Moroni Johnson, who gave his daughters to cult leader Samuel Bateman, sentenced to 25 years
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The last man to be sentenced for aiding cult leader Samuel Bateman with transporting children for sex acts in Arizona wept as he accepted responsibility for handing over his wives and underage daughters to the self-proclaimed prophet who sexually abused them.
Moroni Johnson, 54, pled guilty in March to conspiring to transport a minor for sexual activity. On May 12, a federal judge sentenced him to 25 years in prison.
“I fed my children to the lions,” Johnson told the courtroom, voice shaking. “I sacrificed everything I valued in my life to assist someone in destroying the ones I loved.”
Johnson became a follower of Bateman in 2020, eventually giving away four adult wives, two adult daughters and six underage daughters to the man he believed to be a prophet. He said Bateman targeted him specifically because of his daughters.
During sentencing, Johnson broke down repeatedly as he read from a written statement. “I know the impact of my actions will be lifelong, and no children deserve this,” he said. “I stand by my guilty plea.”
Two of Johnson’s daughters, both underage victims in the case, spoke at the hearing.
The second daughter spoke about the way her father twisted the natural bond between a father and daughter into something dehumanizing.
“Belonging is supposed to be rooted in dignity and love,” she said. “But what he gave me was the belonging of property.”
Content retrieved from: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2025/05/14/man-who-gave-daughters-to-arizona-cult-leader-samuel-bateman-gets-25-years/83584921007/.
