Former LDS Bishop Accused of Molesting 3 Sisters Appears in Court, by Angie Larsen, ABC 4 [Salt Lake City UT], April 4, 2007

Former LDS Bishop Accused of Molesting 3 Sisters Appears in Court

By Angie Larsen
ABC 4 [Salt Lake City UT]
April 4, 2007

http://www.abc4.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=b3059df6-abda-41b0-8c88-898b80b75b78

A former LDS Bishop, accused of molesting three Harrisville sisters, made his first appearance in court Wednesday. Timothy McCleve had a detention hearing at Weber County's Second District Court.

The former church leader is charged with three counts of forcible sexual abuse - one felony for each sister he is accused of molesting in his Harrisville community. McCleve is out on bail, but today the Weber County District Attorney's Office requested a bail hearing to put him back in jail.

"There was no hearing to begin with; he went to the jail, released from jail on $60,000 bail apparently, which is his right to do. It's our right to revisit that issue because we think he's a danger to the community," said Weber County Deputy District Attorney Brenda Beaton.

The judge did place a "no contact" order on McCleve, but the prosecution says that's not good enough because Weber County does not have pre-trial services. "There'd be no one in Weber County to monitor whether or not he's having contact with minors or not. So basically that court order is on his honor unless someone reported to police a problem," explains Beaton.

McCleve and his attorney had no comment on Wednesday, but did request in court to have the Harrisville Police Department release some business files from his computer and to receive a copy of the police report.

Neither side would comment if a plea deal is in the works. "Til we receive the evidence," says Defense Attorney Shawn Robinson as he and his client got in the courthouse elevator.

"There's not an issue about evidence, defense council just doesn't have a copy of discovery which is the police report and that kind of thing," rebuts Beaton.

The next court date for Timothy McCleve is Friday, April 13. He will appear at a bail hearing at which the prosecution will argue to put him back in custody and the defense will try to keep him out on his $60,000 bond. A preliminary hearing has not been set yet. If convicted, McCleve could face up to 45 years in prison.