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"Cultural Misunderstanding" Says Lawyer of LDS Primary Teacher Accused of Child Sex Abuse

By RaeAnn Christensen
KUTV
June 15, 2018

http://kutv.com/news/local/cultural-misunderstanding-says-lawyer-of-lds-primary-teacher-accused-of-child-sex-abuse

Sean Sund posted bail over the weekend with a $10,000 bond. He was seen at an LDS Church branch talking to parents following his first arrest and subsequent release, Sgt. JC Holt told 2News.

(KUTV) -- After a former LDS primary teacher was charged Friday morning with child sex abuse, his attorney claims it is merely a "cultural misunderstanding."

"He’s fighting it. He looks absolutely forward to clearing his name,” said Clayton Simms, a criminal defense attorney representing 45-year-old Sean David Sund.

Sund was charged with 5 felony counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child.

Sund, Sean David SO#408853Mug2018.jpg

Though the Salt Lake District Attorney’s Office recommended no bail, a judge lowered the bond to $100,000, which means Sund could get out of jail with a $10,000 bond.

“We were a little taken a back but certainly those are within the discretionary functions of the court,” said District Attorney Sim Gill.

Gill said his office has requested a bail hearing, which will likely happen Monday.

“There was a concern of ongoing potential abuse so we wanted to protect the community,” Gill said.

However, Simms said the protection isn't necessary and Sund looks forward to sharing his side of the story.

“He absolutely denies the allegations that are charged,” Simms said.

Sund served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Micronesia and fell in love with the culture, Simms added.

He attended a Micronesian branch where he served as the primary teacher to children.

“In the Micronesian community people will have large sleepovers and people are more likely to sort of interact in that family way that may seem odd to Americans and western culture. It’s very much accepted in the Micronesian culture to have a large sleepover,” Simms said.

Simms added with emphasis that Sund has no criminal history and was never alone with the 8-year-old girl accusing him of the abuse.

“Not alone, not alone there were people everywhere in that bedroom," Simms said. "Everybody is in a sleepover, everybody’s there; (she was) mistaken that she was sexually touched. That’s it.”

West Jordan Police said because of Sund's position of trust that the fear is there could be more victims.

J.C. Holt is a sergeant with West Jordan Police said, “We hope there are not potential victims but we don’t know.”

That speculation of more victims upsets Simms. He said, “You can say that I am a victim in this case and then sue the LDS Church. So, our concern in this particular matter is they are creating and generating victims that don’t currently exist."

Sgt. Holt added his concern to the district attorney over bail being lowered saying, “We are worried about his behavior.”

He said the best place for Sund is behind bars.

“We are interested in the perpetrator staying in jail absolutely, especially a case as egregious as this where we have aggravated sexual abuse of a child," Holt said.

West Jordan Police ask if anyone has any information or believes they could be a potential victim, to contact them immediately at 801-256-2000.

 

 

 

 

 




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