Jessica Schreifels - The Salt Lake Tribune

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) These men allege that ex-therapist Scott Owen sexually abused them in his roles as their therapist, church leader or relative. On Monday, they gathered at the Provo courthouse as Owen was sentenced to prison after he admitted to sexually abusing patients during therapy. From left to right, front row: Mike Bahr, "Andrew." Second row: James Cooper, "Sam," and Michael. Top row: Jonathan Scott, Troy Leishman. Michael asked to be identified by only his first name, and Sam and Andrew are being identified by pseudonyms.

Utah ex-therapist Scott Owen sentenced to prison for sexually abusing patients

By Jessica Schreifels | April 1, 2025, 8:37 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith speaks during a news conference in June 2022 about his department's ritual sex abuse investigation. The sheriff's department on Thursday said it was "shocked" that a judge dismissed criminal charges against a central suspect last week after finding police and prosecutors withheld evidence.

‘Ritual’ sex abuse case: Utah County Sheriff’s Office says a judge’s dismissal of charges against a central suspect was ‘abhorrent’

By Jessica Schreifels | March 28, 2025, 1:04 p.m.

(Photo illustration by ProPublica. Photograph by Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune)

New Utah law seeks to crack down on life coaches offering therapy without a license

By Jessica Schreifels | March 27, 2025, 2:56 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith speaks during a news conference in 2022 about his office's investigation into a "ritualistic" sex abuse ring. A judge on Thursday dismissed a case against a central suspect in their investigation, finding that police and prosecutors withheld evidence.

‘Ritual’ sex abuse case: Judge dismisses charges against a central suspect after police and prosecutors withheld key evidence

By Jessica Schreifels | Paighten Harkins | March 21, 2025, 9:57 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah OB-GYN David Broadbent appears in 4th District Court in Provo for a preliminary hearing in November. Prosecutors on Wednesday filed two more felony charges against him, now alleging he sexually abused five of his former patients.

More criminal charges trickle in against Utah OB-GYN David Broadbent

By Jessica Schreifels | February 26, 2025, 7:04 p.m.

(Robert Stevens | Sanpete Messenger) Joe and Lee Bennion of Spring City have been harassed over decade-old witness statements that accused of scores of Utahns of ritual abuse of children and other crimes, including cannibalism. It's clear that the Bennions and others were falsely accused, their attorney says.

This Utah couple is being harassed over old satanic abuse claims. They want the state to clear their names.

By Paighten Harkins | Jessica Schreifels | February 27, 2025, 1:18 a.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Seen on a video monitor, Dean Goodridge, father of Taylor Goodridge, who died at Diamond Ranch Academy, asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to support a bill which would bring more oversight to teen treatment programs. Behind him, a crowd of people wore green ribbons in support of the teen treatment industry.

Their kids died in Utah teen treatment programs. Now, these parents are asking Utah lawmakers to beef up oversight.

By Jessica Schreifels | February 22, 2025, 1:11 a.m.

An aerial photo shows Provo Canyon School campus on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Springville, Utah. Provo Canyon School's license for its Springville campus has been sanctioned after state inspectors have found repeated instances where children were not kept free from harm or violence.

Provo Canyon School staff hurt kids, Utah licensers found; its Springville campus is under close watch

By Jessica Schreifels | February 14, 2025, 1:00 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Former Utah County therapist Scott Owen walks into the courtroom on June 10, 2024. Owen pleaded guilty Monday to felonies, admitting he sexually abused some of his patients.

Utah ex-therapist Scott Owen pleads guilty to sexually abusing two patients during sessions

By Jessica Schreifels | February 10, 2025, 5:58 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rep. Stephanie Gricius speaks about her bill HB281, a bill that increases parental consent requirements for mental health professionals in the public education system, during a House Education Committee meeting at the Capitol in Salt Lake City Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.

A Utah bill would let parents control what their child can discuss with a school therapist

By Jessica Schreifels | February 3, 2025, 5:22 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah OB-GYN David Broadbent appears in 4th District Court in Provo for a court hearing in November. Prosecutors have charged Broadbent with more than a dozen felonies, accusing him of sexually abusing four of his patients.

Utah OB-GYN David Broadbent now facing more than a dozen new felony sexual assault charges

By Jessica Schreifels | January 15, 2025, 5:08 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah OB-GYN David Broadbent appears in 4th District Court in Provo for a preliminary hearing on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. There are more than 200 former patients who have now claimed in civil lawsuits that the doctor sexually abused them during exams.

In Utah, 217 women have now sued an OB-GYN for alleged sex abuse. One says he assaulted her after he agreed to stop practicing.

By Jessica Schreifels | January 6, 2025, 1:02 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Christine Marie and Tolga Katas embrace after Samuel Bateman was sentenced to 50 years at the federal courthouse in Phoenix, Arizona, on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. The Utah couple spent years collecting evidence of Bateman's abuse, which they gave to the FBI.

Samuel Bateman gets 50 years in prison after admitting he sexually abused his child ‘wives’ in FLDS offshoot

By Jessica Schreifels | Trent Nelson | December 10, 2024, 2:11 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Followers of Samuel Bateman embrace at Christine Marie's home after he was arrested during an FBI raid.

The FBI raided their homes and arrested their prophet. Then the polygamous group found out who the informants were. Read part 2.

By Trent Nelson | Jessica Schreifels | December 8, 2024, 1:00 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Followers of Samuel Bateman in the immediate aftermath of his arrest.

A Utah couple infiltrated a new polygamous sect and helped put its abusive leader behind bars. Read Part 1.

By Trent Nelson | Jessica Schreifels | December 9, 2024, 11:59 p.m.

(Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes' office sued news outlets to try to keep his calendars a secret. But now five years of records have been released.

Utah A.G. Sean Reyes fought to keep his calendar private. Here’s what it shows.

By Robert Gehrke | Jessica Schreifels | Shannon Sollitt | Tony Semerad | November 15, 2024, 4:48 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah OB-GYN David Broadbent appears in 4th District Court in Provo for a hearing on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. Broadbent has been charged with forcible sexual abuse and object rape.

Utah OB-GYN David Broadbent faces a new felony sexual assault charge

By Jessica Schreifels | November 12, 2024, 9:28 p.m.

(Illustration by Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune)

Help The Salt Lake Tribune and ProPublica investigate mental health care access in Utah

By Jessica Schreifels | October 31, 2024, 12:00 p.m.

(Robert Mittendorf | Special to The Tribune) S.D. poses for a photograph in Bellingham, Wa. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. She and another woman have filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Utah Valley University did not protect them when they were students from a nurse practitioner, who they allege conducted unnecessary medical exams for his own sexual gratification.

Former students sue, contending UVU didn’t protect them from a medical worker they allege touched them inappropriately

By Jessica Schreifels | October 30, 2024, 12:00 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Maple Lake Academy in Spanish Fork, on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022.

Blaming ‘punitive’ Utah licensers, Maple Lake Academy closes girls program

By Jessica Schreifels | October 25, 2024, 4:05 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Matheson Courthouse from the top of City Hall on Thursday, April 28, 2022.

In Utah, the governor appoints judges to the bench. So why are they on your ballot?

By Jessica Schreifels | October 18, 2024, 12:00 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Harper Tribe on the family's backyard trampoline in South Jordan on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. At left is Miriam Tribe. Harper has been waiting on a list for nine years to get support from Utah’s Division of Services for People with Disabilities.

Utah changed its constitution to help people with disabilities. Here’s why lawmakers want you to vote to change it again.

By Jessica Schreifels | Robert Gehrke | October 8, 2024, 11:06 p.m.

(Illustration by Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune)

Young Utahns struggle with their mental health. Is a new A.I. chatbot the answer?

By Jessica Schreifels | September 23, 2024, 12:00 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Maple Lake Academy in Spanish Fork, on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022.

Utah tried to close a teen treatment program over safety concerns. Here’s why a judge is allowing it to stay open.

By Jessica Schreifels | September 16, 2024, 11:06 p.m.

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