Former bishop, charged with child molestation in Livermore Mormon church, released on $920K bail

Nate Gartrell, Jakob Rodgers, Bay Area News GroupSan Jose Mercury News

DUBLIN — A former Bay Area bishop has been released from jail after securing release through a bail bonds company, while he faces charges of molesting four boys at least 18 times.

Michael Delar Morris, 76, was charged with 18 felonies for alleged child molestation dating back decades. The charging records accuse Morris of molesting four boys, but police say five alleged victims came forward with similar stories of Morris coercing them in their teens, when he led a young men’s group through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Livermore.

Morris was released on $920,000 bail and ordered to stay away from minors, surrender his passport, and not to contact any of the alleged victims. He posted bail on May 28, eight days after the charges were filed, court records show.

The bail was posted after Judge Diane Meier denied a defense motion to release Morris outright without having to post a bond, court records show.

The complaint against Morris lists his home, victims’ childhood homes, and his vehicle as locations where the alleged child molestation happened, as well as the Mormon church on Hillcrest Avenue in Livermore where Morris worked. Most of the alleged child molestation occurred from 1996 to 2000, but prosecutors alleged he sexually abused one of the boys in the early 90s.

Each charge carries a lengthy offense date range, stemming several months to a year. Police say the alleged molestation happened on “frequent” occasions and wasn’t necessarily limited to 18 specific acts. Morris also allegedly gave at least one of the victim sex toys.

Morris was arrested last month in his Utah home, court records show. Police said in court filings that the investigation started in July 2025 when the first of five alleged victims came forward. One boy told police “Michael would meet with him one-on-one in his office at the church or he would be alone with Michael during car rides,” authorities wrote in court filings.

The 18 charges include counts of committing a lewd act on a child, sexual penetration with a foreign object, and oral copulation of a child, court records show. Morris pleaded not guilty on June 10 and is next due in court on Aug 6.