Accused Sex Abuser Dies, Prosecutors Dismiss Case

Daily Herald
June 12, 2012

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/accused-sex-abuser-dies-prosecutors-dismiss-case/article_336b5bdc-42f6-5042-9c2f-7c5f00e3ce9d.html?comment_form=true

PROVO -- Prosecutors have dismissed a sex abuse case against an elderly man because the man died.

Prosecutors charged Larry Harmon, 79, with first-degree felony aggravated sexual abuse of a child in March. However, on June 4 prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the case. Prosecutor Julia Thomas said last week that the motion was filed after Harmon died of natural causes.

According to court documents, the abuse occurred on Dec. 10 at an LDS Church building in Orem. Harmon was helping set up for a Christmas party, the documents state, when he found an adolescent girl alone in the kitchen. Harmon reportedly approached the girl from behind, then embraced and groped her.

The documents also mention that Harmon has one previous misdemeanor conviction for sexual abuse. Court records show that in 2005 he was charged with three first-degree felonies for aggravated sexual abuse of a child. In a deal with prosecutors, the charges were all reduced to class A misdemeanors, and Harmon entered three guilty pleas.

Harmon's death occurred shortly before a preliminary hearing during which prosecutors would have had to prove that they had sufficient evidence to support the new sex abuse charge.