FRANKLIN, N.C. -- A Utah man was sentenced to at least five years in prison after pleading guilty Monday to 18 counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor while he was serving a mission for the Mormon church.
Matthew Allen Nash, 27, of Salt Lake City, asked the families involved to forgive him. At least two sets of parents attended the sentencing.
"I just pray that they forgive me and the church [will forgive me]," Nash said.
Assistant District Attorney Steve Boone agreed to dismiss one count as part of the plea agreement. Boone said he offered the plea bargain so that the children involved would not have to testify.
Nash was indicted in January by a grand jury on 19 sex offenses, all of which allegedly occurred between February and May 1999. At that time, Nash was serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Macon County, N.C.
The charges involved 11 girls, all younger than 12.