Father Testifies in Trial against Mormon Church

By Kelsie LeRose
The Journal
February 7, 2018

http://www.journal-news.net/news/local-news/2018/02/father-testifies-in-trial-against-mormon-church/

On Tuesday, Chris Jensen, a defendant in the lawsuit alleging The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints covered up allegations that Michael Jensen sexually abused several children over a period of more than five years, continued to dispute the timeline of when he learned of the abuse.

The church contests allegations that leaders in the Martinsburg Stake were aware of Jensen’s crimes for as long as five years and did not report the suspected abuse to police.

Entering week four of the trial, the jury continued to hear the testimony of Chris Jensen, the father of Michael Jensen. Michael Jensen is currently serving 35 to 75 years in prison for sexually abusing two minors at the ages of 4 and 3.

Chris Jensen maintained that no one told him about the allegations that convicted Michael until the August 2012 hearing when his son was charged with child abuse.

For a majority of the time that the abuse occurred, Chris Jensen was often deployed with the military, having served for 30 years in the Army.

One large focus of Tuesday morning’s testimony involved a 2010 incident when Michael Jensen allegedly assaulted a family member, after which his father kicked him out of the house. He was 18 at the time.

Sandra Lee Jensen, Michael Jensen’s mother, testified earlier in the case that the incident was not the only reason they had kicked him out. She said it was the “accumulation” of his behavior and a “line was crossed.”

Chris Jensen said Tuesday that they kicked their son out due to years of “all kinds of stuff” and this incident was “the last straw, so to speak.”

During cross examination, Chris Jensen said he was never hesitant to leave the kids home with Michael Jensen before this incident. Chris Jensen was also asked if, in 2010, he thought that Michael Jensen had sexually abused a family member, would he have “beat the daylights out of him,” to which he replied: “Yes, maybe more.”

Caroline Mehta, a prosecutor for the plaintiffs, asked Chris Jensen if he believed his son was a risk to other 12-year-olds to which he said, “No.”

One family he stayed with, who also is a plaintiff in the lawsuit, took Michael Jensen on a vacation with them to the beach, where he allegedly sexually abused the family’s 12-year-old daughter.

Chris Jensen said Tuesday he did not want his son going to the beach because “it is a distraction” for any young man preparing to go on a mission. Mehta asked if either Chris or Sandra Lee Jensen took steps to prevent Michael Jensen from going.

Chris Jensen said a phone call was made by someone to the family with their reservations of Michael Jensen going on the vacation, but Chris Jensen does not recall who made the call. Sandra Lee testified on Feb. 1 that she discouraged Michael Jensen from going on the trip due to his pending church mission. She said she was also concerned because there would be women in bathing suits.

According to the lawsuit, Michael Jensen continued to hold esteem within the church, and was sent on a church mission in 2011. In August 2011, Chris Jensen was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait when Michael Jensen was on his mission.

Chris Jensen testified that it was “absolutely” hard to stay in contact with home while he was deployed. He said he was informed that Michael Jensen was returned home from his mission by Sandra Lee, who “handled everything state side,” Chris Jensen said.

The church maintains that it brought Michael Jensen back to West Virginia early from his mission when the police were looking to question him.

Chris Jensen said he did not recall asking why Michael was sent home, but he believes today that he would have asked.

After a longer lunch break, Chris Jensen was asked why he thought Michael would be a good babysitter.

Chris Jensen responded that kids and other people loved Michael Jensen, and he enjoyed serving others, which led Chris Jensen and his wife to believe he would be a good babysitter. He also said his son had babysat for other families who are not involved in the lawsuit and with whom no incidents were reported. He said if he knew Michael Jensen was a danger to children, he wouldn’t leave him alone with them.

Chris Jensen was asked by the defense if he still cared about the well-being of Michael Jensen, to which he responded “yes.” He also said that while in jail, he hopes his son figures some way to change, heal and help others heal.

“There are so many things I want for him (and) from him while there,” Chris Jensen said.

Chris Jensen also testified Tuesday that he never told the church about the 2004 abuse case in Provo, Utah; the abuse in 2007; the abuse in 2008; or the abuse of a family member.

Chris Jensen was asked about the family’s strict rules about sex. He said there was a no sleepover rule; no dating until age 16, and then dating in group settings only; the monitoring of daughters’ clothes; as well as steps taken to avoid the possibility of watching porn.