A BYU dean wrote in support of a man charged with child sex abuse crimes. It’s not an isolated case.

Latter-day Saint bishops and other people connected to the church have vouched for defendants accused of serious crimes — even as the church itself has discouraged such interventions as potentially harmful. And behind the scenes, a Salt Lake Tribune inquiry revealed, some Utah County prosecutors have taken an unusual step when letters like these appear: They contact Kirton McConkie, the outside law firm which represents the LDS Church, whose lawyers then instruct the bishop to withdraw the submission, the office confirmed. That practice raises its own ethical concerns. One legal expert told The Tribune it is “wholly inappropriate” for prosecutors to try to limit this type of material from a judge making a weighty decision about whether to grant bail or how long someone should spend in prison. Reporting: Jessica Schreifels Video: Trevor Christensen The Salt Lake Tribune