4 LDS sex abuse cases found

1985
  • Crime year: 1985
    • Francis DeFord Corser Cochran
    • Francis Cochran (1921 – 2005) was a Mormon high priest in the Seattle 6th Ward in Seattle, Washington in the 1980s; convicted twice in the 1980s of crimes related to sexual abuse of multiple children; allegedly assaulted multiple young girls on LDS property, including during church meetings; a 2025 lawsuit (Floodlit broke the story) said stake president Paul Diehl & multiple ward bishops covered up allegations against Cochran
    • View report »
      • Stake president and two LDS bishops allegedly covered up abuse allegations
    • CrimeCrime: 1980s,
    • Alleged crime scenesCrime city: WA - Seattle,
    • Alleged crime scenesCrime county: WA - King,
    • Alleged crime scenesCrime state: Washington,
    • ConvictedConvicted: 1987, 1988,
    • Church positionsLDS positions: High priest,
    • Criminal casesCriminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty,
    • Civil casesCivil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
    • Alleged failure to reportAlleged failure to report
      • "Despite numerous red flags, Defendants continued to give High Priest Cochran access to minor church members. Defendants allowed High Priest Cochran to continue to attend and volunteer at church events, including those attended by minors. Defendants also allowed High Priest Cochran to continue to transport young girls, including vulnerable refugee girls, to and from church events."
      — civil complaint filed Sept. 17, 2025 (case 2:25-cv-01797)
    • John Wood Fanning
    • John Fanning (1932 – 2012) was a Mormon branch president in Texas, bishop in Oklahoma and Boy Scout executive in several US states, including Utah; accused in 1986 in Utah of sexually abusing at least three boys, including during LDS-sponsored scouting activities; admitted guilt; convicted via plea agreement in 1986 or 1987; sentenced to 30 days in jail and spent approximately 18 months on probation; died in 2012
    • View report »
      • A Mormon scout executive agreed to continue paying Fanning for a month after he admitted to sexually assaulting a child
    • CrimeCrime: 1980s,
    • Alleged crime scenesCrime state: Louisiana, Utah,
    • ConvictedConvicted: 1987,
    • Church positionsLDS positions: Bishop, Branch president, Missionary, Scout leader, Senior missionary,
    • Criminal casesCriminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Convicted, Jail, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty, Probation,
    • Alleged failure to reportAlleged failure to report
      • "I told [John Fanning] we had two options. Immediate termination or he could resign and I would pay him through the end of next month but he had to leave as of now. He elected to resign."
      — K. Hart Bullock, LDS church member and Scout Executive, BSA Great Salt Lake Council, Oct. 23, 1986
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