A former bishop, Mark Lehnof Stevens, 68, has been charged with sexually abusing a teenage girl nearly 20 years ago in West Jordan. FOX 13 reports Stevens is facing two second-degree felony counts of forcible sexual abuse and one first-degree count of forcible sodomy.
According to KSL, the alleged abuse took place between 2006 and 2007 when the victim was 16. Stevens, then serving in a religious capacity, would purportedly meet with the girl to discuss church matters, but the discussions are said to have turned predatory. This is intertwined with claims that he offered doctrinal justifications to manipulate her into weekly meetings, where he planned to "teach her."
The charging documents include a disturbing narrative. "Stevens told (the teen) that as part of her marriage covenant, she would be expected to keep her husband sexually satisfied and if her husband had issues with sexual sin or pornography, God would hold her accountable for failing her duties as a wife," as per KSL. The detailed accusations suggest a methodical grooming process under the guise of religious guidance. Stevens has not publicly responded to the charges.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office has reportedly issued a no-bail arrest warrant for Stevens. While these details emerge, a statement by the church has been highlighted stating, “The church’s position is that abuse cannot be tolerated in any form and that those who abuse will be accountable before God,” as obtained by KSLTV. They have not, however, directly commented on Stevens’ case specifically.
