Man arrested in human trafficking sting removed from position as LDS bishop
(KUTV) — A Riverton man and a Lehi man are both facing charges after their arrest as part of the same undercover human trafficking operation.
Both were arrested on Feb. 14. David Moss, 51, is a Lehi resident. Up until his arrest, he was a bishop within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was responsible for the Mill Pond Ward in the city.
Residents say they are shocked by the news, expressing sympathy for Moss’ wife and family.
2News learned that back in 2012, Moss was asked to resign from the St. George City Police Department. He was in the position of lieutenant with supervisory power over various units, including members of the gang and vice squads. He had been employed with the department for 15 years prior to allegations that he had engaged in consensual relationships with at least one or two women, at least one of whom was his subordinate. The disciplinary action in asking him to resign was based on the fact that he was on duty or had an active duty component when engaging in those relationships.
Liz Porter, who lives in Southern Utah, says she and her family have known Moss for about 30 years. She tells 2News they lost touch after an incident between Moss and her nephew. She says she’s glad Moss was caught, but also expressed sympathy for his wife and children.
Regarding the latest allegations against Moss, two undercover detectives initially made contact with him on social media under the pseudonym “Pilot." It’s understood Moss believed those undercover detectives to be prostitutes and allegedly described that he could “manage” them, not as a “pimp," but to help them avoid getting caught. Authorities say he described how he could protect them, help them avoid police, and that he would take care of booking and they would “entertain."
Moss allegedly also told them he had “run” other girls and, on at least one occasion, is accused of grabbing the hand of one of the detectives and forcibly putting it on his genitals over his pants. He then allegedly unzipped his pants and exposed his genitals to the two detectives.
Moss was released from jail on Feb. 14, and detectives followed up on evidence they had collected. On Tuesday, he was arrested again at his home in Lehi. He bailed out of jail on Wednesday morning, but is facing multiple charges, including exploiting a prostitute and sexual battery.
Due to his previous roles in law enforcement and as a leader in the LDS Church, along with having allegedly told detectives he had “run” other girls, anyone who may have had involvement of this nature with Moss is asked to contact investigators with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office at 801-851-4010.
In a statement, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, tells 2News:
“The behavior alleged in this incident is completely unacceptable and unbecoming of any member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and especially of someone serving in a position of local leadership. Upon learning of this situation, local leaders took immediate steps to relieve him of his role and to identify his replacement.”
As part of the same investigation, Riverton’s Richard Martin, 29, was also arrested. Undercover detectives in a previous case initially made social media contact with him on May 9, 2016. In that contact, it’s alleged Martin believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl, describing how he wanted to have sexual intercourse and oral sex with her, but detectives were unable to arrange a meeting. Social media contact was again established earlier this month when Martin allegedly believed he was talking with the mother of 12- and 6-year-old girls. Again, he’s accused of engaging in a discussion about wanting to engage in a relationship of a sexual nature with both children.
He is facing nine second-degree felony counts of enticing a minor by internet or text. He remains in the Utah County jail on a $30,000 bond.
