LAS VEGAS (NV)
MSN [Redmond WA ]
January 22, 2026
By Akiya Dillon, Las Vegas Review-Journal
An Oregon woman is suing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, alleging that a high priest for a ward in the east Las Vegas Valley sexually assaulted her for as many as five years when she was a child.
The complaint, filed Tuesday in federal court in Las Vegas, claims that in 1995 a high priest ordained within the church and responsible for counseling and teaching congregation members had raped the girl when she was 10 through 15. The plaintiff’s name is not disclosed in the suit, and she is referred to as “Jane Doe C.H.” by attorney Margot Cutter.
Cutter said the church had a heightened duty to protect the girl, given the unique trust between religious leaders and congregants. The lawsuit’s claims include negligent supervision and breach of a mandatory duty to report suspected child abuse.
The attorney did not respond to inquiries about whether the high priest, identified as a Pahrump resident, has faced or will face criminal charges in connection with the allegations in the lawsuit.
A spokesperson for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did not respond to the allegations in the complaint or clarify whether the man named as a defendant still holds a leadership position. However, the spokesperson shared a link to the church’s website, which offers resources for victims of abuse and explains the church’s stance on recognizing patterns of and preventing abuse.
Contact Akiya Dillon at adillon@reviewjournal.com.
Story by Akiya Dillon, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Woman sues LDS church, alleging years of sexual abuse by priest
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