Woman says Mormon church failed to report dad’s sexual abuse

Woman says Mormon church failed to report dad’s sexual abuse

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A California woman suing her father for sexual abuse that occurred during her childhood says Mormon church leaders allowed the sexual assault to continue by failing to report it to police.

Kristy Johnson said Thursday in Salt Lake City that her now-deceased mother told local church leaders about the abuse multiple times during the 1960-1970s.

She says in a civil lawsuit filed Wednesday against her father Melvin Kay Johnson that he was a church employee.

Melvin Kay Johnson didn’t respond to a voicemail left at a listed phone number.

The Mormon church isn’t being sued by Johnson because of statute of limitation rules, but the allegations follow other lawsuits that allege the religion hasn’t properly handled sexual abuse reports.

Church spokesman Eric Hawkins didn’t immediately respond for comment.

The Associated Press doesn’t usually name victims of sexual assault but Johnson decided to go public with her story.