A former bishop in Washington City, Utah, Mark Lehnhof Stevens, has been charged with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl under his spiritual guidance. The alleged abuse took place during a meeting at his church office, where Stevens is accused of engaging in inappropriate conversations about sex and personal sexual behavior before assaulting the girl.
A former bishop residing in Washington City, Utah , has been charged with allegedly sexually assaulting a minor while he held a position of religious leadership. Mark Lehnhof Stevens, 56, is accused of preying upon a 16-year-old girl under his pastoral care. According to charging documents, Stevens summoned the victim to his church office under the guise of discussing a leadership role.
During this meeting, he reportedly engaged in inappropriate conversations about sex and personal sexual behavior, instilling in the girl the belief that she would be responsible for satisfying her future husband sexually. He further asserted that if her husband ever strayed or engaged with pornography, God would hold her accountable. Charging documents allege that Stevens then sexually assaulted the girl during this meeting, laughing afterward and saying, 'you're just so innocent, aren't you?' He allegedly justified his actions, claiming that as her bishop, God had instructed him to 'teach her how to keep her husband satisfied.'Salt Lake County Attorney Sim Gill addressed the gravity of the situation in a statement on Monday, emphasizing that 'churches are sacred spaces in our community' and 'children need to be protected.' He commended the victim for her courage in coming forward and reporting the alleged abuse. Gill urged other survivors of sexual assault to seek justice and report their experiences to law enforcement. As of the publication of this report, it remained unclear whether Stevens had been arrested. While a proposed warrant and no-contact order were listed in Utah Courts, they were yet to be approved by a judge. Stevens faces serious charges, including first-degree felony forcible sodomy and two counts of second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse. The charging documents do not disclose Stevens' specific faith or the denomination of the church he served as a bishop
SEXUAL ASSAULT CHURCH BISHOP UTAH CHILD ABUSE
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