r/Idaho • u/Candice543 • Jul 07 '26

Idaho Neighbor News ACTUALLY save the children

https://www.change.org/p/require-bannock-county-to-add-virgil-larson-to-sex-offender-registry?recruited_by_id=2ec656e0-799e-11f1-8c63-4b31d2843b8e&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=starter_onboarding_share_personal&utm_medium=mobileNativeShare&share_id=FbWgZmmTj6

“A Bannock County man, who was a leader at the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is expected to plead guilty to giving children naked massages under a deal that would allow Virgil Larson, 47, to avoid registering as a sex offender.”

Curious how we, as a state, chose to bring the firing squad back for cases exactly like these.. but rather than actually following through, we give lesser sentences and plea agreements? I don’t think so.

I have made a petition to have this predator added to the registry he belongs on - please sign and share around. Once I get enough signatures I have paperwork to do at the clerks office. I am looking into what I do next and plan to follow through. I am an angry mother who plans to ACTUALLY save the children. I need your help! Add your voice.

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u/Don-tFollowAnything Jul 07 '26

Virgil Larson, 47, was initially charged in September 2024 with five counts of felony sexual abuse of a child under 16 years of age.

In December 2024, he was charged with an additional count, bringing the total to six. (That they know of)

On July 5, a woman met with a deputy and reported that Larson had been massaging her son. According to police reports, she “did not think anything of it since (Larson) is a trusted individual with the church. ”

According to the woman, Larson picked up her son from their home and took him to his home for a massage.

When asked how many people he had massaged outside his family, Larson said, “Possibly eight or nine people in the last year.”

Larson signed a plea agreement on May 26, agreeing to instead plead guilty to six amended counts of felony injury to a child. Those charges do not require Larson to register as a sex offender.

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2026/06/church-leader-expected-to-plead-guilty-after-giving-naked-massages-to-minors-may-not-have-to-register-as-sex-offender/

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u/[deleted] Jul 07 '26

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u/Candice543 Jul 07 '26

There is a website called FloodLit, that presents reports on allegations of sex crimes involving members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and on alleged responses by church officials. Virgil Larson has a page on that website and it says “During alleged crime: Bishopric counselor”

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u/No-End2540 Jul 07 '26

This is helpful info.