South Jordan Man Accused of Filming Himself Sexually Abusing Child at Church

By Jeremy Harris
KUTV
September 23, 2020

https://fox17.com/news/nation-world/south-jordan-man-accused-of-filming-himself-sexually-abusing-child-at-church

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Federal authorities arrested a South Jordan man who is accused of producing child pornography and sexually abusing a 4-year-old child at a church.

Thomas Michael Wallin, 21, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on three charges of felony sexual exploitation of a minor, and one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony.

According to an arrest affidavit, investigators from the Department of Homeland Security received information that Wallin was producing and distributing child pornography from his home in South Jordan.

After his arrest Tuesday, Wallin admitted to the child pornography allegations, as well as sexually touching a 4-year-old boy at a meeting house of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in December 2019, according to the affidavit. Wallin filmed the abuse, the affidavit states.

Federal investigators asked a judge to keep Wallin in custody without bail, citing "an extensive history of engaging in sexual contact with minors."

“Wallin sexually abused a young male during funeral gatherings at an LDS chapel. Wallin is believed to be a danger to children and has admitted to speaking with another associate regarding kidnapping and rape of a child,” an investigator wrote in the arrest affidavit.

According to a database from the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Wallin is licensed as an unarmed security guard and has no disciplinary actions on his record.

Individuals charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.