6 LDS sex abuse cases found

2026
  • Crime year: 2026
    • Michael Nelson Kleiner
      • "The investigation began June 24 as part of an operation led by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Utah County, according to a probable cause affidavit.Agents were working in an anonymous online chat room when a suspect began communicating with a decoy posing as a 17-year-old girl.Shortly after initial contact, the suspect allegedly moved the conversation to another unregulated platform, where he sent nude photos and sexually explicit videos and requested similar images in return. [...]During the investigation, agents discovered Kleiner was also communicating with another undercover officer in West Jordan posing as a 15-year-old. In that exchange, which began June 2, the suspect again allegedly sent explicit messages and images and made plans to meet in the Salt Lake City area but failed to show up on three occasions."
      — "Snow Canyon Middle School teacher arrested for alleged sexual exploitation of minor", St. George News, July 10, 2026
      June 24, 2026, He allegedly admitted to being attracted to younger girls and told the decoy the encounter was his “first time.” P.C. Affidavit, Michael Kleiner
    • Michael Kleiner (1994 – ) was a Mormon church member in Ivins, Utah; arrested on July 8, 2026 and charged with criminal solicitation of a minor (first-degree felony), 10 counts of distributing harmful material to a minor-actor 18+ (third-degree felony) and one count of enticing a minor (class A misdemeanor; took part of two sting ops thought he was chatting with two different minors one in St. George and West Jordan police
    • Church positionsPositions: Bishopric counselor, Stake clerk,
    • Criminal casesCriminal case(s): Ongoing,
    • Church actionAlleged church actions: unknown,
    • View report »
    • Colton Douglas Larsen
      • "Colton stated that if he is released he will be killed."
      — Colton Douglas Larsen, P.C. Affidavit
    • Colton Larsen (1985 – ) was a Mormon church member in Kearns, Utah; accused of sexually abusing two girls, ages 10 and 13 for the last five years; arrested and charged with 35 various counts related to child sexual abuse; court records state he is being held in jail with no bail; due back in court June 29, 2026
    • Criminal casesCriminal case(s): Ongoing,
    • Church actionAlleged church actions: unknown,
    • View report »
    • Stephen Henry McKean
      • "You’re going to make me like you better than my wife."
      — Stephen McKean, 2026 text message to undercover police agent, per court docs
      Police documents say McKean sent an explicit photo of himself, then quickly deleted it. But the agent was able to quickly save the photo
    • Stephen McKean (1993 – ) was a Mormon church member in Springville, Utah and a BYU professor; arrested in April 2026 and charged with distributing material harmful to a minor (third-degree felony), and three counts of enticing a minor (class A misdemeanor); allegedly sent an explicit photo to an undercover police officer he thought was a 17-year-old girl
    • ConvictedConvicted: Ongoing,
    • Church positionsPositions: Sunday school teacher, Youth leader,
    • Criminal casesCriminal case(s): Ongoing,
    • Church actionAlleged church actions: Unknown church action,
    • View report »
    • Michael Lee Nelson
      • "“When you hit me up on chat I thought you were an adult. when you claimed in private to be underage I was skeptical I’m sorry I didn’t believe you – I truly thought you were of age – I even thought you might be a guy trying to play a trick on me. I should have believed you and I should have ended the conversation forthwith. Please accept my apologies – I am sorry for being a creeр. I am sorry I didn’t believe the man who kept threatening me and demanding things from me. It made me feel that the whole thing was a ruse – Please, Forgive me”."
      — Apology Dr. Michael Lee Nelson wrote to his 14-year-old victim, while sitting in the police station after his arrest, ABC 4, July 20, 2026
    • Michael Nelson (1967 – ) was a Mormon church member and doctor of podiatry in Salem, Utah; arrested and charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony, and enticing a minor, a Class B misdemeanor July 20, 2026;
    • Church positionsPositions: Stake Executive Secretary,
    • Church actionAlleged church actions: unknown,
    • View report »
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