Man Accused of Sexually Abusing Young Boy during Funerals at Utah Church, Police Say

By Summer Lin
McClatchy News Service via Fort Worth Star & Telegram
September 23, 2020

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/nation-world/national/article245942890.html

A Utah man is accused of filming himself sexually abusing a young child at a Mormon church, police said.

It all started when the Department of Homeland Security received information that Thomas Michael Wallin, 21, of South Jordan was allegedly making and distributing child pornography, 2KUTV reported.

Police say Wallin admitted that he sexually abused a 4-year-old boy in December 2019 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to the station. Wallin is accused of filming himself abusing the child, 2KUTV reported.

He has an “extensive juvenile history of engaging in sexual contact with minors,” Gephardt Daily reported, citing a probable cause statement.

“Additionally, Wallin sexually abused a young male during funeral gatherings at an LDS chapel,” an officer wrote, according to Gephardt Daily.

Wallin was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on Sept. 22 and is being held without bail, according to inmate records.

He is facing charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and aggravated sex abuse of a child.