Former LDS Missionary Sentenced for Forcible Sexual Abuse

Associated Press/January 17, 2006

Ogden, Utah -- Former Mormon missionary John Baysen of Kinston, N.C., has been sentenced to 180 days in jail for fondling a girl and a young woman as they slept and videotaping it.

Baysden, 22, had pleaded guilty to two counts of forcible sex abuse, both second-degree felonies carrying potential sentences of one to 15 years in prison.

Second District Judge Pamela Heffernan dismissed two other forcible sex abuse charges and two misdemeanor counts of voyeurism.

Baysden, prior to sentencing last week, underwent a court-ordered 90-day psychosexual evaluation.

The judge ordered Baysden to be on probation for 36 months, complete a sex offender therapy program and have his name put on the sex offender registry.

Baysden was serving in Roy as part of the Ogden Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Police say he was befriended by a family and illegally touched the victims, ages 15 and 18, while sleeping over at the home Jan. 8, 2005.

Baysden was arrested after the 15-year-old victim allegedly woke up Saturday morning to him fondling her with one hand and recording the act with the camera in his other.

Baysden has been released from his mission pending the outcome, church spokesman Dale Bills said after the arrest.

"Allegations that a missionary may have engaged in improper conduct are heartbreaking for all involved," Bills said. "The church expects the highest moral and ethical standards of its missionaries."