A charge of sexual abuse against a former bishop for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was dropped last week, court documents show.
James Douglas Robinson, 63, had been charged in 8th District Court with forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony, after a 15-year-old girl told police that he had touched her inappropriately over her clothes while he was her bishop.
According to a probable cause statement, the girl said the abuse happened June 16 while she was at a church girls’ camp at the Reid Ranch in Hanna, an unincorporated community in Duchesne County.
After the reported abuse, Robinson was released as bishop of his Latter-day Saint ward, or congregation, and according to police, he moved to Idaho.
On Nov. 10, Duchesne County prosecutor Loren Anderson made a motion to “dismiss this case without prejudice in the interest of justice,” court records show. District Court Judge Samuel P. Chiara dismissed the case Nov. 12, a few days before Robinson had been scheduled to make his first appearance in court.
Nathan Evershed, Robinson’s attorney, argued Wednesday that the sexual abuse charge had been filed “based off of one statement and without corroboration.” He said that Robinson feels “vindicated.”
Duchesne County Attorney Stephen Foote said of the case in a statement that, “While it was dismissed, it was dismissed without prejudice so that more investigation can be done to see whether or not the case is going to be refiled or not,” noting that an officer continues to investigate.
In a statement Wednesday, Sam Penrod, a spokesperson for the LDS Church, said: “Consistent with its policies, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported this matter when these allegations were disclosed. ... We understand that following their investigation, civil authorities have dropped all charges. We hope that all involved can find the peace and healing they need.”
In a September statement, an LDS Church spokesperson said the church “has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind.”
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