Thomas Michael Wallin, 21, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on three charges of felony sexual exploitation of a minor, and one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony.

According to an arrest affidavit, investigators from the Department of Homeland Security received information that Wallin was producing and distributing child pornography from his home in South Jordan.
After his arrest Tuesday, Wallin admitted to the child pornography allegations, as well as sexually touching a 4-year-old boy at a meeting house of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in December 2019, according to the affidavit. Wallin filmed the abuse, the affidavit states.

Federal investigators asked a judge to keep Wallin in custody without bail, citing "an extensive history of engaging in sexual contact with minors."

“Wallin sexually abused a young male during funeral gatherings at an LDS chapel. Wallin is believed to be a danger to children and has admitted to speaking with another associate regarding kidnapping and rape of a child,” an investigator wrote in the arrest affidavit.

Source: KUTV, Utah

If he has an extensive history....why is he just now being arrested?

I was sexually abused as a very young child. I think I will go to my grave not knowing why people do this. I was abused by annother much much older child though Mormon or not this problem is one I've been baffled by in people. But it does send a strong message to the child. You are a mere play thing to others. And coupled with parental neglect you get the message that this is the only attention you deserve.

I am so sorry that happened to you.

Thank you. I've never heard it in real life. I've never heard someone say to me that they were sorry it happened to me. I don't expect an apology from the sibling who molested me and I don't want one from the man who did. It would mean nothing to both of them so I wouldn't feel it was genuine and that would be worse.

I come from MR. and MRS. Denial. Nothing important like feelings are talked about. Gossip and putting others down behind their backs is my family's way. The abuse trickled down. Mine also happened to be sexual. Either way abuse and neglect were my childhood days. I was not just a victim but perpetuated it to a younger sibling in singling him out for verbal attacks just like I had gotten from the sibling who did that to me as well as the molesting. I didn't pass on the molestation. But interestingly, I looked up to my abuser and the times when I was molested they showed me a tender side of them. That was pretty devastating to my young brain.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/24/2020 12:15PM by Elder Berry.

I'm sorry, Elder Berry.

Thanks.

I am a regular poster on this board and a sexual abuse victim. I was abused by by a baby sitter as an infant. Later a sibling did the deed as an 8 year old as well as neighborhood peer. It has had a terrific effect on my life and sense of well being.

I struggle to understand what causes young people to commit such crimes against the innocent.

I am so sorry that happened to you.

I recently had a PTSD exam with the VA. I was attacked several times when I was in the service.

The examiner said something that no one, no one in my family, no one I've seen in therapy, no friends, NO ONE every said what the examiner said. In a soft and kind voice he said, "I am so sorry that happened to you."

He validated not only my experience, but he acknowledged my pain. I'm welling up right now just thinking about it. That once sentence touched me.

I am so sorry that happened to you.

I'm glad that you finally got the validation you deserved, Beth.

Thank you, summer. I'm surprised it mattered so much.

I am so sorry that happened to you.

I'm not surprised. Many people doubt my claims. Even a person closest to me.

But my abuse happened. I can recount specific situations and how they couched the molestation. I know it did.

It is something that has taken me a long time (till middle age) to deal with without the blocking I do when traumatized. We don't want to believe things like this happen. I don't.

But I believe you. I believe you. I think bad things happened to you and I'm sorry that they did.

I'm terribly sorry that you were abused.

My late wife and her sister were both abused by their father who later abused several of my daughters.
He did time at florence Az. prison and was a registered sex offender the rest of his life.
I discovered after his death that he had also been abused by a grandfather when he was a child.
It looks like it could be multi-generational



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/2020 03:18PM by thedesertrat1.

It seems superficial to say, "I feel your pain," but in a removed way, I do. Well, some small portion of it. Sorry that you had to be a link in this tragic, horrific chain.

I will never understand why people feel the need to sexually abuse and exploit a child. To me that is the ultimate selfishness.

It also makes me question the entire purpose of a church. If a church cannot persuade people to not sexually abuse children, of what use is it?

The church condones and perpetrates abuse of children.

Cover ups galore to protect "the good name of the church"

Sexual questioning of kids from age 7.

Telling victims they need to repent of their part in the abuse.

The list goes on.

The impulse to abuse children is largely precognitive. People who were abused as kids disproportionately grow up to abuse others. Rationality and empathy don't really enter into it.

In fact, it could be that the same emptiness and pain that drive molesters to abuse children also motivate them to seek spiritual comfort in organized religion. I'm not sure that observation is statistically valid, but I've seen people who I think fit the pattern.

In any case the key has to be oversight by leadership. That's the problem with Catholicism and Mormonism: in neither organization is the protection of children anywhere near the highest priority.

Has he been excommunicated ?

Thank you. I wonder at times if it isn't what propelled me out of the church. My brother and I are the only ones out in a big family and both of use were very motivated out by things tied to human sexuality.

Dealing with feeling broken might be better than dealing with feeling church broke.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/24/2020 03:22PM by Elder Berry.

Reply because tscc covers it up. Threats of excommunication if you report it. I reported it against the stake president’s demand. Left the church because of it. SP refused to stop it!

It happens all the time. Being a cult a member is told to let the church handle things. An assurance is made that it will stop, but it is covered up! Cult, cult, cult!