Alleged Colorado City polygamists turn themselves in on sex charges
 
By Jim Seckler
Mohave Daily News
 
KINGMAN - A Colorado City man pleaded innocent Monday in Superior Court to sexual charges involving a minor while six others also turned themselves into authorities.

David Romaine Bateman, 48, was the only one arrested Friday after a Mohave County grand jury indicted Bateman and four others the day before.

Bateman faces felony charges of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor.

The charges against Bateman come from having sexual conduct with a minor from an unlawful marriage in 2001 or early 2002, a Mohave County Attorney's Office release stated.

Bateman was booked into county jail on a $30,000 bond. Superior Court Judge James Chavez lowered Bateman's stipulated bond to a $2,500 cash-only bond.

The three other men surrendered voluntary after they were indicted Thursday and warrants were issued. The men were booked into county jail Monday and released on $2,500 cash-only bonds.

A fourth man was also indicted Thursday but could not be identified until he is served with an arrest warrant or turns himself in.

Of the three other men indicted, Rodney Holm, 38, a former Colorado City police officer, is charged with three counts of sexual conduct with a minor that took place between Dec. 1, 1998 and March 31, 1999.

Holm could get up to two years in prison or probation if tried and convicted of each charge.

Donald Robert Barlow, 48, is charged with one count of sexual conduct with a minor and one count of conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor.

Donald Barlow could also get up to two years in prison or probation if tried and convicted of each charge.

Terry Danger Barlow, 23, is charged with sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor.

Terry Barlow could also get up to two years in prison or probation if tried and convicted of each charge.

Kelly Fischer, Randy Barlow and Dale Barlow also surrendered Monday on arrest warrants and released on $2,500 cash only bonds. Randy Barlow posted a $7,500 bond, the county attorney's office release stated.

Kelly Fischer, 38, was indicted in June for sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor.

Randy Barlow, 32, was indicted in June for two counts of sexual assault and sexual conduct with a minor.

Dale Barlow, 47, was indicted in June for sexual conduct with a minor, conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit child abuse.

Vergel Bryce Jessop, 45, also turned himself in Monday. He is charged with sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor, which occurred between January 2000 and January 2001.

Colorado City near the Utah border is the home to a polygamist sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The community has had a history of complaints of arranged marriages of underage girls to married men.

The church's leader Warren Steed Jeffs, 49, is also charged with sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor and remains at large.

The FBI, along with the Mohave County Attorney's Office, issued a federal warrant Friday on Jeffs for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

The indictments were based on the work of special investigator Gary Engels of the county attorney's office.
 
mohavedailynews.com
Originally published Tuesday, July 12, 2005
 
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