Exposing the Corruption of the "Family Values" Party
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, often called the Mormon Church, has protected and shielded child predators repeatedly. In December, 2023, The Associated Press did a story exploring just one of the many times the LDS Church has intervened to protect predators. The case they write about is unique in having recordings of the church’s efforts.
John Goodrich was a dentist and bishop of the Church of Latter-Day Saints (LDS.) He made a public confession to sexually assaulting his daughter in his church. He was excommunicated. Following his confession, his daugher and her mother made a complaint alleging years of sexual abuse to police in Idaho in 2016. However, his “spiritual confession” could not be used in court and the police did nothing.
However, he is alleged to have sexually assaulted her on a 1999 field trip when she was thirteen. The trip was to Washington, DC, and to Williamsburg, VA, where the famous Colonial Williamsburg draws hundreds of field trips each year. It was in Virginia where Goodrich was finally indicted.
In May, 2023, Godfrey voluntarily surrendered his license after the state licensing board received four complaints about him alleging sexual misconduct toward at least two of his employees. However, according to his website, he seems to flout his loss of license. Instead of therapy, he offers “coaching” and “consultation,” which seem clever synonyms to continue his harmful conversion therapy.
Kyle Hayden Lewter was chair of the Madison County Young Republicans and had worked for Rep. Mo Brooks and Sen. Jeff Sessions. He was working for Alabama State Senator Tom Butler. He has been indicted for the sexual torture and murder of a fifty-four year old man.
Luis Borunda served as Deputy Secretary of State under Republican Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland. In August, 2023, he was arrested by state police for soliciting a minor in an internet sting. The subsequent investigation led to him also being charged federally with possession and distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material.
Dustin Glenn Ledford was a school guidance counselor at Fallston Elementary School in Cleveland County in North Carolina. He was arrested in February 2024 for sexually abusing a minor.
Daniel Edward Duffey has been a Republican political strategist for years. He was the political director for Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte’s 2020 campaign before being fired due to a sort-of road rage incident. He was working with Montana Policy Action, a c4 that seems to be electioneering more than the permissible “less than half.” They are a policy group that don’t have a single policy on their site. Duffey has been charged with two counts of stalking, one a felony count.
David Templet was a police officer in Latta, South Carolina, until his resignation after criminal charges were filed accusing him of sexually abusing an eleven-year-old child.
Rachel Wakefield, along with her husband David Wakefield, has been charged with sexual abuse of a minor. She was indicted on eleven charges. They are alleged to have abused a girl for four years beginning when she was fourteen. Rachel Wakefield was the substitute teacher and coach.
David Wakefield was the athletic director and principal of Damascus Christian School in Damascus, Oregon. He has been accused of sexually abusing a minor, a student in his school for four years, beginning when she was fourteen.