Attorneys Talk about Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Regarding Lamanite Placement

Good4Utah
June 7, 2016

http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/attorneys-talk-about-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-regarding-lamanite-placement

[with video]

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4 Utah) A fourth person has come forward claiming they were sexually abused while in the foster care program by run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Lamanite Placement Program put Native American children in LDS foster homes from the 1940s to the 1990s. The man filing the lawsuit says he was placed with a family in Roy, Utah and sexually abused by his foster father.

The lawsuit accuses the LDS Church of not reporting the abuse to the proper authorities.

"We believe this was a well-intentioned program, but in a lot of ways it was a pedophiles dream to have basically a captive child from hundreds and hundreds of miles away, separated from their family and their culture," said David Clohessy, victim advocate.

Attorneys also said officials with the LDS Church have filed motions to move these cases from the Navajo tribal court to Utah.

LDS Church spokesman, Eric Hawkins says the church has toughened its reporting requirements and how it tracks people accused of abuse.

He also released this statement saying:

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind and works actively to prevent abuse. We have not yet seen the lawsuit and therefore cannot comment on any specifics. The Church will examine the allegations and respond appropriately."