Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
ST. GEORGE — A St. George man who served 15 years in prison for sexually abusing two girls while he was their bishop in Harrisville, Weber County, has now been charged with threatening a witness in a parole violation investigation by quoting Bible verses to her.
Timothy Osean McCleve, 69, has been charged with retaliation against a witness, victim or informant, a third-degree felony.
McCleve is currently under investigation for possibly violating the conditions of his parole and the conditions for being on the Utah Sex Offender and Kidnap Registry by "speaking to children he was not supposed to be interacting with," according to a police booking affidavit.
In June, McCleve learned a woman who lives in his neighborhood is a witness to the suspected parole violation being investigation by Adult Probation and Parole. Just an hour after learning the woman was a witness, McCleve went to her house to find out more about the investigation, the affidavit states.
"Timothy then began reading Bible scriptures (Deuteronomy) to her that spoke specifically about witnesses who shall face the same punishment as the sinner," according to the affidavit.
The officer taking the report researched Deuteronomy and noted, "There is a verse within Deuteronomy that speaks about witnesses making false claims and the punishment they should face. (The woman) said during their contact, Timothy also secretly took photos of her," the affidavit alleges.
Police say the woman "is devoutly religious (and) believed Timothy was doing this to intimidate her after finding out she was a witness."
When officers questioned McCleve, he "admitted he believed the investigation was still active as he is currently wearing an ankle monitor due to the investigation. Timothy admitted to speaking to (the woman) about his investigation even though she did not ask about his investigation nor did she request to visit with him. Timothy admitted to reading Bible scriptures to (her) regarding those who 'cast the first stone' but did not have valid reason for doing so considering he has never done that before with her," according to the arrest report.
The witness "expressed great fear for her safety after her interaction with Timothy as she is not sure of everything he is capable of doing to include physically hurting her or family," the affidavit says.
In 2008, McCleve pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual abuse of a child, a second-degree felony, for repeatedly sexually abusing two girls while he was their Latter-day Saint bishop, although prosecutors say there were three victims. He was sentenced to two consecutive terms of one to 15 years in prison.
While at the Utah State Prison, another victim who was abused in 1994 by McCleve came forward. He was charged in 2011 with two more counts of sexual abuse of a child, a second-degree felony, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two more terms of one to 15 years in prison. Those sentences were ordered to be served consecutive to each other and to his previous sentence.
McCleve was granted parole in June 2023. Had he served the maximum time, it would have expired in 2063, according to the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole's website. The board of pardons issued a warrant for his arrest the day after he was arrested by St. George police.
McCleve has a resolution hearing for his latest charge scheduled for July 23.
Correction: An earlier version said McCleve's maximum sentence would have expired in 2016 but should have said 2063.
