Merrill F. Nelson was a Utah State Representative. He did not run for re-election in 2022. He was also a lawyer who represented the Mormon Church.
He is alleged to have told a Mormon bishop not to report sexual abuse that was confessed to him by the Paul Adams. The bishop called a special help line. Nelson is alleged to have advised Arizona Bishop Herrod that he could be sued if he reported the abuse and that was Arizona law, not just church doctrine. That was false. Arizona’s abuse reporting grants blanket immunity to people who report abuse or neglect.
Paul Adams confessed to Bishop Herrod that he sexually abused his daughter in 2010, according to the complaint, but when Herrod sought legal advice, Nelson advised him not to report. Herrod talked to Adam’s wife hoping she would protect the children. When that failed he talked to another bishop who sought advice, the same bad advice from Merrill Nelson.
His elder daughter was abused for seven years. His second daughter was 6 weeks old when the sexual abuse began. Adams filmed his abuse of his daughters an uploaded it. At least three of his six children were sexually abused.
The church had a confidential disciplinary hearing, excommunicated the abuser, and still did not inform the police. He was caught when authorities in New Zealand sent it to the FBI. He was caught with no help from the church. He killed himself. His wife was convicted and sent to prison for child sex abuse.
The AP investigation demonstrated that the help line was designed to screen sexual abuse allegations. Clergy were required to call the help line before reporting to police and referred to lawyers who advised them against reporting. Records were destroyed at the end of every day.
- AP: Seven years of sex abuse: How Mormons let it happen.
- AP: Utah rep. told Mormon bishop not to report abuse, docs show
- KUER: Rep. Merrill Nelson and Utah law firm accused of helping hide Mormon help line abuse
Saint George, Utah · Friday, September 09, 2022