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.
Shawn Gooden was a bishop with the Mormon church and a member of the executive board of the New Birth of Freedom Boy Scouts. He was a lawyer in Harrisburg, PA. He was also an adjunct professor at Widener University Commonwealth Law School. That was all before he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a young relative in Virginia and was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison.
Robert William Austin, a Florida Department of Corrections chaplain, was caught in an undercover sting. Police created several false identities on social media. Austin sent messages to one of those false identities thinking he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl. He sent her explicit pictures. The day “he was arrested he happened to tell the “girl” that he was going fishing. The police worked with Fish and Wildlife, found him where he was out fishing, and arrested him there.
In a plea agreement, she submitted an Alford plea for two counts of sexual battery. Instead of serving the 120 days, the sentences were suspended. She will serve two years probation and register as a sex offender. Probation for raping exchange students living in her home. The other charges were dismissed.
David Cornelius was a math, science, and Bible teacher at First Baptist Church in Danville. When allegations of abuse arose, they moved him on to another church without informing anyone of what happened. He was charged in 2003 with sexually abusing a young child in his wife’s daycare, as well as soliciting sexual favors from a high school student at his new school position with Schlarman High School. He pleaded guilty in 2004. He was sentenced to four years probation.
Miracle Meadows was a boarding school for troubled youth in Salem, West Virginia. It was under the aegis of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Founded in 1988, it operated until it was closed down in 2014.
A desperate student drank a cleaning product, was taken to the hospital where she begged for help. An investigation into the school began and the school’s education status was revoked.
Jason Kerby is a Christian musician who was on the worship team at Beltway Park Worship and at First Baptist before that. He’s competed in Abilene Idol, coming in third place and has several songs on Apple Music.
John Brownlow is the former Chief Financial Office of Westminster Academy, a school that follows the theology of Doug Wilson. He was arrested for stalking a minor online and in person, going so far as to break into his home to spy on his and get unlawful images of him. He would persuade the boy to engage in a sexual activity and then record it without his knowledge. This went on from 2020 to 2022.
Charles Wadlington is a professor at Abilene Christian University. He remains listed as a member of the faculty as of June 2023. His adopted children came forward alleging sexual abuse.
The Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles, California · Tuesday, February 28, 2023