Former LDS bishop accused of drugging, sexually abusing 2 teens
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MAPLETON, Utah (KSL) — A former LDS bishop has been arrested and accused of drugging and sexually abusing two teenage boys, KSL.com reports.
Erik Wayne Hughes, 51, of Mapleton, was arrested Wednesday night and booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of 20 counts of forcible sexual abuse, dealing in harmful materials to a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, and witness tampering.
An 18-year-old man recently came forward to report that when he was 15, there were at least two occasions he believes he was drugged by Hughes, who was his bishop, according to a police affidavit filed in 4th District Court. In one incident, he said Hughes gave him a pill he claimed was melatonin, typically used to help a person’s sleep cycle.
The boy said the pill made him feel “weird and things (seem) disproportionate,” according to the affidavit, and “he has never felt that way before after taking melatonin.” Hughes allegedly told him “he must have given him the wrong pill and that it would not happen again.”
On another occasion, the boy said Hughes gave him a “smoothie-type drink” that appeared to have already been opened. When he drank it, “he had the same reaction to the smoothie as he did with the pill he was given in the first incident,” the affidavit states. The boy said he fell asleep and awoke to find his underwear had been removed and Hughes touching his genitals, the report states. He said that happened at least one other time.
A second man, now 22, said he was 17 when he was also abused by Hughes, according to the affidavit.
The second man said he “was groomed” by Hughes since he was 16 by the man buying him “expensive items” and putting money in his bank account, the report states.
That man claims Hughes did things such as give him Viagra and touched his genitals 30 to 50 times, police wrote in the affidavit. The two also allegedly exchanged naked photos of each other.
On another occasion, police say Hughes had the boy meet him in Las Vegas during a business trip. He said he was given a pill by Hughes that “made him feel groggy,” according to the affidavit, and at that point, he said he was sexually assaulted.
The second alleged victim said Hughes recently told him that “he was being falsely accused of a crime” and asked the man “to keep silent about things he had done” and then asked the victim how he would respond if questioned by police, the report states.
Mapleton Police Chief John Jackson said Friday that he did not know if the two victims came in contact with Hughes solely because of his status as a bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“We’re a small community. We’re a pretty tight-knit community. It’s not only church that people see each other but it’s other activities as well. So it could be both,” he said.
Jackson said the investigation is ongoing and he declined to release much information Friday. He praised the men, however, for having the courage to come forward.
Whether there are any other victims was unknown Friday.
“I don’t know if I believe there is more, but I’m concerned that there is,” the chief said, adding that he is willing to listen to anyone else who believes they may have been victimized.