Former LDS bishop charged with sexual assault of 16-year-old girl
Share and Follow


SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill has brought sexual assault charges against a former bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to a press release from the DA’s Office.

Mark Lehnhof Stevens, 68, is charged in Salt Lake County with forcible sodomy (first-degree felony) and two counts of forcible sexual abuse (second-degree felony).

In 2006, Stevens, a former bishop of the LDS Church, assaulted the victim when she was 16 years old, according to the DA’s Office. The victim was reportedly a member of the church, and Stevens was her bishop.

At the time, Stevens had allegedly asked the victim to meet with him to “discuss her leadership role” within the church. The victim met with Stevens in his office, where he began asking her about her personal sexual behavior, officials said.

Stevens allegedly then told the victim that she would be expected to “keep her future husband sexually satisfied,” and that if her husband had issues with sin, God would “hold her accountable,” according to the DA’s Office. After telling her this, Stevens allegedly walked around his desk and sexually assaulted the victim.

After the assault, Stevens reportedly laughed and said to the victim, “You’re just so innocent, aren’t you?” He also reiterated that as her bishop, God had instructed him to “teach her how to keep her husband satisfied,” officials said.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill has released the following statement on the matter:

Churches are sacred spaces in our community. Children need to be protected, and it is incumbent on all of us to safeguard these spaces for our children. I want to thank this brave victim-survivor for coming forward and reporting this alleged abuse. If you are a survivor of sexual assault, I encourage you to report it to law enforcement. All persons accused of wrongdoing are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Stevens was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on the aforementioned charges.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
FBI agent probing ICE shooting of Renee Good resigns

FBI Agent Leading Investigation into ICE Shooting of Renee Good Steps Down

An FBI agent who embarked on an investigation into the deadly shooting…
Elizabeth Smart reveals her kidnapper tried to abduct her teen cousin as his ‘next wife’

Elizabeth Smart Exposes Chilling Plot: Kidnapper Targeted Her Teen Cousin for ‘Next Wife

Elizabeth Smart, a survivor of a high-profile abduction, recently revealed chilling details…
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Union tell-all, Virginia Dems peddle DEI, far-left death threat on campus

Unmasking Campus Chaos: Union Exposé, Virginia DEI Push, and Alarming Far-Left Threats

A large crowd gathered in protest outside a rally featuring President Donald…
Virginia Democrats frustrate law enforcement with bill axing prison time for violent crime, expert warns

Virginia’s Proposed Bill to Reduce Prison Time for Violent Crimes Sparks Law Enforcement Concerns

A new legislative proposal by Virginia Democrats has ignited a debate over…
Trump pays tribute to 'great and brave soldiers of the United Kingdom'

Trump Honors UK Veterans: A Heartfelt Tribute to the Nation’s Courageous Soldiers

Donald Trump recently expressed his admiration for the UK’s “great and very…
Anti-ICE agitator allegedly bites off federal officer's finger during Minneapolis attack

Activist Accused of Biting Federal Officer’s Finger in Minneapolis Incident

Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security, took to social media…
Elite Moscow university offers students bonuses to join Russian military, with bogus claims of non-combat positions

Prestigious Moscow University Entices Students with Incentives to Enlist in Russian Military, Misleadingly Promoting Non-Combat Roles

In an effort to draw students into non-combat roles, a leading Moscow…
Trump posts 'loaded gun' image after federal agent kills man, 37

Trump Shares Provocative Image Following Fatal Shooting by Federal Agent

On Saturday, Donald Trump posted an image of what he claimed to…