|
By Kent Larsen
Former LDS Bishop Used LDS Chat Room to Lure Teenager
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- Former LDS Bishop Gordon Brent Bodily plead guilty
Friday to a charge of enticement for illegal sexual activity, arising from
his posing as a teenager in an LDS-oriented chat room and luring a
17-year-old North Carolina girl to a Utah motel room. Bodily, 51, faces up
to 10 years in prison for the charge, which happened while he was an LDS
Bishop. He has since been released from his calling and excommunicated,
according to an LDS Church spokesperson.
Bodily met the girl last February in an LDS-oriented chat room where he
pretended to be 19 years old. After their relationship progressed to include
sexually-oriented telephone conversations, Bodily admitted to her that he
was 51 years old. After the relationship progressed for a few months, Bodily
then invited the girl to come to Utah, suggesting that she tell her parents
that she would visit Mormon landmarks and visit local colleges. She visited
from June 13 to 16, 2000. During that time they had sexual relations several
times. Afterwards, the girl told a friend about the rendezvous, and LDS
Church authorities were notified.
Under Utah law, like many US states, it is a crime for a person to have sex
with a 16 or 17-year-old if the person is 10 or more years older than the
minor. Under the plea agreement he reached with prosecutors, Bodily will
seek sex offender therapy while in prison, and prosecutors have agreed to
seek minimum sentencing. Sentencing is set for March 29th.
Sources:
Man Pleads Guilty to Luring Teen to Utah for Sex Acts
Salt Lake Tribune 13Jan01 D2
Former LDS bishop admits to sex charge
Deseret News 14Jan01 D2
Associated Press
He had tryst with 17-year-old N.C. girl he met online
|
