LDS bishopric member arrested for sexual abuse of minor in American Fork

AMERICAN FORK, Utah, Dec. 7, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A top leader in an LDS ward in American Fork has been arrested on suspicion of forcible sexual abuse.

According to a probable cause statement, second counselor Jeffery Graton, 44, was taken into custody after Jay Mott, his bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was informed that a young female was alleging previous abuse.

“Jay was concerned because Jeff left the home with a rifle and was now not answering his phone,” the probable cause statement says. “Jeff was located at the business and voluntarily gave the rifle to his LDS bishop.”

In an interview, the teenage victim told questioners that Graton had touched her inappropriately three years prior, and that the abuse occurred approximately 10 times, according to the probable cause statement.

The statement said that Graton later admitted to touching the girl’s chest and thighs over and under her clothing, and putting her hand on his genitals.