Texas Jury Convicts Polygamist Leader Warren Jeffs of Child Sex Abuse
- Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:29pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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SAN ANGELO, Texas (TheBlaze/AP) — A Texas jury convicted polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs of child sexual assault on Thursday, in a case stemming from two young followers he took as brides in what his church calls “spiritual marriages.”
The head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints stood stone-faced as the verdict was read. Jeffs, who acted as his own attorney, stood mostly mute for his closing argument, staring at the floor, for all but a few seconds of the half hour he was allotted.
At one point he mumbled, “I am peace,” and said no more. The only noise in the courtroom was the creaking of wooden benches brimming with spectators.
Jeffs, 55, had claimed his religious rights were being trampled on and that God would seek revenge if the trial continued. He now faces up to life in prison. The sentencing phase of the trial was starting after the verdict, and Texas’ attorney general said it could take three days.
Prosecutors used DNA evidence to show Jeffs fathered a child with a 15-year-old girl and played an audio recording of what they said was him sexually assaulting a 12-year-old. They also played audio recordings in which Jeffs was heard instructing young women on how to please him sexually.
The FLDS, which has at least 10,000 members nationwide, is a radical offshoot of mainstream Mormonism and believes polygamy brings exaltation in heaven. They see Jeffs as God’s spokesman on earth.
Police had raided the group’s remote West Texas ranch in April 2008, finding women dressed in frontier-style dresses and hairdos from the 19th century as well as seeing underage girls who were clearly pregnant. The call to an abuse hotline that spurred the raid turned out to be a hoax, and more than 400 children who had been placed in protective custody were eventually returned to their families.
But authorities brought charges against several men from the group, with Jeffs by far the highest-profile defendant.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said he expects the penalty phase to take three days.
“There will be a tremendous amount of evidence, showing a lot more detail to the jury,” he said. “The jurors, and Texans in general, are going to learn a lot more about the background of Warren Jeffs.”
Abbott and prosecutors said the case had nothing to do with Jeffs’ church or his beliefs.
“You have heard the defendant make repeated arguments about religious freedoms,” said lead prosecutor Eric Nichols. “Make no mistake, this case is not about any people, this case is not about any religion. It is about one individual, Warren Steed Jeffs, and his actions.”
Prosecutors relied heavily on information seized from the compound, which is in the town of Eldorado, 45 miles south of San Angelo, and features a four-story temple of white limestone. Much of the material was discovered in a vault at the end of a secret passageway in the temple and another vault in an annex building.
“You might have asked yourselves,” Nichols said, “a lot of people may ask, why would someone record sex? … This individual considers himself to be the prophet. Everything he did, hour after hour, he was required to keep a record of that.”
On one of the tapes played at the trial, Jeffs made a reference to “drawing close” or “being close,” which authorities testified is how church members refer to sex. Two female voices said “OK.”
“A good wife is trained for her husband and follows the spirit of peace,” Jeffs was heard saying.
Another audio tape included Jeffs and the younger girl from a recording made in August 2006 at the Texas compound, according to testimony from Nick Hanna, a Texas Ranger involved in the 2008 raid.
Played in court, it was difficult to decipher, but Jeffs’ and a female voice are heard. He says, “I perform this service in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen,” then mentions the alleged victim by name. When she says something, he responds, “don’t talk while praying.” Several minutes of heavy breathing followed.
The jury wore headphones to better hear the recording and also followed a transcript. One female juror covered her face with her hand as she listened.
Jeffs represented himself after firing seven attorneys in the six months leading to the trial. He broke his courtroom silence with an objection marked by a nearly hourlong speech defending polygamy, and twice threatened the judge and the court with warnings of punishment from God.
He refused to cross-examine the state’s witnesses, and delayed giving an opening statement until he began presenting his own defense. In that statement, he evoked images of the civil rights movement and mentioned former Mormon leader Joseph Smith Jr. He also asked the jury to remember constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
The lone defense witness Jeffs called, church elder JD Roundy, spent about 10 minutes on the stand Thursday discussing FLDS history after 4 1/2 hours of testimony the previous evening.
One of Jeffs’ many former defense attorneys, Deric Walpole, was asked if it was frustrating to watch him defend himself.
“It took me a while to get used to the idea, but it’s about him, it’s about what he wanted to do,” Walpole said. “It’s about that man doing what he sees fit.”
Jeffs failed three times to remove state District Judge Barbara Walther from the case, the last rejection coming even without a hearing. He claimed Walther was biased because she issued the warrant for the original raid and was frequently updated as it progressed.
Eleven other FLDS men were charged with crimes including sexual assault and bigamy. All seven of those who have been prosecuted were convicted, receiving prison sentences of between six and 75 years.
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Comments (85)
jeffyfreezone
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:48pmI would like to see him do life in the Big House!
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 4:32amI knew the Texas jury would convict him – his mistake was being caught in Texas. I just hope no higher court over turns it because of religious reason! http://wp.me/pYLB7-1j3
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 5:20amThis is my hometown…Never a doubt he would fry. We have common sense here. These nutjobs send their women into town all the time to buy things. I wish they would just stay in their temple.
Report Post »beckisnuts
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 8:07amPeople like Warren Jeffs who justify their evil deeds by claiming they are acting under the authority of GOD/Religion expose a major flaw with belief systems based soley on faith. Glenn claims his actions are supported and directed by GOD, when there is no way to prove that assertion. By doing so, Glenn gives himself license to do all manner of things that may cause harm to others, the Israel rally being a prime example. The guy is dangerous.
Report Post »PaulfromTexas
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 10:23amThe jury was instructed to ignore ALL religious stuff. This is a crime against people, not a deity. They were told religion had nothing to do with anythng in the case.
Report Post »LetUsReason
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 12:57pm@ Beckisnuts
You wouldn’t burn all your money after learning that there is much counterfeit money out in the world, would you?
You wouldn’t say all weapons are bad after learning of all the atrocious things weapons have done throughout history, would you?
I could continue with examples, but I think you get my point. Jeffs is a criminal, a rapist, and a wicked man. I don‘t think that’s in question. People like to take this opportunity to bash polygamy, too, ignoring the fact that it’s not only culturally acceptable and agreeable to many cultures, but it’s also Biblical. Just because one freak says that it was God’s will that he do horrific things, does not mean that we should discredit all people who do things in line with God’s will. Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.
Report Post »llotus
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:47pmHe should be castrated and drug 100 miles across the desert by what ever he had left after the castration. Lotus.
Report Post »KiltedTexan
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:38pmThis guy deserves more than what the jury can give him. this is why people criticize and make fun of us Christians because a few whack jobs spout off that they are doing God’s will or that God told them that its ok. The Lord will judge this dirt bag and that will be far worse that any of our earthly judges can sentence him to.
Report Post »ladyda
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:32pmDisgusting pedophile. May he have “BIG ole Bubba” as his cell “mate!”
Report Post »Mable8
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:09amLadyda: Did you ever consider the fact that ‘big old bubba’ may be just as disgusted with jeffs as you are and wants nothing to do with him? It happens, ya know.
Report Post »Perspective
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 7:29amAhh but if Big Ole Bubba is disgusted with him like the rest of us he may just beat him to death.
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:14pmPut him UNDER the prison.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:24pmNo problem, he will not survive prison anyhow; anyone who is convicted of perversions involving kids has the lifespan reduced considerably unless placed in solitary confinement.
Report Post »Mable8
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:13amsnowleopard: jeffs won’t go to solitary confinement unless he breaks a serious rule, gets into fights, or the ilk; he will, however, be permitted to opt for protective custody—even with this, it is still difficult to keep them alive while on the PC unit.
Report Post »ForeignWatcher
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:56amAnd this is ok how?
I mean, yaeh, pedophiles are monsters and have to be dealt with accordingly, but we have laws for that. And correct m if i am wrong, but nowhere in the law it says:
“Sentenced to X years of jail, including anal rape everyday oder the other until the convict dies with a knife made from butter and feces in his back”
The monstrous things that happen in our prisons should make us ashame and we should never embrace them as part of punishment.
But go on, trample on your freedom a bit more, whats a friggin constitution anyway?
Report Post »Omaof19
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:08pmWhy is it that if a Mormon lives against what the true Mormons live like it makes all Mormons bad people?? The same with Muslims. The radical Muslims who believe in seria law (sp?) give all Muslims a bad name. Don’t get me wrong I am neither a Mormon or a Muslim and I am not justifying their religion. But it is not right to steriotype (sp?) others because of a few.
Report Post »Mable8
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:21amOmaof19: It’s labeling people and, you’re right, it creates a stereotype by which all of that group are judged to be of the same caliber as the wrong-doer. Not all Mormons or Muslims are bad people; many are law abiding citizens who work hard just like everyone else. What happens in cases like these is that the labeler forgets that there are really bad people in their own group. Part of the muslim problem is that they will not notify authorities of the bad muslims who are planning/plotting terrorists activities–not just in the US but elsewhere as well. Too, most Mormons who actually do practice polygamy do NOT select child brides–they select grown women who also believe in polygamy. You also have the MAJORITY of Mormons who do NOT practice polygamy at all, following the agreement with the US Government nearly a century ago. Personally, I have nothing against the practice…if it floats your boat, paddle away. However, LEAVE THE CHILDREN ALONE!
Report Post »Midwest Blonde
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 8:15am@Mable8
How many times does anyone have to say that Jeffs IS NOT MORMON but belongs to an OFFSHOOT of Mormonism. The FUNDAMENTAL Church if Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is NOT the same as the Church of …… see – the word FUNDAMENTAL is not part of the true Mormon church name. The fundamentalists use Mormon church doctrine but practice polygamy.
REAL MORMONS do not practice polygamy. It was outlawed by the church over 100 years ago. Mormons don’t preach polygamy, do not endorse it and excommunicates anyone who practices it.
That being said, MOST of the polygamists DO NOT take child brides. MOST polygamists do not dress like pioneers, however, they are quite modest in their dress – longer than normal skirts, rarely wear pants, some of them wear long sleeves all the time, and always high necklines. MOST do not use makup, preferring “natural beauty”. In truth, they aren’t much different than the Amish in some respects. though their clothing is more modern.
Jeff is a monster and needs to be locked up forever.
Report Post »hotrod jim
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:51pmI am going to Salt Lake City next week. Is the multi- women thing still going on? Mormons have been this way back in the 50′s & were more open about it. Cut off the welfair & you will stop this in it’s tracks.
Report Post »Midwest Blonde
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 8:16amYeah right – I used to live in Utah. In fact born and raised there.
MORMONs DO NOT PRACTICE POLYGAMY. The Offshoot religion does. See my post above for more info.
Report Post »Servant Of YHVH
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:32pm@tower7femacamp
Report Post »Hi tower, the Tea Party loves you and we are glad that you are here celebrating the Tea Party.
338lapua
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:21pmBuh Bye Warren!
Report Post »Become a martyr……real soon!
johnj1952
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:57pmA sexual preditor is what he is and the punihment should fit the crime. Send him to prison so he can be some black gang leaders bitch for the rest of his life. Creepy little turd.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:22pmColor or ethniticty shouldn’t matter.
>Since he liked many “wives”, why put limits on Warren?
Report Post »glassaudioguy
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:52pmHe thinks he’s got a good religious argument in favor of polygamy? I’ve got a better one against it. Look at the created order. God created Adam and Eve, not Adam, Eve, Ashley and Jennifer. Aside from human intervention known as sex selective abortions, the ratio of males to females born will always be essentially 50/50. If a small handful of men can lay claim to large numbers of women you end up with what China and India are facing- a large surplus of males. They’d be a fearsome army with nothing to lose and nothing really to look forward to.
Report Post »Mable8
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:28amA fair argument, glassaudioguy, but if you read the Bible, you would know that God did indeed create Adam, Eve, Jennifer, et al. There were many who had multiple wives, including Job…..what you don’t see is a wife having many husbands (at least in the Bible, but there are places where this occurs). So, guess it’s back to the drawing board, huh!!! : – )
Report Post »Ronko
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:49pmGood I’m glad he got convicted, he’s just a servant of Satan. God would never allow these acts to happen.
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:41pmFunny how He did.
Report Post »In that, you assume He’s real.
And these events happened–that‘s why he’s being convicted of a crime…that he did…at some point in the past.
AlansTigg
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:04amI believe what you meant was He would never condone, not allow…it’s that darn free will
Report Post »Cesium
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 12:17pmuhh God allowed Lot’s daughters to rape him… god also allows you to have slaves and doesn’t allow you to eat pork or shell fish… god would be upset… no slavery and wantonly eating of pork and milk with meat…
Report Post »COUNTRYBOYCANSURVIVE
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:38pmThere is an FDLS compound near where I live, one this guy actually founded. Really wierd stuff, they are building huge motel sized bunk houses. Machines are only moved in and out of the compound at night. A 3000 gallon water tanker hauls 24 hours a day, I work for a company whos yard is next to the road that leads to the compound, so I see it regularly. Me and a friend decided to go down to the compound once to check it out, stupid right? There are two watch towers, one on both sides of the compound, peered through my binoculars into the tower, and a guy peering right back at me with a rifle slung over his shoulder, no kidding. I tend not to belive that they are just a “peacful” religous group, not after seeing that.
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 9:54pmDid you see Mitt Romney there through your binoculars?
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:29pmWhich is entirely unsurprising…
Report Post »…oh you went to TEXAS looking for religious freedom?
Well you’re definitely dead now–that was a poor decision to go to TEXAS with your quite possibly ILLEGAL religious practices. Good move.
deerjerkydave
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:23pmHe was carrying around that tape in his car when he got arrested. He fired his high powered attorneys. He threatened the court. How dumb can you be?
Report Post »Mable8
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:35amDeerjerkydave: Jeffs was carrying the tape around for inspiration….as for setting himself up as better than anyone else, well, guess he just learned he isn’t your average joe, but just a tad bit less than average. Even a lawyer knows he should not ever be his own defense attorney.
Report Post »AlansTigg
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:08amwhen you are constantly surrounded by the weak and adoring you tend to get a skewed perspective of how the rest of the world will respond to you…easy to believe you are godlike and above the laws of man
Report Post »peaches1
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:19pmFinally some justice in our sick, sick world.
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:17pmA fitting punishment for Child Molesters is to be put in general population of the prison system.
I hope his victims can get some counseling. I hope they have been removed from that Cult.
Report Post »I hope the cult can be destroyed and no one allowed to do this to the children anymore.
MONICNE
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:10pmOh my! He is a Mormon like Glenn, correct?
TEA
Report Post »heyjim55
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:51pmSo you must be a Communist like Stalin correct?
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:18pmIncorrect, actually.
But you know that, don’t you, you fathead fellate?
Report Post »tranymike
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:04pmok your religious freedom only works up to the point of braking the law once you pass that line your just another guy that don’t want to drop the soap. why do they have to merry 12 year olds they can’t wait 6 more years. i have no problem with you having more then one wife as long as you can pay for them without the goverment and your not brecking any laws
Report Post »juliewilton
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:19pmWonder what would have happened if this was a muslim? They also believe they are able to marry very young girls. Sick, Sick. Sick!
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:53pmHe‘ll be someone’s “Spiritual Bride” in prision.
Irony at its finest.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:04pmbut will the people at dyncorp of Donald Rumsfeld ?
On March 11th 2005, McKinney grilled Secretary Rumsfeld and General Myers on the Dyncorp scandal.
“Mr. Secretary, I watched President Bush deliver a moving speech at the United Nations in September 2003, in which he mentioned the crisis of the sex trade. The President called for the punishment of those involved in this horrible business. But at the very moment of that speech, DynCorp was exposed for having been involved in the buying and selling of young women and children. While all of this was going on, DynCorp kept the Pentagon contract to administer the smallpox and anthrax vaccines, and is now working on a plague vaccine through the Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program. Mr. Secretary, is it [the] policy of the U.S. Government to reward companies that traffic in women and little girls?”
The response and McKinney’s comeback was as follows.
Rumsfeld: “Thank you, Representative. First, the answer to your first question is, is, no, absolutely not, the policy of the United States Government is clear, unambiguous, and opposed to the activities that you described. The second question.”
McKinney: “Well how do you explain the fact that DynCorp and its successor companies have received and continue to receive government contracts?”
Rumsfeld: “I would have to go and find the facts, but there are laws and rules and regulations with respect to government contracts, and there are times that corporations do thing
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:11pmDynCorp?
Hey, bubba, if you want to talk about DynCorp I’m your man.
I breifly sought employ with them back in 2002 and was very close to many grunts in the military-contrator field.
That‘s all I’m gonna say on this board about that other than you should take Alex Jones with a grain of salt and a healthy dose of pepper(spray)….
..if ya catch my drift.
Report Post »beckisnuts
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 8:14amGlenn Beck is the guy running the carnival and freak show, and Alex Jones is the barker in front of the bearded lady exhibit. They’re both a couple show biz phonies.
Report Post »Joshua7
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:50pmLooks like justice is served.
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:06pmFinally, after casey anthony I was beginning to wonder, what part of 14 years old, doesn’t this cult get?
Report Post »elphi43
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:40pmIf your lawyer isn’t complaining about your rights being abused, then I’d be worried how God will handle you. Even the Israelites had to be “put back into line,” by God from time to time.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:50pmDoes anyone here think people are set up from time to time ?
Report Post »Sicboy
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:51pmI can only hope and pray. Glenn will have his eyes uncovered by the Lord above. Mormonism is a CULT. Open your eyes Glenn, don’t be fooled any more.
Report Post »bullcrapbuster
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 11:39pmYou are a sic boy :)
Report Post »Jack2011
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:37pmThank God he wasn’t tried in Florida!!
Report Post »deerjerkydave
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:47pmlol
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:36pmAw, Beckisnuts will be so happy to see this non-story that The Blaze did not cover…
Report Post »beckisnuts
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 8:24amTop O the morning to you as well Troll Train. Yes, my efforts finally paid off and The Blaze has decided to run with the story (like they had a choice anyway.) Now, maybe this cult will get shut down and our tax dollars won’t be used any longer to help fund its operation and existence. The Mormon Church missed a great opportunity to come out against this abuse of people, public funds and religion, which is a shame. It reminds one of the silence we hear from the Muslim community in the US when it comes to Islamofascists and terrorism. They’re both missing a great opportunity to elevate themselves in the eye of the public.
Report Post »ohyaok
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:35pmHe will end up someone esle’s wife now.
Report Post »