child abuse

Utah is moving to protect the children of online content creators following the child abuse conviction of Ruby Franke, who dispensed parenting advice to millions of people online.

Bateman had pleaded guilty to claiming more than 20 spiritual “wives” including 10 underage girls. He acknowledged coercing girls as young as nine years old to submit to criminal sex acts with him and other adults.

Samuel Bateman pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport underage girls across state lines. But his deal hinged on whether others charged in the case would also plead guilty.

Authorities say Bateman took more than 20 wives, including 10 underage girls. They say he created a network spanning at least four states as he tried to start an offshoot of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Newly released video shows the malnourished son of a parenting advice YouTuber approaching a neighbor for help on the morning that his mother and her business partner were arrested on child abuse charges.

Authorities say the conspiracy between Moroni Johnson and the polygamous sect’s leader, self-proclaimed prophet Samuel Bateman, occurred over a three-year period ending in September 2022. Bateman has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

John Goodrich was the subject of an Associated Press investigation into how the church protects itself from allegations of sexual abuse.

The bill does not remove the legal loophole known as clergy-penitent privilege. But Rep. Anthony Loubet said it could incentivize clergy members to come forward.

This week is a pretty heavy topic — abuse. And specifically, child abuse.

Bill sponsors and advocates say the changes will help protect children from abusive parents.

Similar clergy-penitent privilege bills have failed in the past. However, Rep. Anthony Loubet’s proposal has one major difference, resulting in a lack of opposition from the state's dominant faith.

A former LDS bishop whom a top church official said committed “sexual transgression” with his own daughter was excommunicated after making a religious confession. Recordings obtained by The Associated Press show that instead of helping prosecutors, the church used a legal playbook that keeps sex abuse secret.