A Former Mormon Leader Faces Life in Prison for Child Abuse

Wade Christofferson Pleads Guilty to Molesting Two Children in Ohio

A 73‑year‑old former Mormon leader, Wade Christofferson, has entered a guilty plea for molesting two children in Ohio. The case was heard in federal court in Columbus, where the charges carry a minimum sentence of ten years and can extend to life. Should he be released, a court order will require him to register as a sex offender.

Christofferson was arrested in November after prosecutors alleged that he abused a child 15 to 20 times between the ages of ten and fifteen. The accusations also include an explicit video call with a second minor, coded letters sent to the child’s Utah home, and further physical abuse. Most of these incidents are believed to have taken place in 2025.

The scandal raises doubts about how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑Day Saints handles abuse claims. In the 1990s, a Chicago area congregation excommunicated Christofferson after similar allegations. He was soon reinstated and moved to Ohio, where he served as a leader in an independent congregation. Neither the original Chicago community nor his new Ohio church were apparently informed of his past misconduct.

A senior Mormon official—Christofferson’s brother, who holds a high position in the church’s Utah headquarters—said he learned of his sibling’s earlier abuse around 2020 but did not alert law‑enforcement or child services. He claimed the adult victims preferred that no police involvement occur at that time.

Unlike some other faith groups, the Mormon church does not maintain a public registry of accused members or leaders. Critics argue that transparency is essential for preventing abuse and holding offenders accountable.

The case underscores the need for clearer policies and public disclosure to protect children in religious settings.