Smart Case: Possible New Suspect?

Deseret News ^ | September 6, 2002 | Brady Snyder

[Palladin]

Friday, September 6, 2002

Ex-bishop accused of sex abuse of teen girl

By Brady Snyder Deseret News staff writer

A former bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been charged with a sex crime involving a 13-year-old girl who attended his ward.

Spencer Dixon

Spencer Dixon, 38, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony. He was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on a $100,000 warrant Thursday morning without incident, said Salt Lake City police Sgt. Fred Louis.

Dixon posted bail and was released later in the day. Calls to his house seeking comment were not immediately returned today.

A first-degree felony is punishable by five years to life in prison.

The crime of which Dixon is accused would normally be a second-degree felony, but because Dixon was the religious leader of the alleged victim, the crime was elevated to a first-degree felony, Salt Lake County prosecutor Kent Morgan said.

"He's the bishop over the flock, and if you fleece your own flock, you're in trouble," Morgan said.

Dixon was bishop when the incident occurred Aug. 24. Court documents state that a 13-year-old girl was watching a group of younger children at an LDS ward house near 1300 South and 2400 East, when Dixon entered the room and asked her to come with him to retrieve some videos from the building's library.

Inside the library Dixon sexually abused the girl, court documents state. The victim "was finally able to get away" and told her parents about the incident the next day, court documents state. Other than the girl's testimony, Louis said there is no evidence linking Dixon to the crime. Still, Morgan said the case is strong because the girl reported the crime directly after it occurred.

"She made a prompt complaint," he said. Added Louis: "It was reported quickly. There was no hesitation on the victim's part." The LDS Church said Thursday that Dixon is maintaining his innocence.

"We understand that he denies the allegation," church spokesman Dale Bills said in a written statement.

Still, Dixon has been relieved of his duties pending further investigation, Bills said. If the allegations prove true, Dixon is subject to discipline, including excommunication, Bills said.

"We are saddened by any allegation that a child has been harmed by improper, abusive conduct," Bills said. "Children are one of the greatest gifts of God and should be lovingly nurtured and protected."

In the coming days or weeks, detectives will interview ward members to discover if there are other victims who had previously been fearful to come forward, Louis said.

"That's a real concern for us," he said.

[Palladin]

This person matches a partial profile of the kidnapper of Elizabeth Smart: Caucasian, 30-40 years old, dark hair. He lives about 5 miles from the Smart residence, and was an active Mormon bishop until recently.

[Palladin]

Picture of Dixon:

[big'ol_freeper]

Gets weirder and weirder. This (Smart) is such a strange case. I wonder if the FBI/ police have looked into this guy since the article makes no connection with the Smart case.

[Palladin]

You can bet SLCPD is giving this guy a good lookover. He lives five miles from the Smart house, is a marathon runner (remember, Elizabeth was out running in the neighborhood the day before she disappeared), and his wife had a new baby on June 12 (a stress factor for any man--let alone a sex offender).

SLCPD are interviewing other ward members to see if there are other victims of ex-Bishop Dixon.

[Palladin]

Some of you might want to discuss the possibilities of this creep as a "person of interest" in the E. Smart case.

He looks good for it to me. He fits the descripton given by MK Smart; he had stress factors in his life in June; he prefers young teenage girls; he is a runner and could have encountered Liz out running; he lives just 5 miles away; he may have had his eye on Eliz. from her many harp recitals around town. Such a man could very likely lust after a beautiful harp-playing angelic Mormon "sweetheart".

[Palladin]

Forgot to mention--Spencer Dixon has bad skin. Remember Jeanne Boylan trying to elicit "skin texture" of the perp from MK? Wonder if Ms. Boylan's undisclosed probable portrait resembles this ex-Bishop of a ward five miles from the Smarts' neighborhood?

[Utah Girl]

I think the police would want to take a look at Spencer Dixon. This is a very sad case, he's going to pay big time for this crime, committing while he was a bishop. Yikes.

[Palladin]

Thank you, UG, for being objective about a member of your own religion. You are a class act.

[freedox]

Thanks, Palladin. I noted on the other thread that Dixon bears a STRIKING resemblance to Bret Edmunds. Don't know what that might mean, if anything.

[Palladin]

It might mean that Bret Edmunds was misidentified as the man seen hanging around the Fed Hts neighborhood. And I also wonder about the man in the park at the candlelight vigil. Was he also misidentified as Edmunds? Also the man seen at the hospital. A bishop would have reason to be visiting there.

[Utah Girl]

I hold no sympathy for anyone who sexually abuses or otherwise abuses children. It is horrific, and it must be stopped.

[Utah Girl]

Well, they do have similar facial features, but Bret Edmunds is HUGE, at least 300 pounds. I do not know how old the picture of Dixon is, but he doesn't look like he weighs anywhere near that. Plus, he is a marathon runner. So, I think the SLPD did have Edmunds pegged at the vigil. It will be interesting...

[Bella]

He fits the descripton given by MK Smart; he had stress factors in his life in June; he prefers young teenage girls; he is a runner and could have encountered Liz out running; he lives just 5 miles away; he may have had his eye on Eliz. from her many harp recitals around town.

The so-called "respected member of the community and neighborhood"...How many more of them are out there? Might be why the girls didn't scream that nite because they knew who he was.

[Faith]

It is said that the eyes are a window to the soul. I find this man's eyes quite troubling.

[freedox]

I hate to get too carried away with speculation here, but......

The only explanation I ever heard as to why Elizabeth had missed her harp performance on the night of the abduction was something Ed said during an interview......he uttered a half statement about Elizabeth having recently taken up jogging, suggesting that she had stayed out too late on a run. I wish I could see a replay of that interview to see if Ed obviously caught himself before finishing the statement or if he was somehow interrupted.

[lakey]

Ricci's eyes were the opposite of Dixon's. With Ricci, one sensed frustration and sadness.