• 20
  • August
    2010

Late last week, Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed an extradition order that will send Warren Jeffs, former head of the FLDS, to the state of Texas to stand trial for felony sexual assault.

Jeffs was the anointed "prophet" of the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS), a polygamist sect of roughly 10,000 followers that broke away from the primary Mormon Church more than 100 years ago. He quickly gained notoriety in 2006 following his apprehension in Utah on child sex crime charges. At the time of his arrest, Jeffs had ascended onto the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List.

Critics of the FLDS allege that the sect encourages "spiritual marriages" between older men and young girls, a union that results in repeated sexual abuse. The FLDS vigorously denies that any such sexual abuse occurs. 

The group currently maintains a presence in the towns of Eldorado, Texas, Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah.

Following his capture, Jeffs stood trial in Utah on two counts of being an accomplice to rape. The prosecution accused him of using his influence as the "prophet" to compel a marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to two consecutive prison sentences of five years to life. However, the Utah Supreme Court recently overturned this conviction and ordered a new trial on the grounds of erroneous jury instructions.  

If and when Jeffs is extradited to Texas, he will stand trial on a felony charge of sexual assault of a child. (He was originally indicted in 2008.) A conviction could result in a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10,000 fine.

It is worth noting that the County Attorney's Office of Mohave County, Arizona recently dropped four charges of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor against Jeffs. The County Attorney indicated that the alleged Arizona victims wanted Jeffs "to face these more serious [Texas] charges as soon as possible."

Stay tuned for further developments ...
 
Related Resources:

• Polygamist Sect Leader Jeffs to Be Extradited to Texas (CNN)
• Sect Leader to be Extradited to Texas on New Charges (BBC)