Ex-choir member is accused in sex case

PROVO — A former member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is accused of sexually exploiting four children.

The Orem man, 51, was arrested Thursday after police completed an investigation into allegations that he took pictures of four boys swimming naked at a hot springs in Spanish Fork Canyon.

He was booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of sexual exploitation of a child and lewdness involving a child. He was released Friday after posting $25,000 bail.

The man has also been dismissed from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, a world-renowned choir sponsored by the LDS Church.

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has just learned of the arrest of (a man) who joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in January 2006," said Dale Bills, spokesman for the LDS Church.

"The church strongly condemns child abuse and will not tolerate such actions by anyone affiliated with our faith. Any member convicted of child abuse faces church disciplinary action. (The man) has been released from his position in the choir while the police investigation is proceeding."

According to a police report, the boys told police they had gone camping and everyone went swimming in the hot springs.

The boys also said the man filmed them with a camcorder and took still shots with the recorder as well, states the police report.

The man also allegedly "directed them into positions while taking pictures and remained nude himself," according to the police report.

The man later showed the boys the footage, according to the report.

The man will appear in 4th District Court Oct. 6 at 8:30 a.m.