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A former Utah therapist and high-ranking leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been sentenced to a minimum of 15 years in prison after admitting to sexually abusing multiple patients under the guise of therapy, the Salt Lake Tribune‘s Jessica Schreifels reported yesterday.
Scott Owen, 66, pleaded guilty to three first-degree felony counts of forcible sodomy and no contest to one count of attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a child.
One of the survivors, referred to as “Sam,” described how what should have been a therapy session in October 2017 became an hour of abuse. “I could feel him all over my skin,” Sam said. “I could not believe this was happening.” Sam had turned to Owen for help with what he described as “unwanted same-sex attraction.” According to Sam, Owen used his dual roles as therapist and church leader to blend religion and treatment, convincing him that physical contact was part of healing and spiritual growth. “He exploited my trust, he weaponized my faith and dismantled my confidence,” Sam told the court.
The sentencing hearing in Provo drew a crowd of former patients and their families, many of whom shared emotional testimonies. Another man, Mike Bahr, said Owen abused him when he led a young men’s LDS group. “He had sleepovers at his house,” Bahr said. “I was there once, and I have lived in a nightmare since.” Family members of men who died by suicide also spoke, some revealing their loved ones disclosed abuse by Owen shortly before their deaths.
Owen’s cousin, James Cooper, said Owen molested him as a child during a family trip. Cooper has since helped gather other victims. “Dozens of people affected by Scott, nearly half a century that culminated in this moment,” Cooper said. “It’s a sad victory to me.”
During the hearing, Owen apologized, saying, “All I have to offer is what’s left of my life.” His attorney, Earl Xaiz, stated that Owen himself had been a victim of childhood abuse and had struggled with his own sexuality.
Fourth District Judge Kraig Powell handed down the sentence and acknowledged the wider damage Owen’s crimes had caused to both victims and the reputations of ethical therapists and church leaders. “Thousands and thousands of these people, I fear, will be affected by this terrible, abhorrent case,” Powell said.
According to The Salt Lake Tribune and ProPublica, Owen had spent 20 years presenting himself as a specialist in helping gay LDS men. Some patients said their bishops referred them to Owen and that the church even paid for sessions using member donations. While Owen surrendered his therapy license in 2018 after multiple complaints, the allegations were not investigated by police at the time, and he continued to be involved in his clinic, Canyon Counseling.
A negotiated settlement with Utah’s licensing division allowed Owen to relinquish his license without admitting misconduct. The documents do not mention the sexual nature of the allegations. More than a dozen former patients later reported that Owen had touched them inappropriately during therapy sessions, though charges could only be filed in three cases due to statutes of limitations.
The female survivor in the case, who was 13 at the time of the abuse, told the court, “He no longer holds power over me.” She was the only woman to come forward publicly. Another survivor, Michael, said he was 14 when he first saw Owen for therapy and learned just days before the sentencing that he could no longer pursue legal action due to time limits. He read a letter to his younger self in court: “It’s going to be so hard, but you’re going to make it through.”
Church leaders and state officials reportedly knew about the allegations as early as 2016 but would not confirm whether the police were ever notified. The church stated that it “takes all matters of sexual misconduct seriously” and that in 2019 it quietly flagged Owen’s record internally to warn bishops. A church spokesperson said the church does not vet therapists recommended by bishops and leaves it up to members to decide whether to see someone a bishop refers.
You Are Not Alone — And You Deserve Justice
If you or someone you love was harmed by a therapist, church leader, or anyone connected to the LDS Church, you are not alone — and it was not your fault. SurvivorsRights.com is here to help. Our team connects survivors with attorneys who specialize in LDS sexual abuse cases. Learn more about your rights and how to take the next step at SurvivorsRights.com/mormon-church-sex-abuse-lawsuits.
