Church leader expected to plead guilty after giving naked massages to minors
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CHUBBUCK — A former church leader is expected to plead guilty to allegations of giving children naked massages in exchange for getting an amended charge that would not require him to register as a sex offender.
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.
According to court records, 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.
At his sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled, both parties will be able to argue for an underlying prison sentence, but the prosecution has agreed to recommend that the prison sentence be suspended, and that Larson be given nothing harsher than 30 years of probation.
The agreement is non-binding, meaning the court is not required to follow the parties’ recommendations and may sentence Larson to whatever the judge deems just.
Larson is expected to change his plea on July 6.
EastIdahoNews.com reached out to Larson’s defense attorney, Stratton Laggis, for a comment, but we have not heard back. If we receive a statement, we will update this article.
The case
On July 3, 2024, a Bannock County Sheriff’s deputy was told of a possible sexual abuse case after “several boys had possibly been touched inappropriately by a neighbor and church leader who was giving them massages.”
Court documents say Larson was the first counselor in the leadership of his local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ward.
EastIdahoNews.com reached out to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ media relations, who stated that Larson was removed from his position at the church in July 2024.
Content retrieved from: 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/.
