CALIFORNIA
Menifee 24
by Kristen Spoon @ 11/13/2013
A former Mormon bishop serving in Menifee pleaded guilty today to two felony sex crimes involving teenage girls who attended his church. He will serve three years in prison.
Todd M. Edwards, 49, entered the guilty pleas as part of an agreement. The first count, sexual penetration with a foreign object with force and against the victim’s will, is a felony and strike. The second count, sexual battery, also is a felony.
Judge Becky L. Dugan said the first count carries with it a strike because of the severity of the crime. Edwards remains free on $65,000 cash bail until he returns to court on Dec. 11 to be remanded into custody. If he doesn’t appear on that date, a bench warrant will be served, the agreement will be null and void, and Edwards could serve nine years per count.
Edwards declined comment. He must register as a sex offender for life.
Edwards, who currently resides in Nevada, was released as bishop of the Menifee Ward after church officials learned of the investigation in 2012. He was arrested at his Murrieta residence May 28, 2013 following an investigation into allegations of sexual crimes in November 2006 and February 2012.
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