • Alleged church actions: Disfellowshipped,
  • View report »
• Jeffrey Allen Graton
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  • Jeffrey Graton (1973 – ) was a Mormon church counselor in a bishopric in American Fork, Utah; sentenced to prison in 2018 for child sexual abuse; is a registered sex offender, UDPS doesn't have updated out of state address; reportedly lives in Colorado
  • Crime: 2010s,
  • Crime state: Utah,
  • Convicted: 2018,
  • LDS positions: Bishopric counselor,
  • Criminal case(s): Convicted, plea, Pleaded guilty, Prison,
  • Alleged church actions: Excommunicated,
  • View report »
• Frank John Selas
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  • Frank Selas (1939 – 2021) was an former childrens TV host/entertainer in California who joined the LDS church in the 1990s; pleaded guilty to one count of indecent behavior with a child; the crime took place in the 1970s
  • Crime: 1970s,
  • Crime state: California,
  • LDS positions: Scout leader,
  • Criminal case(s): Convicted, Pleaded guilty,
  • View report »
• Michael Jay Pratt
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  • Michael Pratt was an LDS seminary principal in Utah; arrested in 2009; convicted and sentenced in 2010 for the sexual abuse of a 16-year-old seminary student
  • Crime: 2000s,
  • Crime state: Utah,
  • Convicted: 2010,
  • LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Church employee, Other leader, Seminary teacher,
  • Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison,
  Until his 2009 arrest, Pratt was principal of the Lone Peak High School LDS seminary, where the victim was a student
  "I am no longer blinded by your craftiness. My eyes are wide open. I am no longer your puppet, your toy or your game."
  — Pratt's victim, at Pratt's 2010 sentencing
  • View report »
• Jared Dallan Buckley
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  • Jared Buckley (1984 – ) was a Mormon church member and charter school director (Leadership Learning Academy) in Clearfield, Utah; was a Mormon missionary in the Philippines from 2004-2006 (Quezon City Mission); arrested in April 2025 on suspicion of child sexual exploitation; was reportedly a stake young men's president when arrested; pleaded guilty to producing, distributing & possessing CSAM; sentencing June 17, 2026
  • Crime: 2020s,
  • Crime state: Utah,
  • Convicted: 2026,
  • LDS positions: Missionary, Youth leader,
  • Criminal case(s): Convicted, Ongoing, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty,
  • Alleged church actions: Unknown church action,
  Buckley was reportedly an LDS stake young men's president when arrested
  "For the group, I created flyers which stated: 'This group is for parents who have little girls ages 0-9 only.' I required three steps of verification to join the group."
  — Jared Buckley, admission in his guilty plea in federal criminal case, June 2026
  • View report »
• Gary Wade Brown
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  • Gary Brown (1967 – ) was a Mormon church member and scout leader in Utah; sentenced to one year in prison for sexually abusing one of his scouts
  • Crime: 2000s,
  • Crime state: Utah,
  • Convicted: 2006,
  • LDS positions: Scout leader,
  • Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Registered sex offender,
  • View report »
• Kevin Robert Christensen
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  • Kevin Christensen (1960 – ) was a Mormon church member and judge in Brigham City, Utah; accused of receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to individuals he believed to be minor children; pleaded not guilty in July 2025; convicted via plea agreement in April 2026
  • Crime: 2020s,
  • Crime state: Utah,
  • LDS positions: Stake high council,
  • Criminal case(s): Convicted, Ongoing, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty,
  • Alleged church actions: Unknown church action,
  Allegedly sent young child's LDS directory photo to adult for rape fantasy
  "We can't have it in our lives. It's the only way I can protect my kids. [...] He was a judge. He was a member of the LDS Church. He was a father. He was a grandfather. I mean, he saw his grandkids and his kids every day."
  — a relative of Christensen, after court hearing, Oct. 2, 2025
  • View report »
• Scott Oscar Ashton
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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,
  • LDS positions: Youth leader,
  • Criminal case(s): case dismissed, Not convicted, Pleaded guilty, Probation, Withheld judgment,
  • Alleged church actions: Unknown church action,
  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."
  — 2015 police report by undercover Idaho police officer who posed as a sex worker
  • View report »
• Brandon Rex Brown
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  • Brandon Brown (1978 – ) was an LDS church member in Pocatello, Idaho; accused in 2024 of untying two teenage girls' swimsuit tops and touching them inappropriately at a mall in Chubbuck, Idaho; also accused of inappropriately touching a third teenage girl; in 2025, entered Alford pleas to felony and misdemeanor counts of sexual battery of a child; a judge rejected the plea agreement
  • Crime: 2020s,
  • Crime state: Idaho,
  • Convicted: 2025,
  • LDS positions: Unknown position,
  • Criminal case(s): Alford plea, Convicted, Ongoing, Plea deal,
  • Alleged church actions: Unknown church action,
  • View report »
• Virgil Dean Larson
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  • Virgil Larson 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 April 8
  • LDS positions: Bishopric counselor, Youth leader,
  • Criminal case(s): Ongoing,
  • Alleged failure to report
  • View report »
• Robert E. Muttenthaler
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  • Robert Muttenthaler (1966 – ) was a Mormon church building representative in Welland, Ontario, Canada; arrested in 2014 and charged with 11 charges related to child sexual abuse and CSAM; convicted in December 2020 of possession of child pornography; reportedly convicted in April 2026 of multiple related charges; FLOODLIT is seeking court documents
  • Crime: 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s,
  • Crime state: Ontario,
  • Crime country: Canada,
  • Convicted: 2020,
  • LDS positions: ward building representative,
  • Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Released,
  • Alleged church actions: Unknown church action,
  • View report »
• Kenneth William Prince
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  • Kenneth Prince (1952 – ) was a Mormon church member in Ogden, Utah; convicted of 5 counts of SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR, 2ND DEGREE FELONY in 2014; 2014 two counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child, dropped as part of plea deal; attempted suicide by drinking half a bottle of mercury, charged with reckless endangerment & use or possession of psychotoxic chemical; 2008 plead guilty lewd act, abeyance 2010 dismissed
  • Convicted: 2014,
  • LDS positions: Scout leader, Youth leader,
  • Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea held in abeyance, Pleaded guilty,
  • Alleged church actions: unknown,
  Prince blamed his behavior on a painful past, saying he was sexually abused as a child.
  "But back then, he said he began molesting and sexually exploiting young boys and young men because he had "needs.""After my last daughter was born, my wife didn't want to have sex anymore. And I had some needs. Especially when my doctor put me on testosterone replacement therapy because of the cancer. That's not an excuse. It was stupid. It's not a good excuse or any excuse at all. But that's the way I felt at that time. I don't now," "
  — Kenneth Prince, KSL article, November 13, 2015
  • View report »
• Corey Daniel Airhart
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  • Corey Airhart was from Okotoks, Alberta Canada; arrested and charged with POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY and ACCESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY in May 2026; Was arrested and charged with one count of possession for the purpose to distribute and one count of possession with intent to export in November 2025 for attempting to fly from Calgary International Airport with 60 kilograms of cannabis resin
  • Alleged church actions: unknown,
  • View report »
• Byron Lloyd Poelman
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  • Byron Poelman (1934 – 2014) was a bishop and stake president in Utah and partner in a law firm that represented the LDS church; arrested in 1994 for soliciting a prostitute; pleaded guilty to a class B misdemeanor charge of patronizing a prostitute
  • Crime: 1990s,
  • Crime state: Utah,
  • LDS positions: Bishop, Bishopric counselor, Mission president, Missionary, Stake high council, Stake president, Sunday school,
  • Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Unknown result,
  • Alleged failure to report
  • Alleged church actions: Excommunicated,
  The woman was taken to jail, while Poelman was released immediately.
  "President and sister Poelman's lives need to be private now. [...] We are a family. A family keeps things private. A family draws close together. These things are to be kept private."
  — Boyd Packer, Mormon apostle
  • View report »
• Derrick Colten Starley
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  • 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,
  • View report »
• Dwight Arthur Cahoon
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  • Dwight Cahoon (1957 – ) was a Mormon church member in Logan, Utah; charged with 10 counts aggravated sex abuse of a child and 10 counts forcible sex abuse; statue of limitations ran out on some charges, so the state amended charges to 10 counts of sex abuse of a child; sentenced in 2010 to one to 15 years in prison; as of May 2026, is a registered sex offender living in Logan, Utah
  • Crime: 1980s, 1990s,
  • Crime state: Utah,
  • Criminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Prison, Registered sex offender, Released,
  • Alleged church actions: Unknown church action,
  • View report »
• Edwin Jay Wilcox
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  • Edwin Wilcox was a Mormon church member in Idaho; ran a therapy center for "handicapped people" (as described in 1989 news article); convicted of child sexual abuse in 1988 and sentenced to up to 20 years in prison
  • Crime: 1980s,
  • Crime state: Idaho,
  • LDS positions: Unknown position,
  • Criminal case(s): Convicted, Prison, Registered sex offender,
  • Alleged church actions: Excommunicated,
  • View report »
• Michael Delar Morris
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  • Michael Morris (1950 – ) was a Mormon church member and former bishop in Livermore, California; accused of sexually abusing 4 young men in his ward; arrested May 15, 2026 and charged with 18 felony counts related to child sexual abuse; due in court May 22, 2026
  • Alleged crime: 1990s, 2000s,
  • Alleged crime state: California,
  • LDS positions: Bishop, Scout leader, Young Mens Leader, young mens teacher advisor, Youth leader,
  • Criminal case(s): Ongoing,
  • Alleged failure to report
  • Alleged church actions: Excommunicated, Rebaptized,
  Morris was excommunicated, but apparently never criminally charged; he was later rebaptized
  "This case involves deeply troubling allegations of abuse of trust and authority involving children."
  — Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson, May 21, 2026 Press Release
  • View report »

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