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A former Boy Scouts leader and Mormon church member in Salt Lake County has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing four boys over the course of more than two decades, KSL.com reported.
Charles Sheldon Bates, a member of the Kearns, Utah North Stake of the LDS Church, was taken into custody on April 17, 2025. According to court documents obtained by FLOODLIT.org, Bates allegedly committed sexual abuse on numerous occasions from 2006 through 2020 in locations that included his home, vehicle, the Kearns Community Pool, and during Boy Scouts outings. Bates also allegedly produced child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving his victims.
Police reports indicate that at least 134 CSAM photos were found on CDs in Bates’s possession. Of those, 54 were recognized by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), and four depicted known victims. According to the probable cause affidavit, one of the earliest incidents occurred in 2006, when Bates allegedly took nude photographs of an 11-year-old child. Other victims described repeated assaults while Bates served as their Boy Scouts leader or posed as a mentor.
One plaintiff’s attorney stated that the locations and context of the alleged abuse underscore how trusted roles within the Church and affiliated youth programs can enable predatory behavior. “This case highlights a disturbing pattern where authority figures use institutional credibility to gain access to children.”
As of April 22, Bates remains in the Salt Lake County Jail without bail. His prior history includes two 2022 misdemeanor cases that were later dismissed, including one where police reported that Bates used his vehicle to detain someone he was allegedly stalking.
The Unified Police Department is urging anyone who may have been abused by Bates to contact their non-emergency dispatch line at 801-840-4000.
If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual abuse within the LDS Church, you may still have time to take legal action. Learn more about your rights and recent legal developments by visiting our comprehensive Mormon Church Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Guide.
