Reading time: 0 minutes
This lawsuit tells the shocking story of a single LDS congregation, one convicted sexual predator, and local leaders who, at best, turned a blind eye, or at worst, were complicit in the abuse of children over decades. Although this is only one story, it's a representative sample of the massive institutional abuse in the modern Mormon church. David Herget and the Mountlake Ward's story serves as a critical microhistory of what children are experiencing within the global Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
How David Herget, the Mountlake Ward, & Child Abuse in the LDS Church Reveal Systemic Failure That Has Led to Major Lawsuits
Dolman Law Group has filed an explosive and highly disturbing lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in King County, Washington. The legal action is brought on behalf of four men identified in the complaint as John Does, who were sexually abused as children in the Mountlake Ward in the early 2000s.
The central allegation of the case is one of profound institutional failure: the LDS Church allegedly took a convicted child rapist, advocated for his leniency, welcomed him back into the fold, and actively elevated him to a position of immense spiritual authority over children. The pain and lifelong suffering of the survivors in this case were, according to the lawsuit, completely preventable.
The Known History of David Herget
The suit centers on the actions of David Herget, a man whose history of violent sexual crime was a matter of public record.
According to court filings, David Herget was convicted in 1993 for raping his own 13-year-old daughter. Though he was sentenced to seven years in prison, he served a shockingly brief 180 days before being released on probation.
This outcome was reportedly the result of seriously unethical actions by senior Church members. The lawsuit claims that Church leadership intervened by writing letters to the sentencing judge, pleading for leniency and praising the convicted man as a great guy. This push for leniency clearly demonstrated that the Church’s focus was on protecting an offender rather than protecting its vulnerable members.
From Excommunication to High Priest: A Timeline of Institutional Negligence
David Herget was initially excommunicated from the LDS Church following his conviction. However, this formal censure clearly didn't last. His subsequent restoration and elevation within the Church, even while he was still under state supervision as a registered sex offender, highlights a deeply concerning and systematic pattern of institutional negligence.
| Date | Event | Significance |
| 1993 | David Herget is convicted of raping his daughter. He is sentenced to seven years but serves just 180 days after Church members allegedly advocate for his early release. | His history of violent crime is formally known and documented by the Church’s senior leadership. |
| Prior to 2001 | While still under state supervision, Herget begins attending and actively participating in the Mountlake Ward of the Mormon Church. | The Church permitted a known registered sex offender to integrate back into the community without any safeguards. |
| 2001 – 2005 | The lawsuit alleges this is the period when Herget sexually abused the four young boys, using his position and access to groom them. | The abuse occurred while the Church was officially welcoming him back and restoring his authority. |
| 2002 | Herget is officially rebaptized into the LDS Church, restoring his membership. | The Church grants full spiritual membership back to a known predator. |
| 2004 | Herget’s full authority is restored, and he is named a High Priest—a role that placed him in direct, unsupervised contact with children. | The Church actively elevated the predator to a position of power, creating the ideal environment for victimization. |
| October 2025 | Dolman Law Group files the lawsuit against the LDS Church on behalf of the four survivors. | Seeking accountability for the systemic failures that allowed the abuse to occur. |
By 2004, the Church’s actions were complete: they had restored David Herget as a High Priest, a spiritual leadership position akin to a father or elder over underlings, including underage children. It is unbelievable negligence that a role intended to foster trust was deliberately handed to a convicted sex offender.
A Chilling Pattern of Grooming and Abuse
The Church’s reinstatement of Herget led directly to the horrific abuse alleged in the lawsuit. Herget allegedly used his restored position and the crazy allowances granted to him by local leaders to gain unrestricted access to young boys in the Mountlake Ward. The victims in the suit were as young as five years old.
The complaint outlines a horrific pattern of grooming and sexual assault across the four John Does, with key, consistent details that mirror each other:
- Candy Programs: Herget was allowed to print and hand out special church programs with candy taped inside to young boys during Sunday Services, often right in front of the ward’s Bishop and Stake President.
- Unsupervised Access: He regularly invited young boys to come to his home to "work" on tasks, ensuring they were alone with him and without parental supervision.
- Targeted Victimization: One particularly disturbing account describes Herget visiting a sick five-year-old boy at home to deliver the candy he missed. The child, left alone with Herget, was allegedly abused during that visit.
- Pornography and Force: Victims, including John Doe #1 and John Doe #4, say they were lured in with pornographic materials and then forced into sexual acts, establishing the convicted rapist's disturbing modus operandi (MO).
- Location of Abuse: The abuse was not confined to Herget’s home; victims claim it also happened on Church property during the activities children are recruited to attend throughout the week.
Documents strongly suggest that local leaders, including the ward's Bishop and the Stake President, were aware of Herget's past and were fully conscious of the unsupervised access he was routinely given to children. Yet, they did nothing to stop any of it.
Systemic Failure: The Culture of Silence
The Herget case is not simply an isolated mistake it points to a broader systemic failure within high-control institutions like the LDS Church.
The core problem, as alleged, is that the LDS Church prioritizes internal reporting and secrecy over law enforcement involvement. This culture creates an environment of silence and fear where children quickly realize that speaking up won't remove the predator; it might just make their lives harder.
Children in the LDS Church spend considerable time at the church outside of Sunday services, often helping clean the building, preparing for rituals, or acting as proxies in ceremonies. This environment of perpetual access, combined with a lifetime of indoctrination to trust the Church elders, gives men in power unprecedented, unsupervised access to children.
Dolman Law Group says this was not just a tragic accident, but a consequence of institutional choices. The Church was fully aware of Herget’s history and still placed him in situations where he had free rein with children.
"The LDS Church gave a known predator the keys to the kingdom," said attorney Stan Gipe of Dolman Law Group. "We are committed to holding the Church fully accountable for its purposeful neglect. This was a systemic failure that left these boys with lifelong scars."
Seeking Justice for Survivors of LDS Child Sexual Abuse
Dolman Law Group is seeking financial damages for the four named plaintiffs in the Herget case to compensate them for the profound physical and emotional injuries they sustained, past, present, and future.
If you or a loved one were sexually abused by a Church leader, clergy member, volunteer, or employee within the LDS Church, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the institution itself.
What Damages Can Survivors Pursue?
Through a successful civil lawsuit, survivors can recover significant financial damages intended to address the full scope of their injuries. These damages typically include compensation for:
- Physical and Emotional Injuries: Pain and suffering, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and long-term psychological damage.
- Economic Losses: Costs related to past, present, and future medical and mental health treatment (therapy, counseling, medication).
- Loss of Life Enjoyment: Compensation for the permanent damage done to a survivor’s ability to live a full and meaningful life.
Why Choose Dolman Law Group?
Dolman Law Group is known for its dedication to fighting for survivors of sexual assault who were violated by members of the Mormon Church or any church.
Our firm and our experienced sexual abuse lawyers are committed to holding the LDS Church accountable for its negligence and pushing for systemic changes that are incredibly needed to protect children from future harm.
We have held other major church organizations accountable for their role in the sexual abuse of minors, including dozens of catholic dioceses, doctors and hospitals, OBGYNs, foster care systems, juvenile detention centers, and we are currently leading on one of the biggest lawsuits in the country against Roblox for failing to protect children from grooming, sexual abuse, and real-world sexual assaults.
When pursuing a case against a powerful, high-control institution like the LDS Church, you need a legal team with the resources, experience, and tenacity to handle complex institutional abuse litigation. Our focus is on ensuring accountability not just from the abuser, but from the institution that created the conditions for the abuse to thrive.
If you have a similar story, our firm continues to investigate the possibility of additional victims and stands ready to help you seek the justice and compensation you deserve.