6 matching Mormon sex abuse cases

      • Brandon Brown 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
      • Candon Dahle was a Mormon church member in Blackfoot, Idaho and Provo, Utah; in February 2025, arrested in Utah, extradited to Idaho; at the time of arrest, was a starting pitcher for the BYU baseball team; charged in Fremont County with felony lewd conduct with a child under 16 (pleaded guilty in May 2025); charged in Bingham County for a juvenile child sex abuse case (dismissed via Fremont plea agreement)
      • Russell Harbin was a Mormon church member in Polson, Montana; convicted of sexual intercourse without consent with an 11-year-old child; the alleged abuse lasted from 2022 to 2024; he allegedly was assigned to be a Primary teacher sometime after the abuse began; sentenced in 2025 to 40 years in prison; the judge suspended 20 years of the 40-year term
      • Church officials allegedly failed to report abuse
      • Jeffery Niemi was a Mormon church member in Duluth, Minnesota; convicted in 2016 and again in 2025 of felonies related to child sexual exploitation; sentenced in 2025 to 30 years in prison
      • Church discipline: No action,
      • Scott Owen was a Mormon bishop (twice), stake presidency counselor and therapist in Provo, Utah; called himself the "Porn King;" accused by 7 former patients of sexually abusing them during sessions, and by a cousin (alleged sex abuse in 1980s); an LDS bishop, a stake president (his business partner) and Utah DOPL all allegedly failed to report to police; arrested in Nov. 2023; sentenced in 2025 to prison
      • Church officials allegedly failed to report abuse
      • Justin Zierke was a Mormon church member and middle school teacher in Idaho Falls, Idaho; Zierke accepted a plea deal and was found guilty of injury to a child; received 30 days in jail and 2 years probation; lost teaching license