Missionary arrested on fondling charges

Jen Lawson

Wednesday, May 7, 2003 | 11:02 a.m.

A 20-year-old man who was serving as a missionary for the Mormon Church was arrested Sunday on charges of molesting two girls he met through the church, Metro Lt. Jeff Carlson said.

John Misseldine of Little Rock, Ark., was free without bail Wednesday after he was charged with sexual assault of a victim under 14 and lewdness with a minor.

The alleged incidents took place Sunday at a Mormon chapel near Lake Mead and Nellis boulevards and involved a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old.

"One is accusing him of sexual assault and another is accusing him of inapproproate touching," Carlson said.

A woman reported to police that one girl told her Misseldine put his hand up her dress and the other girl said Misseldine touched her through her clothes.

Will Stoddard, a regional spokesman for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Misseldine "denied adamantly that he did anything wrong at all" and will be cleared.

Stoddard said the doors were open and people were coming in and out of the room where the incident allegedly took place.

Misseldine was released Monday from Clark County Detention Center after Stoddard said church officials promised a judge that Misseldine would be supervised closely and would be placed in an administrative position where he wouldn't have contact with the public.

"We have a great deal of love for the missionaries, but at he same time we certaily have a great deal of compassion for anyone who might be victims," Ashley Hall, director of public affairs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said.