Witness list for FLDS cult trial includes Warren Jeffs, Secret Service
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FLAGSTAFF, AZ (AZFamily) — An extensive witness list for the upcoming Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints polygamy trial has been released and it includes the infamous self-proclaimed prophet Warren Jeffs.
Jeffs is imprisoned for life in Texas for sexually assaulting his child brides.
Two followers of self-proclaimed prophet Samuel Bateman are facing a slew of charges, including child sex abuse and child pornography.
For just two defendants, there are nearly 170 potential witnesses.
For perspective, an average trial of this magnitude has maybe 30 total witnesses.
In August of 2022, there was a dramatic traffic stop in Flagstaff and a trailer full of underage girls that would uncover years of sexual abuse of minors allegedly at the hands of Bateman under the guise of religion and God’s word.
Body-camera video shows the moments Bateman is placed into handcuffs after refusing to give his full identity to authorities.
“Sam, put your hands behind your back. Put your hands behind your back. Put your hands behind your back! Put your hands behind your back!” you hear the officer yelling as Bateman refrains from arrest.
“I just got here. Explain to me what’s going on,” the officer tells Bateman.
“Calm down first,” Bateman replies with a snark.
“I am calm,” the officer said.
Bateman took a plea deal for transporting girls for sex acts and conspiring to kidnap them from state custody after they were rescued.
Many of his adult wives took plea deals for their roles, too.
Content retrieved from: https://www.azfamily.com/2024/08/17/witness-list-flds-cult-trial-includes-warren-jeffs-secret-service/.
