Mapleton LDS bishop charged with sexual abuse likely to take plea deal

By Kurt Hanson
Daily Herald
August 10, 2017

https://goo.gl/cLduKJ

An LDS bishop charged with sexually abusing two underage males in his ward is expected to enter into a plea deal soon.

The defendant, Erik Hughes, appeared Wednesday in Fourth District Court before Judge Thomas Low with his attorney, John Allan.

Allan told Low he and David Sturgill, Utah County deputy attorney, are prepared to enter into a plea agreement.

“We have a resolution but we’re trying to tie up a few ends,” Allan said.

Allan asked for another hearing in two weeks where it is likely that Hughes, 51, will enter pleas. He was arrested just 49 days ago.

Hughes is charged with two second-degree felonies of forcible sexual abuse and one third-degree felony of tampering with a witness.

Police reports state a now 18-year-old man told police in April that Hughes had drugged him and sexually assaulted him several times about three years ago.

Another man later came forward and reportedly told police Hughes had sexually abused him between 30 and 50 times.

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

Police reports state Hughes was the bishop of a ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the time of the reported abuse. He is not currently a bishop.

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