Donate to support FLOODLIT.org
Your support enables us to conduct research, publish case info, and make documents freely available.
Our relentless reporting honors survivors, assists researchers, and empowers those who protect the vulnerable.
Donate »16 Mormon sexual abuse cases found
Michael Antrobus
-
- was a former Mormon branch president (similar to a bishop) and bishop in Connersville, Indiana for 10 years (approximately 1974-84); convicted of child sexual abuse charges (9 counts, 6 victims) in Sacramento County, California in 2021-2022; sentenced to 8 years in San Quentin State Prison; died by suicide in prison in September 2023; our sources report that he had at least a dozen victims.
- Learn more »
Alleged coverup- Criminal: Convicted, Pleaded guilty,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishop, Branch president, Missionary,
- Crime scenes: Unknown crime scene,
-
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.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime: 2010s, in Arizona,
-
Scott Darrington
-
- was a former LDS bishop and assistant school principal in Fallon, Nevada; convicted of possession of child pornography, spent a year in prison.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Bishop,
- Crime: 2020s, in Nevada,
-
Robert Davis
-
- was a Mormon church member in Eugene, Oregon; convicted of 5 counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to 75 months in prison.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Positions: Bishopric counselor,
- Crime: 2020s, in Oregon,
-
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.
- Learn more »
- 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,
-
John Doe
-
- was an LDS church member in Adelaide, Australia; sentenced in 2021 to 10 years in prison for child sexual abuse.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Prison,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime: 1980s, in Australia,
-
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.
- Learn more »
- 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,
-
Melvin Hansen
-
- was a Mormon church member, school music teacher and former Tabernacle Choir member in Utah; convicted in 2021 in Utah of first degree felony attempted aggravated child sexual abuse; also accused of sexual abuse in Arizona.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Police investigation,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Other leader, Tabernacle Choir,
- Crime: 2000s, 2010s, in Salt Lake County (Utah), Utah,
- Crime scenes: Unknown crime scene,
-
Elwood Haws
-
- was an employee and vice president of an LDS church-owned trust company in Utah; charged in 2020 with 13 second degree felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor (related to possession of child pornography); admitted that he viewed child pornography 3-4 times a week over a 3-4 year span; in 2021, pleaded guilty to three counts and was sentenced to 180 days in jail; in 2023, violated probation.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Admitted guilt, Convicted, Jail, Plea agreement, Pleaded guilty, Violated parole/probation,
- Positions: Church employee,
- Crime: 2010s, 2020s, in Utah,
-
Hayden Hunter
-
- was a Mormon missionary in California; he was from Pleasant Grove, Utah; arrested in 2020 for distribution of child sexual abuse material (child pornography) while on his mission; convicted of possession of CSAM in 2021.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Released,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Missionary,
- Crime: 2020s, in California,
- Crime scenes: Online,
-
Spencer Kartchner
-
- was an LDS church member in Utah; convicted of sex crimes in 2009 and 2021.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Pleaded guilty,
- Civil: No civil case,
- Positions: Ward mission leader,
- Crime: 2000s, 2020s, in Utah,
- Crime scenes: Online,
-
Eric Knight
-
- was an LDS church member; former physician; pleaded guilty in 2021 in New Hampshire to two felony counts of second-degree assault in a plea deal that would allow him to get his medical license back and avoid the sex offender registry.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Convicted, Plea agreement, Pleaded guilty, Unknown result,
- Positions: Missionary,
- Crime: 2010s, in New Hampshire,
-
Joseph Neipp
-
- was a former LDS bishop in San Jose, California; in 2021, pleaded no contest to four molestation counts and was given an 18-year prison sentence, with credit for the three years he spent in county jail prior to his sentencing; father of convicted Mormon child sexual abuser Samuel Neipp.
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Civil: Lawsuit v. LDS church, Unknown result,
- Positions: Bishop,
- Crime scenes: LDS activity, LDS building,
-
Matthew Shepard
-
- was an LDS church member in Salt Lake City, Utah; In October of 2019 chatted with online 13year old persona to try and meet for sex; found guilty to 3 counts of entice a minor by internet or text; currently in jail in Duchese, Utah..
- Learn more »
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Alleged crime: 2010s, in Salt Lake County (Utah), Utah,
- Crime scenes: Online,
-
Jason Smith
-
- was an LDS church member in Indiana; in 2019, confessed to sexually abusing a child; pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 2021 to 728 days of probation for battery against a child under 14 years old.
- Learn more »
- Criminal: Admitted guilt, Convicted, Probation,
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Crime: 2010s, in Indiana,
-
Christopher Warnock
-
- was a Mormon church member in Waukesha County, Wisconsin; found guilty of two counts of 1st Degree Sexual Assault of Child and one 2nd Deg. Sex Assault-Intoxicated Victim .
- Learn more »
- Alleged coverup
- Criminal: Convicted,
- Positions: Stake seventy,
- Crime: 1990s, 2000s, 2010s,
-
Add information
If someone you know was harmed by the person listed on this page, or if you would like us to add or correct any information, please fill out the form below. We will keep you anonymous. You can also contact us directly.
View the Mormon Sexual Abuse Map
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.
Visit the FLOODLIT Map