LDS bishop arrested by Mapleton police on reports of sexually abusing two underage males

By Kurt Hanson
Daily Herald
June 22, 2017

https://goo.gl/zqS3Nb

Hughes

Officers with the Mapleton Police Department arrested a man Wednesday on reports of sexually abusing two underage boys.

Police reports state on April 20, a now 18-year-old man told police he was sexually abused by a man about three years ago.

The young man said Erik Hughes, 51, was at first very friendly and provided him with what the male thought was melatonin to help him sleep. But it made him disoriented and Hughes told him he must’ve given him the wrong pill.

On another occasion, Hughes gave the young man a smoothie. The young man reported that the smoothie was bitter and after he finished drinking it, he felt woozy and disoriented, just like when he took the pills earlier.

Hughes helped the young man to his bed, where he dozed off. The next thing he reportedly remembered was Hughes touching him inappropriately. The young man fell asleep again and when he awoke, the young man’s underwear was removed and Hughes was again touching him inappropriately, reports state.

Meanwhile, a second man came forward and told police that five years ago, when the man was in his teens, he was sexually abused by Hughes.

The second man said when he was a teenager, Hughes touched him inappropriately between 30 and 50 times, reports state. Hughes would also reportedly demand nude photos of him. Hughes would send him nude photos in exchange, reports state.

Hughes also drugged the second man and sexually abused him in a hotel room, police reports state.

The second man was reportedly contacted within the last month by Hughes. Hughes told him he was being “falsely accused” of a crime, in relation to the first man. Hughes reportedly asked the second man several questions related to the sexual abuse and asked how he would respond if police asked those same questions.

Hughes was booked into Utah County Jail on suspicion of 20 second-degree felonies of forcible sexual abuse, one second-degree felony of sexual exploitation of a minor, one third-degree felony of dealing in materials harmful to a minor, and one third-degree felony of tampering with a witness.

Police reports state Hughes is a bishop of a ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was at the time of the reported abuse.

He is being held on a $25,000 cash only bail.