A Utah man has been charged with sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl while he was her Latter-day Saint bishop.
James Douglas Robinson, 63, has been charged in 8th District Court with forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.
According to a probable cause statement, the 15-year-old girl told police that she was assaulted June 16 while she was at a church girls’ camp at the Reid Ranch in Hanna, Duchesne County.
She said she was alone in the kitchen area when her bishop pinned her and touched her inappropriately over her clothes.
After the alleged assault, Robinson was released as bishop of his Latter-day Saint ward, or congregation, and, according to police, moved to Idaho.
According to a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “The church reported these allegations to law enforcement as soon as they were brought to the attention of local leaders and the individual was immediately released from his leadership position to allow him to focus on his legal defense.” The statement went on to say that the church “has zero-tolerance for abuse of any kind and is awaiting the outcome of this case in the legal system before commenting any further.”
A warrant has been issued for Robinson’s arrest. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 26.
