Washington LDS Church Allegedly Allowed Convicted Sex Offender Access To Children

A recent lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of Washington for King County alleges that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its local affiliates knowingly allowed a convicted child rapist to hold positions of authority and access vulnerable children, leading to the sexual abuse of four young boys.

The complaint, filed by four plaintiffs identified under the pseudonyms John Roe 1 through 4, names the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Corporation of the Presiding Bishop, and the Mountlake Ward as defendants.

The suit charges the religious organization with negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress for failing to protect the children from a known predator.

According to court documents, the allegations center on David Herget, a former High Priest in the Mountlake Ward. In 1993, Herget was convicted of raping his 13-year-old daughter. Although he was initially excommunicated and sentenced to jail, the complaint states that Herget served only 180 days after senior church members wrote letters urging leniency.

Following his release from state supervision in 2001, the lawsuit claims the defendants permitted Herget to actively participate in the Mountlake Ward once again. By 2002, the Church allegedly rebaptized Herget, and by 2004, they had restored his position as a High Priest, roles that the plaintiffs argue validated his trustworthiness within the community.

The complaint details how Church leaders allegedly facilitated Herget’s access to children through specific “callings” and duties. Herget was reportedly allowed to print and disseminate Sunday programs, often recruiting young boys to his home to assist him. He also allegedly created “special programs” with candy taped inside, which he personally handed to boys during chapel services in plain sight of Church leadership.

The suit further alleges that the defendants encouraged Herget to dress up as Santa Claus at Christmas and have children sit on his lap, despite his history as a registered sex offender.

The four plaintiffs, who were minors between 2001 and 2005, allege they were targeted, groomed, and sexually assaulted by Herget in connection with these Church activities. One of the victims was only five years old at the time he was molested. The lawsuit describes how Herget used the authority vested in him by the Church to isolate the boys, exposing them to pornography and subjecting them to sexual acts on Church property and in his home.

The plaintiffs contend that the defendants exerted influence on Church members to disregard Herget’s past and treat him as if his crimes never happened, while failing to warn the boys or their parents about the danger he posed.

Herget’s alleged abuse continued until his arrest on July 1, 2005, on suspicion of 18 criminal charges, including six counts of child rape and six counts of child molestation. He committed suicide in the Snohomish County Jail the following day.

The plaintiffs, now adults, assert that the abuse caused them severe and permanent injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder and long-term psychological trauma. They are seeking justice for the Church’s alleged systemic failure to protect them, arguing that the defendants prioritized the institution’s reputation over the safety of innocent children.