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| Frontier Justice State of Arizona vs. Warren Steed Jeffs | |
"Men are not hanged for stealing horses, but that horses may not be stolen" -- George Saville, Marquis of Halifax Warren Jeffs was transported to Kingman, Arizona on February 26, 2008 to stand trial for charges of incest and charges of sexual contact with a minor. One case involved the arranged marriage of a man more than 50 years old who Warren married to his first cousin who was only 16 years old. The other case involved the marriage between a 19-year-old man and his 14-year-old first cousin. It is this second case for which Warren was found guilty in Utah as an accomplice to rape on September 25, 2007. Warren pled "Not Guilty" to all charges in Mohave County Superior Court on February 27, 2008. According to a Mohave County Attorney's Office Press Release dated February 27, 2008: "There are three separate and distinct cases involving a total of ten felony counts against Mr. Jeffs. In one case there are two counts of Sexual Conduct with a Minor and two counts of Incest. In a second case there are two counts of Sexual Conduct with a Minor and two counts of Incest. In a third case there is one count of Sexual Conduct with a Minor and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Sexual Conduct with a Minor." The incest charges were later dropped due to a quirky Arizona law that states that people can only be charged with committing incest if the victim is over 18 years old. Now THAT makes a lot of sense! So much for protecting underage girls who are married off, against their will, to their close relatives. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith has emphasized that "These cases are not about religious persecution or polygamy. They have to do with underage sex practices involving men that are much older than the girls involved." On March 26, 2010 the trial date for the first case was FINALLY set; it was scheduled to begin in Kingman on November 2, 2010 and the second Arizona trial would follow shortly thereafter. On June 9, 2010 Matt Smith filed a motion to have all Arizona charges against Warren Jeffs dismissed. Jeffs has "already served more jail time in Arizona that he would receive even if he was convicted of all crimes charged," the court motion stated. This Arizona decision would also speed up matters in Texas, where Warren Jeffs faced first-degree felony charges for having sex with little girls. "Mr. Jeffs is wanted very badly in Texas and is facing more serious charges there, which are cases directly linking him to births by underage kids with DNA evidence," Smith said. Below are articles about the Arizona charges against Warren Steed Jeffs for marrying off little girls, against their will, to older men who were the first cousins of these child brides. | |
| Matt Smith Reads Jeffs' Documents With "Great Interest" | |
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ePress Tri-State News Network Originally published November 8, 2007 | |
| UTAH/ARIZONA - Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith has sent an e-mail to Utah's "Deseret Morning News" regarding newly unsealed documents on convicted polygamist leader, Warren Jeffs, saying the documents "are of great interest to us." Smith is interested because Fundamentalist LDS Church leader, Jeffs also has an upcoming trial in Kingman where he faces charges accusing him of performing child bride marriages. That's part of what got him in trouble in Utah where he may end up serving life in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 20. The Utah Attorney General's Office has also been investigating Jeffs for other possible crimes, including an "organized crime" probe. The just released documents include the startling assertion he tried to kill himself in the Purgatory Jail and also repeatedly renounced his "prophet" status with his church. Doctors wrote that Jeffs tried to hang himself inside his cell in January. He went to a hospital emergency room and went back to the jail under a suicide watch. Jeffs was convicted of rape as an accomplice, a first-degree felony, for performing a marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. | |
| BREAKING NEWS: JEFFS GETS FIVE YEARS TO LIFE | |
| Faces Arizona charges next | |
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The Spectrum Originally published November 20, 2007 | |
| ST. GEORGE — Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs was sentenced to five years to life in prison today in Washington County’s 5th District Court. Jeffs, head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was found guilty of two charges of rape as an accomplice on Sept. 25 for his part in arranging a marriage between a then-14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. Jeffs could have faced a maximum of two life sentences. He still must stand trial on charges pending in Mohave County, Ariz., as well as a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. The Arizona charges include sexual conduct with a minor, conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor, and incest as an accomplice. However, today’s sentencing brings to a close nearly two years of Jeffs' sometimes bizarre trek through the Utah judicial system that began with the charges of rape as an accomplice. Jeffs had maintained a low profile prior to the charges, then fled after they were filed. There were reported Jeffs sightings throughout the country during the months he was on the run. As a fugitive, he was named to the FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted list. On Aug. 28, 2006, a Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper stopped a red, Cadillac Escalade on Interstate 15, just north of Las Vegas in which Jeffs was a passenger. He was accompanied by one of his wives, Naomi, and his brother, Isaac, who was driving. The trooper said he stopped the vehicle because its temporary license plate was obscured. Read more | |
| Polygamous-sect leader expected in Arizona soon for another trial | |
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The Associated Press KVBC News 3 - Las Vegas Originally broadcast November 20, 2007 | |
| Now that polygamous-sect leader Warren Jeffs has been sentenced in Utah to two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison for his role in the arranged marriage of teenage cousins, he may be headed to Arizona soon for another trial. Jeffs is charged in Arizona with being an accomplice to both incest and sexual misconduct with a minor for arranging marriages between two underage girls and relatives. Those charges have been on hold while the Utah case was tried. "Jeffs will soon stand trial in Arizona," said Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard. "Arizona's criminal justice system now awaits him." In Kingman, Mohave County Attorney Matthew Smith says he believes Jeffs "and his attorneys want him to appear in Arizona as soon as possible. After that, it will depend on how long it takes to get discovery completed and all the interviews done before we can set a trial date." | |
| Ariz. courts await Jeffs | |
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By Amanda Lee Myers The Associated Press Mohave Daily News Originally published Wednesday, November 21, 2007 | |
| PHOENIX - It could take between two and six months for polygamous-sect leader Warren Jeffs to be brought to Arizona to face charges involving marriages between two teenage girls and older men, an Arizona prosecutor said Wednesday. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith told The Associated Press that prosecutors are eager to move forward, but that the longer it takes for Jeffs to be brought to Arizona, the longer attorneys will have to prepare their cases. "We're working on the cases now, so this is just more time for us to prepare, too," he said. "That's not a bad thing." Smith said, however, that the time has come for Jeffs to answer to the Arizona charges. "It's just time to bring this case to a close and to find out what's going to happen here," he said. "We'd like to see it resolved, hopefully favorably," he added. Jeffs' Utah attorney, Wally Bugden, declined to comment, referring to Jeffs' Arizona lawyer, Mike Piccarreta. A call to Piccarreta's office was not immediately returned Wednesday. Jeffs, 51, is head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, whose members practice polygamy in arranged marriages that often involve placing young girls with older men. He faces four felony charges in Arizona in a 2005 case involving marriages between two teenage girls and older men who were their relatives. Jeffs also is charged as an accomplice with four counts of incest and four counts of sexual contact with a minor in an indictment handed up earlier this year for similar cases. Read more | |
| Jeffs seeks change of venue | |
| Defense attorney says Kingman too close to St. George | |
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By Amanda Lee Myers The Associated Press Mohave Daily News Originally published Monday, November 26, 2007 | |
| PHOENIX - An attorney for Warren Jeffs said Monday that he'll ask for a new trial location when the polygamous-sect leader is tried on Arizona charges tied to arranged marriages. Tucson lawyer Mike Piccarreta said Jeffs' fate was sealed in a separate case in Utah after a judge refused to grant a change of venue for his client. Jeffs was tried and sentenced in St. George, Utah, which is in the same county where the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is based. "We just need a community with enough distance away from the previous trial so that we can get jurors that are neutral, and secondly, jurors who would not be criticized in the community if they rendered a fair verdict," Piccarreta said. Kingman, where prosecutors want to try Jeffs, is too close to St. George, Piccarreta said. Piccarreta said Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff or Prescott would be preferable to Kingman, in the same county as Colorado City, where - along with the twin border town of Hildale, Utah - FLDS church members live. Jeffs, 51, is the group's leader. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith, whose office is prosecuting Jeffs on the Arizona charges, said he wants the trial held in Kingman. "Until you see the motion, it's kind of hard to speculate, but I think that anybody can get a fair trial anywhere in the country," Smith said. "I don't think there's necessarily that much more publicity in Mohave County than there is anywhere else on the Warren Jeffs case. It's just a matter of questioning jurors individually." Read more | |
| Convict on trial | |
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By Aaron Royster Kingman Daily Miner Originally published December 2, 2007 | |
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Although it will be months before Warren Jeffs is transferred here, Kingman and Mohave County are already preparing. Based on his experience, Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said that it could be as many as two to six months before the spiritual leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is transported from his prison cell in Utah to Kingman. In order for Jeffs, 51, to come to Mohave County, an Interstate Agreement on Detainers has to be completed by the defendant or his attorney Michael Piccarreta, Smith said. As a condition of the IAD, all charges Jeffs faces in Arizona must be resolved before he will be sent back to Utah. Jeffs is currently being held in a Utah prison serving two sentences of five years to life. He was sentenced in St. George, Utah, for rape as an accomplice for his involvement in an arranged marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin.
Transportation and lodging Once Jeffs is cleared to come to Kingman to face charges in four separate cases similar to the ones in his Utah case, the trip will be the responsibility of the Mohave County Sheriff's Office. When and how Jeffs will be transported will be kept confidential, Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheahan said. His office is taking extra steps with Jeffs as a precaution against any escape or attack attempts. Piccarreta said he wasn't concerned about Jeffs' safety, and his client would be secure. The MCSO has been preparing for the transportation and housing of a man once on the FBI's most wanted list since he was arrested near Las Vegas last year during a routine traffic stop. Read more | |
| Sheriff announces intent to run again | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published January 9, 2008 | |
| Sheriff Tom Sheahan is seeking a fourth term in office. Sheahan announced his decision Monday afternoon. The county is facing several serious issues, he said, including problems with illegal immigration and the continuing saga in Colorado City. Mohave County has done just as much if not more than Maricopa County to combat illegal immigration. Sheahan said his deputies have been working closely with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to crack down on the problem and have made several arrests in the past year. Illegal immigrants looking for jobs in the county isn't the only problem the office runs into, he said. Some illegal immigrants turn to crime when they run out of money or can't find a job. Crime by illegal immigrants is having an impact on county finances, he said. Last year, the office responded to a stabbing call in Mohave Valley. Two illegal immigrants had gotten into a fight and one had stabbed the other. The injured immigrant was flown to Las Vegas because of his injuries. Taxpayers ended up footing the bill for the flight, he said. Sheahan said, if re-elected, he plans to continue to work closely with ICE officers to stay on top of the problem. The continuing problems in Colorado City are another concern of Sheahan's. He said the county has made more headway with the issue in the last year than in the previous 50 years. He is currently working with the state and state law enforcement associations to decertify officers in the Colorado City Police Department. Sheahan also said the county plans to see the political leader of the group, Warren Jeffs, arrive in town soon to stand trial. Sheahan was unable to give an exact date but stated that the county had already started to make plans on how to keep Jeffs secure during the trial. Read more | |
| Polygamous-sect leader is AZ-bound | |
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By Amanda Lee Myers The Associated Press Arizona Daily Star - Tucson, Arizona Originally published February 12, 2008 | |
| PHOENIX — Polygamous-sect leader Warren Jeffs should be in Arizona late this month or in early March to face charges in the marriages of two teenage girls and older men, an Arizona prosecutor said Monday. "He should be here fairly soon," Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith told The Associated Press on Monday. He said Utah officials are signing the last of their paperwork and making arrangements, and the Mohave County Sheriff's Office has to coordinate with Utah authorities as to when they can pick Jeffs up. Jeffs will have an initial appearance once he gets to Arizona, but Smith said it's unclear when his trial will start. "He's got attorneys and they're going to file motions, and we're going to have hearings and interviews and depositions," he said. Jeffs' lawyer, Mike Piccarreta, said he has been requesting that Jeffs be brought to Arizona as soon as possible so he can get the fair trial he didn't get in Utah. Jeffs is serving two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison on his conviction there on two counts of rape by accomplice. "We wanted this process to begin sooner rather than later, and we're hoping that it's about to begin," Piccarreta said. "Mr. Jeffs did not get a fair shake in Utah, and in large part due to where the trial was located, and I think unless Mr. Jeffs gets a trial in a fair venue here in Arizona, any outcome is subject to public skepticism, and properly so." Read more | |
| Jeffs will go to Arizona by the end of February | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret Morning News Originally published Tuesday, February 12, 2008 | |
| Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs will soon be extradited to Arizona, authorities said. "Our latest information is it will be sometime by the end of February," said Utah Department of Corrections spokeswoman Angie Welling. Police and prosecutors in Arizona are preparing for Jeffs' arrival. "This is still in process but we hope it won't be too much longer," Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said in a recent e-mail. Jeffs waived his right to appear at an April hearing in 5th District Court in St. George, where his Utah criminal defense attorneys will argue a motion for a new trial. "It is my understanding that the state of Arizona intends to extradite me before April 24, 2008, to face criminal charges in that state," Jeffs said in court papers. "I have previously waived my right to oppose extradition to Arizona." A hearing date has not been set in the Arizona cases against Jeffs, which accuse him of performing child bride marriages. Jeffs is also facing a federal charge in Utah of unlawful flight to avoid prosection, stemming from his time on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. Read more | |
| Colorado City polygamist prophet headed to court | |
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By Jim Seckler Mohave Daily News Originally published Sunday, February 24, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - The jailed leader of a polygamist sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Colorado City could arrive in Mohave County in a few days. Warren Steed Jeffs, 51, faces charges of two counts of incest and two counts of sexual conduct with a minor in one 2007 case involving one victim and two counts of incest and two counts of sexual conduct with a minor in another 2007 case involving another victim. He is also still charged with three counts of sexual conduct with a minor in one 2005 case, sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor in another case, and sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor in a third case. Jeffs' Tucson attorney, Michael Piccarreta, said Thursday his client could be in Kingman this week. The defense attorney will file a motion to move the trial to another county. Jeffs was convicted last year in St. George, Utah, of two counts of rape as an accomplice and was sentenced to consecutive five-year prison terms for each count. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said he will proceed with the two 2007 cases first, and whether he proceeds with the three 2005 cases will be determined by the outcome of the 2007 cases. The Mohave County Sheriff's Office will pick up Jeffs in Utah and fly him back to Kingman. Once the case is brought to Mohave County, it will be heard before Superior Court Judge Steven Conn. Read more | |
| Jeffs moved to Arizona | |
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The Spectrum Originally published Tuesday, February 26, 2008 | |
| DRAPER — Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs has been moved from the Utah State Prison to Mohave County, Ariz., to face criminal charges in that state. Authorities from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office took custody of Jeffs late this morning. Jeffs has previously waived extradition in the Arizona case, and Utah prison officials worked with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office to ensure a safe transition of custody. Jeffs, 52, has been at the Utah State Prison since November 2007. He is serving two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison on first-degree felony charges of rape as an accomplice. | |
| Jeffs to face judge today in Kingman | |
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By David Bell Today's News-Herald - Lake Havasu City, Arizona Originally published Tuesday, February 26, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN — Warren Jeffs, leader and self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was booked into the local jail Tuesday. He is accused of orchestrating and assisting the sexual assault of teenaged girls. "Mr. Jeffs was transported and booked into Mohave County Jail in Kingman where he is housed in his own cell. He will be in the cell 23 hours a day," said Sheriff’s spokesperson Trish Carter. Jeffs will be allowed outside for one hour each day for exercise and fresh air, and he will be given access to meet with his attorney and visitors. Jeffs was booked on six counts of sexual conduct with a minor, a class-6 felony, four counts of incest, a class-4 felony, and one count of conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor, a class-6 felony. Jeffs will make his initial appearance in Mohave County Superior Court today at 8:15 a.m. in front of Judge Steven Conn. Jeffs had faced more charges when he became a fugitive in 2005. However, Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said two of the cases were dismissed. "One of the cases was dismissed because the victim in the case was involved in an alleged blackmail attempt involving the co-defendant of Mr. Jeffs. The case against that co-defendant was also dismissed," Smith said in a press release. "The other case was dismissed because the State cannot prove that any of the conduct that occurred involving the co-defendant occurred in Mohave County. The case against that co-defendant was also previously dismissed quite some time ago." Read more | |
| Arizona: Polygamist Sect Leader Faces More Charges | |
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The Associated Press National Briefing | Southwest The New York Times Originally published February 27, 2008 | |
| The polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs was handed over to the authorities to face sex charges stemming from the arranged marriages of two teenage girls to older relatives. He has already been convicted in Utah in connection with one of those cases, involving a 14-year-old girl. Deputies from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office took custody of Mr. Jeffs from Utah officials, a sheriff's spokeswoman said. Mr. Jeffs, 52, leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, will plead not guilty to the Arizona charges on Wednesday in a Kingman court, said Mike Piccarreta, his lawyer. Church members live in the isolated twin towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz. | |
| Warren Jeffs comes to Kingman | |
| Leader of FLDS arrives here under tight security | |
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By Aaron Royster Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Wednesday, February 27, 2008 | |
| The notorious spiritual leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is in Kingman. Warren Steed Jeffs, 52, will make his initial appearance at 8:15 this morning at Mohave County Superior Court on various sexual misconduct charges. Under a cloud of secrecy, Jeffs was transported by the Mohave County Sheriff's Office in a plane from his prison cell in Utah to the Mohave County Jail Tuesday afternoon. At a Tuesday afternoon news conference, MCSO Capt. Greg Smith said the transfer occurred without incident. "I saw him (Jeffs) today and he looked good," Smith said. Jeffs is serving two Utah sentences of five years to life on rape as an accomplice charges for his involvement in an arranged marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. One of the victims in the Arizona cases also served as a key witness for Washington County in their case against Jeffs. "We are glad to see that the prosecution efforts in Mohave County are proceeding," said Greg Hoole, an attorney representing the former witness and another victim in the cases. Asked if they remain willing to cooperate, Hoole told the Deseret Morning News in Salt Lake City: "They are prepared." Read more | |
| Polygamist Leader Jeffs in Custody | |
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By AMANDA LEE MYERS The Associated Press TIME Magazine Originally published Wednesday, February 27, 2008 | |
| (KINGMAN, Ariz.)—Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs was handed over to Arizona authorities Tuesday to face sex charges stemming from the arranged marriages of two teenage girls to older relatives. He already has been convicted in Utah in connection with one of those cases, involving a 14-year-old girl. Deputies from the Mohave County Sheriff's Office took custody of Jeffs from Utah officials, sheriff's spokeswoman Trish Carter said. He was booked into the county jail, where he will be kept separate from other inmates, said sheriff's department Capt. Greg Smith. "Now it's our turn," Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard said. "I hope the message is very simple: the law applies to everybody, whether they're the head of a large religious group, or somebody who's not. It's a crime to abuse children, and there are no exceptions." Jeffs, leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, will plead not guilty to the Arizona charges Wednesday in a Kingman court, said defense attorney Mike Piccarreta. Jeffs, 52, is charged as an accomplice with four counts of incest and four counts of sexual contact with a minor in an indictment. Smith said Jeffs was booked on six counts of sexual conduct with a minor, four counts of incest and one count of conspiracy to conduct sexual conduct with a minor but couldn't explain the discrepancy. Prosecutor Matt Smith wasn't in his office on Tuesday afternoon and couldn't immediately be reached for comment. Read more | |
| PRESS RELEASE | |
| WARREN JEFFS | |
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Matt Smith Mohave County Attorney Originally published February 27, 2008 | |
| Warren Jeffs had his Initial Appearance and Arraignment in front of Judge Conn in Mohave County Superior Court, Division III. The Defendant pled Not Guilty, and the next hearing is called the Case Management Hearing and has been set for 8:15 a.m., on March 19, 2008. The Defendant pled Not Guilty to the charges. There are three separate and distinct cases involving a total of ten felony counts against Mr. Jeffs. In one case there are two counts of Sexual Conduct with a Minor and two counts of Incest. In a second case there are two counts of Sexual Conduct with a Minor and two counts of Incest. In a third case there is one count of Sexual Conduct with a Minor and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Sexual Conduct with a Minor. Those are all of the pending charges. Sexual Conduct with a Minor and Conspiracy to Commit Sexual Conduct with a Minor are Class 6 felonies that are punishable either by Probation or Prison, which can be anywhere from four months to two years. The Incest charge is a Class 4 felony and is also punishable either by Probation or a Prison sentence between one and 3.75 years. Read more | |
| Jeffs pleads not guilty to charges in Arizona | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret Morning News Originally published Wednesday, February 27, 2008 | |
| Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs pleaded not guilty today in an Arizona court to sex charges related to performing child-bride marriages. Arizona authorities took custody of Jeffs at the Utah State Prison on Tuesday. He was flown to Kingman and booked into the Mohave County Jail on six counts of sexual conduct with a minor, four counts of incest and one count of conspiracy to commit sexual misconduct with a minor. This morning the Mohave County Sheriff's office released a new booking mug of Jeffs, who appear thin and pale. "It was just a matter of time when it was going to come down to Utah authorities releasing him to us," Mohave County sheriff's spokeswoman Trish Carter said Tuesday. "We have been taking a proactive approach to his arrival and the safety and security of everyone, including him." Security surrounding the high-profile inmate was heavy, but the transfer was uneventful, the Utah Department of Corrections said. Mohave County authorities said Jeffs will be housed in isolation for 23 hours a day, allowed out for an hour to get exercise and fresh air. He will be allowed visitation and will undergo regular medical evaluations. Jeffs has posed a security risk. While incarcerated in Hurricane's Purgatory Jail facing trial, he attempted suicide, fasted extensively and was kept in isolation for his protection and the safety of others. "Whenever you have an inmate like that, you know you have to take everything seriously," Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith told the Deseret Morning News. Read more | |
| Jeffs pleads not guilty to Ariz. charges | |
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By Jim Seckler Mohave Daily News Originally published Wednesday, February 27, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - Not since Timothy McVeigh roamed Kingman have the eyes of the world focused on Mohave County. But that changed on Wednesday, when, newly arrived from a Utah prison, Warren Steed Jeffs, 52, the convicted leader of a polygamist sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Colorado City, pleaded innocent to 10 felony charges. Jeffs, looking pale and extremely thin, was arraigned before Superior Court Judge Steven Conn on charges in two 2007 cases involving two underage victims. Conn previously granted Jeffs' request not to allow cameras in his courtroom. Jeffs was transferred by van from the jail across the street to the back of the courthouse under tight security. Television crews and media photographers had little chance to view Jeffs, who wore the standard orange jumpsuit. Surrounded by officers in Conn's courtroom, Jeffs spoke only one word, acknowledging that his name was spelled correctly before his Tucson attorney, Michael Piccarreta, entered a not guilty plea on the charges. Conn, who ordered Jeffs held without bond, set Jeffs' next hearing for March 19. The first 2007 case charges him with two counts of incest and two counts of sexual conduct with a minor involving an underage girl between May 1 and June 30, 2002, and between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15, 2002. Read more | |
| Polygamist leader says 'not guilty' to Ariz. charges | |
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By Amanda Lee Myers The Associated Press Casper Star-Tribune - Casper, Wyoming Originally published Thursday, February 28, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. -- Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs entered a not guilty plea Wednesday to sex charges stemming from the arranged marriages of three teenage girls to older men. The court appearance was Jeffs' first in Arizona, where prosecutors filed charges against him even before he faced charges in Utah. He was convicted there last year of rape as an accomplice in the arranged marriage of a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. A thin-as-ever Jeffs, flanked by three law enforcement officers, wore an orange-and-white-striped jail uniform and ankle and wrist cuffs. He had a slight smile when he walked into the courtroom, and talked in hushed tones with his lawyers. The only thing he said during the hearing was "yes" when Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn asked him if he was Warren Jeffs. Otherwise, Jeffs sat quietly with no expression on his face and hands folded in his lap. His lawyer, Mike Piccarreta, entered the not guilty plea on his behalf. After the hearing, Piccarreta said "it's difficult times" for Jeffs, but declined to speak further, saying he was just worried about handling the case. Conn ordered Jeffs held in the Mohave County jail without bond and set a case management hearing for March 19. Jeffs was returned to Kingman Tuesday from Utah, where he had begun serving his prison term for his conviction there. Piccarreta has said he plans to ask the judge for a change of venue, saying Kingman is too close to St. George, Utah, the site of Jeffs' first trial, for him to get a fair trial here. Read more | |
| Jeffs pleads not guilty at 1st court appearance | |
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By Aaron Royster Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Thursday, February 28, 2008 | |
| Even in handcuffs, Warren Steed Jeffs held the respect of followers as they rose when he entered the courtroom for his initial appearance and arraignment. Jeffs, 52, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to 10 felony counts involving arranged marriages between teenage girls and adult male members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Jeffs is facing five counts of sexual conduct with a minor, four counts of incest and one count of conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor in three separate cases. The indictments charged Jeffs as an accomplice to the crimes beginning around March 28, 2002, and ending approximately Sept. 1, 2003, in Colorado City. Each charge is probation eligible or carries prison sentences ranging from nine months in prison to three years and nine months in prison. In November, Jeffs received two sentences of five years to life on rape as an accomplice charges for his involvement in an arranged marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin in Washington County, Utah. If prosecutors are able to prove the Utah conviction as a prior felony, the maximum sentence would increase and probation would not be an option for Jeffs if found guilty. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said they will be looking for that option in the Arizona cases. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven F. Conn set a case management hearing for 8:15 a.m. on March 19. Conn, who oversaw the case against Jeffs' co-defendant Randolph Joseph Barlow, will also preside over the cases against Jeffs. Read more | |
| Jeffs arraigned in Arizona | |
| Polygamous church leader charged in cases of sex offenses against minors | |
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By DAVE HAWKINS SPECIAL TO THE REVIEW-JOURNAL Las Vegas Review Journal Originally published February 28, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. -- Polygamous church leader Warren Jeffs made an initial court appearance on sex offense charges under heavy security and the watch of supporters and news media Wednesday morning. Jeffs, 52, pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of being an accomplice to incest and sexual conduct with a minor in assigning three underage girls as spiritual brides to male adults. Jeffs heads the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, whose members subscribe to a multiple-wife lifestyle in the northern Arizona community of Colorado City and the neighboring border town of Hildale, Utah. The mainstream Mormon church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, renounced polygamy more than a century ago, excommunicates members who engage in the practice and disavows any connection with the FLDS church. "To have a jury verdict of guilty would be vindication for what we've done and show that these cases are not about religious persecution or polygamy," Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said, referring to other prosecutions of FLDS members on similar charges. "They have to do with underage sex practices involving men that are much older than the girls involved," he said. Jeffs already is serving two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison in Utah, where he was convicted of rape as an accomplice for arranging the union of a 14-year-old girl to her 19-year-old cousin. If convicted and sentenced to prison time in Arizona, Jeffs would first have to finish out his Utah sentence. Read more | |
| Threats, intimidation dogged Jeffs probe | |
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By TONY RAAP Today's News-Herald - Lake Havasu City Originally published Monday, March 3, 2008 | |
| Gary Engels remembers the time when he was nearly run off the road by a group of cars with tinted windows. He recalls the stacks of threatening letters that poured into his office, one of which was a bomb threat. The story of Engels' probe of polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs is filled with intimidation, corruption and uncooperative witnesses, yet Engels is hoping for a happy ending. He is the investigator credited with infiltrating Jeffs' isolated sect, peeling back the secrets that eventually led to the polygamous leader's undoing. Engels, an independent investigator for the Mohave County Attorney's Office, spoke Monday at a forum hosted by the London Bridge Republican Women's Club. "(Jeffs' followers) will not cooperate with outside law enforcement," he told the crowd of about 45 people. "I knew I could not use them, that I could not trust them. I knew that going in." Jeffs pleaded not guilty last week in Mohave County Superior Court to charges of arranging marriages between teenage girls and older men. His trial is expected to begin in roughly six to eight months. Read more | |
| Tight security surrounds Jeffs | |
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By Greg Bucci Opinion Mohave Daily News Originally published Thursday, March 6, 2008 | |
| A photo in another Mohave County newspaper showed a phalanx of scary-looking officers guarding Warren Jeffs, the polygamist leader who is on trial in Kingman for several felony sex offenses. Jeffs, reed-thin from a recent fast while incarcerated in Utah, was barely visible as he approached a sheet or cover of some sort while scowling security officers glared at the crowd you couldn't see in the photo. This newspaper's county and courts reporter, Jim Seckler, told me late last week about the security screws being tightened for the high-profile suspect from Colorado City in the far northern reaches of Mohave County. Jeffs, seen as a prophet by members of his Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints church, is accused of officiating over illegal marriages and a lot of other crimes I won't list here. It's unnecessary because Warren Jeffs is becoming as famous as Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. Anyway, Jim tells me that photos are strictly prohibited in the courthouse for this case. He couldn't even snap a shot on Pine Street behind the courthouse - the main avenue for prisoners being led to and from the jail to the courtroom. Jokingly, Jim said, he told one guard that he could just take a photo with his cell phone. To which the guard replied that the cell phone would be taken. I worked at a local paper when murderers Bobby Poyson, Frank Anderson and Kimberly Lane were being tried for three homicides in Golden Valley. No such restrictions on the media existed in those cases. I published a photo of Poyson, in an ill-fitting suit, being led to the court from the jail. "In the eight years I've been here (covering the courts), I've never seen any restrictions," Seckler told me last week. Read more | |
| Arizona prosecutor dropping one case against Warren Jeffs | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret Morning News Originally published Monday, March 17, 2008 | |
| Because one of the alleged victims refuses to testify, the Mohave County Attorney is dropping one case against Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs. In a motion to dismiss filed in Mohave County Superior Court, Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith asks a judge to drop a case with prejudice that charged Jeffs with sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor. In the motion, Smith writes that the victim "has been contacted and has indicated through her attorney, Mik Jordahl, that she would not cooperate or testify in the present case." "The state cannot prove its case without the testimony of the victim," Smith wrote in the court document, filed March 10. "For this reason, the state requests this case be dismissed with prejudice at this time." Dismissing a case "with prejudice" means that it likely will not be refiled again. Smith has acknowledged in the past the case was on shaky ground. He dismissed the case against FLDS member Randy Barlow because the alleged victim refused to cooperate. In a 2006 letter to the judge in the case, Candi Shapley described herself as "the supposed victim of a case that has been blown out of proportion in an effort to get Warren Jeffs." Shapley said she felt prepared for a marriage granted by Jeffs. She said she felt pressured to testify by Mohave County authorities while her baby was having surgery in Salt Lake City. "Of course I said whatever they wanted me to say," Shapley wrote. "I wanted to get it over with and be done with it. Read more | |
| Prosecutor files motion to dismiss 2 charges against Warren Jeffs | |
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By Amanda Lee Myers The Associated Press Houston Chronicle Originally published March 17, 2008 | |
| PHOENIX — An Arizona prosecutor has filed a motion to dismiss two of 10 charges against polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs because the alleged victim refuses to testify. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said Monday that he received a letter from Candi Shapley's attorney explaining that she doesn't want to take the stand against Jeffs. "She does not want to have to deal with all the family and community pressures to be involved in this case," Smith said. "And that's her decision, and I'm going to respect it and have always respected it." Shapley's attorney, Mik Jordhal, did not return a call for comment Monday. Shapley was 16 when Jeffs presided over her marriage to Randolph Barlow, who is more than a decade older than her. Shapley had cooperated with authorities, but surprised prosecutors when she refused to testify against Barlow at his 2006 trial on sexual assault charges. Her refusal in the Jeffs trial came as no surprise to Smith or defense attorneys. "It is frustrating," Smith said. "But when you see a pattern of this type of thing, you just have to realize that's part of it and you just have to move on." Read more | |
| Warren Jeffs Heads To Court In Hopes Of Getting 2 Charges Dropped | |
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KTNV Channel 13 - Las Vegas Originally broadcast March 19, 2008 | |
| Polygamous sect leader, Warren Jeffs, heads to court Wednesday. The leader of the fundamentalist LDS church is charged as an accomplice with four counts of incest and four counts of sexual conduct with a minor. His lawyers want to get two of those charges dropped Wednesday. According to the "Desert Morning News," that is because one of the alleged victims has refused to testify. Jeffs spent over a year on the run before he was arrested just outside of Las Vegas in August 2006. He was convicted last year in Utah of rape as an accomplice. Keep it tuned to Channel 13 Action News for the latest on this story. | |
| Fall trial estimated in Jeffs' Arizona cases | |
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By Aaron Royster Kingman Daily Miner Deseret Morning News Originally published Wednesday, March 19, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — The Mohave County Attorney said he estimates a fall trial in the cases remaining against Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs. Jeffs, 52, seemed to be in better spirits as he smiled to his supporters when he entered the courtroom on Wednesday morning, wearing prison garb with a camouflaged bulletproof vest. At the case management hearing, Mohave County Judge Steven F. Conn alerted Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith and Jeffs' defense attorney, Michael Piccarreta, to the ruling dismissing with prejudice a 2005 case at the request of the state. After a witness in the case indicated that she would not testify against Jeffs, Smith filed a motion to dismiss it. Jeffs still faces four counts of sexual conduct with a minor and four counts of incest in two separate cases accusing him of arranging marriages between teenage girls and adult male followers in the Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah area. Conn set a hearing for 8 a.m. on May 19. A trial date could be set at the hearing, though Smith said it would be unlikely to happen at that time. "This case will be tried probably in the fall as this case will not take as along as other serious cases," Smith said. Piccarreta filed a motion requesting the case be classified as complex, which will allow for the case to take longer without infringing on Jeffs' constitutional right to a speedy trial. Read more | |
| Judge drops 2 of 10 Arizona charges against Warren Jeffs | |
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By Amanda Lee Myers The Associated Press Houston Chronicle Originally published March 19, 2008 | |
| PHOENIX — An Arizona judge has dismissed two of 10 charges against polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs, who appeared briefly at a court hearing Wednesday. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn made no rulings at the 15-minute hearing in Kingman but set various deadlines for the prosecuting and defending attorneys. No trial date has been set. Meanwhile, Conn agreed Monday to dismiss one charge each of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor against Jeffs at the request of the prosecuting attorney. The charges stemmed from the arranged marriage of a 16-year-old girl with a man more than a decade older than her. Jeffs presided over the marriage. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith wanted the charges dismissed because the alleged victim in the case is refusing to testify against Jeffs. She had previously cooperated with authorities. Jeffs, who was already prosecuted in Utah, is still charged in Arizona as an accomplice with four counts each of incest and sexual conduct with a minor stemming from two arranged marriages between teenage girls and their older male relatives, one of whom was in his 50s. Read more | |
| Polygamist leader back in court | |
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By Jim Seckler Mohave Daily News Originally published Wednesday, March 19, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - The leader of a polygamist sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Colorado City made his second court appearance Wednesday still surrounded by heavy police protection. Wearing a bulletproof vest in court, Warren Steed Jeffs, 52, now faces eight felony charges in two 2007 cases involving two underage victims. He is charged with four counts of incest and four counts of sexual conduct with a minor. The first 2007 case charges him with two counts of incest and two counts of sexual conduct with a minor involving an underage girl between May 1 and June 30, 2002, and between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15, 2002. The second case charges him with two counts of incest and two counts of sexual conduct with a minor involving another underage girl on Aug. 31, 2003, and in September 2003. Jeffs allegedly arranged marriages between older men and their teenage relatives. Jeffs' Tucson attorney, Michael Piccarreta, said Wednesday he expects to file numerous motions - including remanding the case back to the grand jury, suppressing evidence and dismissing all criminal charges because of comments made by Mohave County Attorney's Office investigator Gary Engels. Engels reportedly made remarks about the case at a Republican function that hinted of religious intolerance, Piccarreta said. Read more | |
| Hearing for Jeffs gets moved up | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Thursday, May 8, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - The pace of the Warren Jeffs case may be picking up. Judge Steven Conn recently issued a court order moving an omnibus hearing in the case from 8 a.m. on May 19 to 1:30 p.m. on May 16. Jeffs is facing four counts of sexual conduct with a minor and four counts of incest in two separate cases. Conn dismissed with prejudice a 2005 case involving Jeffs after the victim, Candi Shapley, refused to testify. The court is still considering a motion made by Jeff's attorneys to dismiss the four counts of incest. According to court records, his attorneys are arguing that Arizona Revised Statutes require that both the victim and the suspect involved in an incest case be 18 years old or older. The victims were both under the age of 18 when the alleged incidents occurred. Jeffs' attorneys also argue that the victims and Jeffs are not related closely enough to meet the state requirement for incest. Arizona Revised Statutes specifically prohibits the marriage of half-blood brothers and sisters and the marriage of first cousins, but it does not specifically prohibit the marriage of half-blood cousins. According to the attorneys' argument, Jeffs and the victims are half-blood cousins and do not meet the ARS requirements for incest. Jeffs is currently being held in the Mohave County Jail on the charges. Jeffs was transported to Kingman in February following a November conviction in Utah on rape as an accomplice charges for his involvement in an arranged marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin in Washington County, Utah. See Arizona Mug Shot | |
| Jeffs requests dismissal of incest charges | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Saturday, May 10, 2008 | |
| Attorneys for former Fundamentalist LDS leader Warren Jeffs are asking a judge to dismiss incest charges in the cases pending against him in Arizona. In papers filed in Mohave County Superior Court in Kingman, Jeffs' defense team argues that incest charges must be dismissed because Arizona laws require both participants to be "18 or more years of age." "In addition, because (suspect) and (victim) are first cousins of the half blood, they are not within the degrees of consanguinity that are defined as incestuous under Arizona law," attorneys Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta wrote. "Accordingly, counts 2 and 4 of the indictment must be dismissed, leaving Mr. Jeffs to stand trial as an accomplice to the charges of sexual conduct with a minor." Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith did not dispute that his victims were both under 18 but wrote in his response that Jeffs "used his position of power and trust to place both victims into so-called 'marriages' with men who were over 18 years of age and are related to the victims as first cousins of the half-blood." He said that while a plain reading of the statute makes the 18 and older argument, applying it that way leads to absurd results. "A prosecution of the defendant for incest or accomplice to incest is proper in Mr. Jeffs' case because he was an adult when the crime occurred," Smith wrote. "However, with respect to victims (names redacted from the court documents) the two victims cannot be prosecuted because they were both minor children under the age of 18 when the crimes occurred." Read more | |
| Jeffs' lawyers want Arizona indictment dismissed | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Saturday, May 17, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs' defense team is asking a judge to dismiss a grand jury indictment against him that led to charges of sexual misconduct and incest as an accomplice. The defense team accused Arizona prosecutors of presenting misleading information to the grand jury. "The state presented inaccurate information, failed to present clearly exculpatory information and improperly influenced the grand jury," lawyers Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta wrote. "Accordingly, Mr. Jeffs is entitled to a remand." In papers filed in Mohave County Superior Court, Jeffs' lawyers also announce they intend to pursue a defense that proves Jeffs' innocence and appear to be ready to pounce on a high-profile book deal by one of the alleged victims. The Mohave County Attorney's Office did not immediately offer a comment but is expected to reply to the court in its own filings. Clad in a bulletproof vest, Jeffs sat quietly during a hearing in a Kingman court on Friday as a judge took under advisement an earlier request to dismiss the incest charges, leaving only the sexual misconduct charges. The FLDS leader is charged there with sexual misconduct with a minor and incest as an accomplice, accusing him of performing child-bride marriages. The judge also took under advisement a request for a subpoena seeking medical records in one of the cases. A prosecutor with the Arizona Attorney General's Office raised the possibility that evidence from the raid on the FLDS Church's YFZ Ranch in early April might be used to bring additional charges against Jeffs. Timothy Linnins told Judge Steven Conn that both his and the Mohave County Attorney's Office had spoken with Texas authorities about the raid. He did not go into details regarding what evidence might have been found or what additional charges might be brought against the FLDS leader. Read more | |
| Texas raid may impact Jeffs' trial | |
| Evidence from Yearning for Zion Ranch could prompt additional charges | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Sunday, May 18, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - The recent events involving the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints in Texas may impact the trial of Warren Jeffs in Kingman. Jeffs sat quietly in his bullet-proof vest during a court hearing Friday afternoon as Timothy Linnins of the Attorney General's Office said that there was a possibility that evidence from the raid by Texas authorities on the Yearning for Zion Ranch might be used to bring additional charges against Jeffs. Linnins told Judge Steven Conn that both his and the Mohave County Attorney's office had spoken with Texas authorities about the situation in Texas. He did not go into detail of what evidence might have been found or what additional charges might be brought against the FLDS leader. After the hearing, Jeffs' attorney Michael Piccarreta said that if evidence from the Texas raid was brought into the case, that the defense would most likely argue that the search and seizure of evidence from the ranch was illegal. Another bombshell dropped on the court Friday came from a motion filed by the defense, Wednesday, to remand the case back to the grand jury. Read more | |
| Four counts dropped in Jeffs case | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Wednesday, June 4, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - A Mohave County Superior Court judge dismissed four of the eight felony counts against Warren Steed Jeffs, the jailed prophet of the polygamist sect in Colorado City. Superior Court Judge Steven Conn ruled on a motion filed by Jeffs' attorney, Michael Piccarreta. The defense motion argued that under Arizona statute, incest applies to those 18-years-old and older. The two victims were under 18 at the time of the alleged crimes. The defense also argued that the victims were first cousins from half blood, not full blood. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith argued as absurd that a man could be subjected to harsher penalties for having sex with a relative older than 18, compared to a girl younger than 18. Smith could not reached for comment on Conn's ruling. Conn ruled that the law is clear, requiring both parties in an act of incest to be 18 years or older. "Both participants in the alleged sexual activity were not more than the age of 18," Conn ruled. The judge also ruled that the crime of incest cannot be committed by first cousins of the half blood, saying "the statute does not apply to first cousins of the half blood." Jeffs, 52, the prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is still charged in two 2007 cases involving two underage victims. He is charged with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor. The first case charges him with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor involving an underage girl between May 1 and June 30, 2002 and between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15, 2002. The second case also charges him with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor involving another underage girl on Aug. 31, 2003, and in September 2003. Jeffs allegedly arranged marriages between older men and their teenage relatives. Read more | |
| Sect Leader Spared of 4 Charges | |
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By AMANDA LEE MYERS The Associated Press TIME Magazine Originally published Thursday, June 5, 2008 | |
| (KINGMAN, Ariz.) — An Arizona judge dropped four of eight charges against Warren Jeffs, even as authorities in Texas looked into whether the polygamist sect leader had relationships with four girls at the west Texas ranch raided in April. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn dismissed the charges at the request of the defense, finding that a state incest law does not apply to the arranged marriages of two teenage girls and their older male relatives. Conn ruled the law only applies if both participants in the sexual activity are older than 18, and that the law does not apply to half cousins. In both of the marriages Jeffs is accused of arranging, the girls were under 18 and were their husbands' half cousins. He was charged with incest as an accomplice. Prosecutors said the law could lead to absurd results, such as an uncle having sex with two nieces, one younger and one older than 18, and being subject to harsher punishments for his conduct with the older one. But the judge said the statute's language was clear and unambiguous, leaving no room for interpretation. "We're obviously very pleased with the court's ruling," Jeffs' attorney, Mike Piccarreta, told The Associated Press. "You can see we've chopped these things down considerably." In his ruling, Conn wrote that Arizona's incest law initially was enacted without reference to participants' ages. In 1985, it was amended to apply only to people who were 15 years or older, and in 1998, it was changed to its present form, applying only to those 18 or older. Read more | |
| Is the case against Warren Jeffs unraveling? | |
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By Brandon Kline KPNX 12 News - Phoenix Originally broadcast June 5, 2008 | |
| The list of charges against Warren Jeffs in Arizona is dwindling. Four incest charges were dropped this week. Two other charges were dropped in March. Some are wondering if any prison time will be added to Jeffs' prison sentence. Anti-polygamy activist Flora Jessop says its a tough battle to be a prosecutor in this case. She says one of the biggest challenges is convincing the FLDS faithful to testify. Many are afraid of retaliation from other members. Jeffs faces four charges in Arizona including sexual misconduct. He faces anywhere from probation to eight years in prison if convicted. Originally, Jeffs faced as many as 27 years in prison. Many anti-polygamy activists seem demoralized. Hundreds of FLDS children have been returned to their families in Texas. They fear the FLDS community believes the government will never be able to stop underage marriages. Jessop believes the families will begin to filter into mainstream society where CPS won't be able to find them. But does the Arizona case even matter? Jeffs is serving a sentence of five years to life after a conviction in Utah. But, Jessop says an Arizona conviction could send a powerful message to the FLDS community. Mohave County attorney Matt Smtih declined to comment. He says he doesn't want to further jeopardize the case against Jeffs. No date has been set for the Kingman trial. | |
| Conn drops incest charges against Jeffs | |
| Attorneys for former FLDS leader argue that statute doesn’t apply | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Friday, June 6, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - In a written ruling, Judge Steven Conn agreed with an argument made by attorneys for Warren Jeffs and threw out four charges of incest against the polygamous leader. Jeffs is charged with four counts of being an accomplice to incest and four counts of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor. He could now face anything from probation to eight years in prison on the remaining charges. Before the incest charges and two other charges were dismissed, he was facing 27 years in prison. During a hearing on May 16, Jeffs' attorneys argued that according to state statutes, incest could only occur between two first cousins of whole blood who are over the age of 18. His attorneys said that Jeffs married two couples who are both first cousins of half-blood - they share only one common relative - and the women involved in the marriage were both under the age of 18 when they were married. Timothy Linnins from the Attorney General's Office argued that limiting the charge of incest to relatives that are over the age of 18 does not make sense. He also argued that while state statute does not specifically state that marriages between cousins of half-blood are prohibited, it is implied by the fact that marriages between half-siblings are prohibited. In his written ruling, Conn stated that the statute defining what constitutes incest was "clear and unambiguous" and required that both parties involved in the act of incest must be 18. Read more | |
| Jeffs' defense wants all raid evidence left out of his trial | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Friday, June 6, 2008 | |
| Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs' defense team wants to keep any evidence seized from the raid on the YFZ Ranch out of his upcoming trial in Arizona. In papers filed in Mohave County, Ariz., Superior Court late Thursday, Jeffs' defense lawyers put the court on notice that they intend to fight to suppress "any and all evidence obtained from the raid and the search of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) property in the state of Texas." "It is becoming more and more evident that the Texas raid was based on a hoax telephone call containing false accusations of abuse," attorneys Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta wrote. "Published newspaper articles indicate that similar charges were made regarding the Colorado City/Hildale community, and were determined to be unworthy of belief. Indeed, it is believed that Colorado authorities are investigating criminal charges of false reporting to a law enforcement agency in connection with that matter." Jeffs' attorneys put the court on notice in a legal reply, complaining that they have been denied access to public records regarding calls claiming abuse in Arizona and Utah. The Arizona Attorney General's Office objected to their records request, saying that attorneys representing criminal defendants cannot make public records requests, because they can obtain it through discovery. In their reply, Wright and Piccarreta said they want to gather information on the hoax calls and "show that the raid and search of the FLDS property in Texas was illegal and the fruits thereof must be suppressed." Read more | |
| Four incest charges against Jeffs dropped | |
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Staff and Wire Reports Today's News Herald - Havasu City, Arizona Originally published Saturday, June 7, 2008 | |
| Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn dropped four of the eight charges against polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs at the request of the defense on Wednesday, finding that a state incest law does not apply to the marriages of two teenage girls and their older male relatives. Conn ruled the law only applies if both participants in the sexual activity are older than 18, and that the law does not apply to half cousins. In both of the marriages Jeffs is accused of arranging, the girls were under 18 and half cousins to their husbands. He was charged with incest as an accomplice. Prosecutors said the law could lead to absurd results, such as an uncle having sex with two nieces, one younger and one older than 18, and being subject to harsher punishment for his conduct with the older one. In the charges against Warren Jeffs, Conn said the statute’s language was clear and unambiguous, leaving no room for interpretation. "We’re obviously very pleased with the court’s ruling," Jeffs’ attorney, Mike Piccarreta, told The Associated Press. "You can see we’ve chopped these things down considerably." In his ruling, Conn wrote that Arizona’s incest law initially was enacted without reference to participants’ ages. In 1985, it was amended to apply only to people who were 15 years or older, and in 1998, it was changed to its present form, applying only to those 18 years or older. Conn also wrote that because the incest law specifically mentions half brothers and sisters, it arguably excludes all other relationships of the half blood by not mentioning them. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith, the prosecutor in the Arizona case against Jeffs, reportedly had no comment. Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson said Judge Conn "has a history of ignoring punishment" regarding state sex offense cases and "that sends a message that it is okay to commit such crimes." "Judge Conn has lost his reputation of being a hangman judge and facilitates abuse through lenient sentences for convicted sex offenders," Johnson said. Johnson added, in regards to this judge, the crime of drunk driving is more punishable than are the crimes of sexual abuse or even rape. Read more | |
| Jeffs' defense wants to kill evidence from Texas raid | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Monday, June 9, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - Attorneys for polygamous leader Warren Jeffs will move to suppress any evidence brought before the court from the raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Texas. The warning - given to the Mohave County Superior Courts, the Mohave County Attorney and the Arizona Attorney General - came in the defense's response to an objection by the state to a public records request by the defense. "For the Court's information, Mr. Jeffs will be moving to suppress any and all evidence obtained from the raid and search of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints property in the state of Texas," the defense states. According to court records, the defense made a public records request on May 1 to the Attorney General's Office for copies of newspaper articles about the phone call that started the Texas raid possibility being a hoax. The defense "made a public records request to gather information concerning these hoax claims and to show that the raid and search of the FLDS property in Texas was illegal and the fruits thereof must be suppressed." The Attorney General's Office filed an objection to the request, stating that the request "circumvents the criminal discovery rules." Read more | |
| New filings delay Arizona hearing for Jeffs | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Wednesday, June 11, 2008 | |
| Arizona prosecutors deny misleading a grand jury that indicted Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs. In papers filed in Mohave County, Ariz., Superior Court, Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said the claims made by Jeffs' attorneys "miss the point of the presentation of evidence to the grand jury." "This evidence was crucial to show that Warren Jeffs acted as an accomplice by performing the sealing ceremony between the couple that he himself arranged. It was also essential to show why a 51-year-old man would marry his 16-year-old first cousin," Smith wrote. "None of the evidence presented that the defense argues was religiously based was misleading or false." Jeffs is facing sexual misconduct charges in Arizona, accusing him of performing a pair of underage marriages. A judge recently dismissed incest as an accomplice charges against Jeffs. Meanwhile, Jeffs' defense team is seeking to quash a subpoena served on the man in charge of the FLDS Church's real-estate holdings arm, claiming the information is protected by priest-penitent privilege. "The subpoena improperly requests material regarding the religious beliefs and practices of Mr. Jeffs and the FLDS Church," attorneys Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta wrote. Read more | |
| Prosecutors respond to Jeffs' motion to remand | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Thursday, June 12, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - Paperwork continues to fly back and forth between Warren Jeffs' attorneys, the court and the Mohave County Attorney's Office. On Friday, the MCAO responded to a motion made by Jeffs' attorneys to remand the case back to the grand jury. Jeffs' attorneys argued that the prosecutor did not properly question jurors as to how much media coverage about Jeffs and the situation they had been exposed to. The attorneys also argued that the prosecutor failed to give the jurors the legal definition of accomplice. They also stated that the prosecutor presented false, misleading and prejudicial evidence about Jeffs and his religious beliefs to the grand jury and left out evidence that might have been exculpatory. They also said the prosecutor improperly tried to control and direct the grand jury investigation by discouraging the grand jury from pursuing charges against Allen Steed, one of the men who was allegedly married to one of the women involved in the case. The County Attorney's Office has asked the court to deny Jeffs' attorney's motion to remand the case back to a grand jury. Read more | |
| Date set to review action in Jeffs case | |
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The Associated Press Deseret News Originally published Wednesday, June 18, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — An Arizona judge has set a July 11 date to consider whether to send four remaining charges against polygamist leader Warren Jeffs back to a grand jury for reconsideration. The charges stem from the arranged marriages of two teenage girls and their older male relatives. Defense attorney Mike Piccarreta is arguing that Jeffs was denied a fair, impartial and unbiased grand jury and that the prosecution presented false or misleading evidence to the grand jury. Jeffs originally faced 10 charges in Arizona. In the past three months, six of those charges have been dropped — four at the request of the defense because Arizona's incest law doesn't apply to Jeffs' cases, and two at the request of the prosecution because the alleged victim refused to testify. | |
| Jeffs' attorneys want charges sent back to grand jury | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Monday, July 7, 2008 | |
| Pushing to have the criminal cases against FLDS leader Warren Jeffs sent back to an Arizona grand jury, lawyers for the polygamist-sect leader say his rights were trampled on. "There were significant problems with the qualifications of the grand jurors, problems with the lack of adequate legal instruction and problems with inaccurate factual presentations," wrote criminal defense attorneys Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta. In court documents filed recently in Mohave County Superior Court, the attorneys again seek to remand Jeffs' grand-jury indictment on charges of sexual conduct with a minor as an accomplice. Jeffs is accused of performing a pair of underage marriages. The judge overseeing the case has already dismissed incest as an accomplice charges against Jeffs. In their arguments, Wright and Piccarreta accuse Mohave County prosecutors of not doing enough to ensure a fair and impartial grand jury, noting the massive publicity surrounding Jeffs. They also accuse prosecutors of failing to instruct the grand jury on the legal definition of "accomplice." Prosecutors counter that they read the Arizona law to the jury. Jeffs' attorneys also accused prosecutors of improperly influencing the grand jury by making prejudicial statements about the Fundamentalist LDS Church belief system, as well as other misleading statements. "Mr. Jeffs motion for remand contends that it is improper to use religious beliefs and practices as evidence of criminal guilt," they wrote. "Warren Jeffs is not the originator of the beliefs and practices of the FLDS. It is the culture in which he was raised and to which he has devoted his life." Read more | |
| FACES TRIAL IN ARIZONA: Jeffs rushed to Las Vegas hospital | |
| Convicted polygamist sect leader's health deteriorating | |
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By FRANCIS McCABE and DAVE HAWKINS LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Originally published July 9, 2008 | |
| Convicted polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs was transferred to a Las Vegas hospital Tuesday from a Kingman, Ariz., jail after authorities noticed his deteriorating health. Jeffs was flown by helicopter to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he was placed under armed guard by the Metropolitan Police Department. Later in the evening, Mohave County, Ariz., sheriff's deputies arrived to take over guarding the 52-year-old felon. Jeffs' condition was unknown late Tuesday. But his condition was of enough concern that he was flown to Las Vegas from Kingman Medical Center, Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheahan said. The sheriff said his jail staff in Kingman noticed that Jeffs looked to be in poor health. Sheahan said Jeffs had no other known medical problems while at the Kingman jail. Jeffs, leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, faces trial in Arizona on charges that he arranged marriages of teenage girls to older men. Jeffs was convicted in Utah on first-degree felony accomplice to rape charges and was sentenced to two consecutive prison terms of five years to life. Las Vegas police Lt. Sean Jackson said Tuesday the department performed a "courtesy hold" until authorities from Mohave County arrived to guard Jeffs. Read more | |
| Polygamist Warren Jeffs Found 'Convulsive' in Arizona Jail | |
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By KEN RITTER The Associated Press FOX 10 Phoenix Originally published July 9, 2008 | |
| LAS VEGAS (AP) - Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs was found "convulsive," weak and feverish in an Arizona jail cell before he was hospitalized under tight security in Las Vegas, a sheriff's spokeswoman said Wednesday. The 52-year-old president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was found Tuesday "in a weakened state of health, acting in a convulsive manner, shaking, and running a fever," said Trish Carter, spokeswoman for Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheahan. Jeffs had "sporadic eating habits" and may have lost weight in the 133 days he was held in the Mohave County jail in Kingman, Carter said. But Carter said she couldn't say Jeffs had been fasting as he did while jailed in Utah over the past two years. "This is our watch. He's our inmate," Carter said. "Our job is to ensure he's in good health and ready to go to trial. If he has any medical conditions, we are going to have deputies and detention officers make sure he's safe and healthy." Jeffs is charged in Arizona as an accomplice with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor stemming from the marriages of two girls. He also had been charged with four counts of incest as an accomplice, but those charges were dropped last month. In dropping the charges, Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn found that Arizona's incest law does not apply to the arranged marriages of two teenage girls and their older male relatives. Sheahan issued a statement saying Jeffs would be "under heavy guard 24 hours a day" while being treated at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center for "an unknown medical condition." Jeffs was first taken from jail to Kingman Regional Medical Center, and then flown by medical helicopter about 100 miles to Las Vegas. Read more | |
| FLDS leader hospitalized in Vegas | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Thursday, July 10, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - The jailed prophet of the polygamist sect in Colorado City was taken Tuesday afternoon to a Las Vegas hospital. Warren Steed Jeffs appeared lethargic and suffered from convulsions, a weakened state and signs of a high fever when he was taken to Kingman Regional Medical Center around noon Tuesday. Later that afternoon, he was airlifted to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas, Mohave County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Trish Carter said. Sunrise Hospital spokeswoman Ashley Seymour would not comment on Jeffs' condition. Jeffs, 52, the prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is charged in two 2007 cases involving two underage victims. He is charged with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor and has been held in Mohave County Jail since Feb. 26. The first case charges him with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor involving an underage girl between May 1 and June 30, 2002, and between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15, 2002. The second case also charges him with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor involving another underage girl on Aug. 31, 2003, and in September 2003. Jeffs allegedly arranged marriages between older men and their teenage relatives. Last Month, a Mohave County Superior Court judge dismissed four other counts of incest. Jeffs was convicted last year in St. George, Utah, of two counts of rape as an accomplice and was sentenced in November to 10 years in a Utah prison. While in the Utah jail, Jeffs attempted suicide and went on a hunger strike. However, his current stay at the Mohave County Jail has been uneventful, Carter said. Read more | |
| FLDS leader Jeffs out of Las Vegas hospital, back in jail | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Wednesday, July 9, 2008 | |
| Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs is back in jail after spending a day in a Las Vegas hospital. "He is no longer in the hospital but I wouldn't be able to tell you if he got transferred to another facility or back to Arizona. That's not our case," said Las Vegas Metro Police officer Jose Montoya. Jeffs, 52, was taken from his cell at the Mohave County Jail in Kingman, Ariz., to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas on Tuesday after authorities said his health was deteriorating. "Our jail staff observed him being lethargic," Mohave County Sheriff's spokeswoman Trish Carter told the Deseret News. "Upon further observation, he was in a weakened state of health. He was acting in a convulsive state like he was shaking, and he was running a fever." Jeffs was first taken to a Kingman hospital and then flown by medical helicopter to Las Vegas, where police put him under heavy guard. The FLDS leader's exact medical problem has not been disclosed. "It does not appear to be life threatening," Carter said Wednesday. Jeffs has been under a medical/suicide watch in the Mohave County Jail since he arrived there on Feb. 26. Carter said that Jeffs may have lost some weight since he arrived, but he has been eating sporadically. Read more | |
| FLDS leader Jeffs back in Arizona jail | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Thursday, July 10, 2008 | |
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Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs is back in a Kingman, Ariz., today, but remains under a medical/suicide watch. "He's back in the quarters he was in," Mohave County sheriff's spokeswoman Trish Carter said Thursday. "He's under a medical watch." Carter could not say if there were any special measures being taken for the polygamist sect leader in light of the health scare. He is already under 24-hour watch and is kept in isolation at the Mohave County Jail. Jeffs was flown to a Las Vegas hospital on Tuesday, after jail staff noticed he was lethargic, feverish and shaking. His exact medical condition is unknown, but Carter said it was not life threatening. He was released from the hospital late Wednesday. Jeffs, 52, had attempted suicide while incarcerated in Hurricane's Purgatory Jail. Court documents filed in Utah said he also went through extended periods of a self-imposed fast and developed bleeding ulcers on his knees from spending so much time praying. Jeffs was convicted in Utah of rape as an accomplice, stemming from a marriage he performed between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. In Arizona, he is facing sexual conduct with a minor as an accomplice charges, accusing him of performing more underage marriages. A hearing on the charges scheduled for Friday in Mohave County Superior Court has been continued, but not because of Jeffs' medical problems. Court clerks said it was delayed because the judge has a jury trial that is running longer than expected.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com | |
| Polygamist prophet back in Mohave County Jail cell | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Thursday, July 10, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - After more than a day at a Las Vegas hospital, Warren Steed Jeffs, the convicted leader of the polygamist sect in Colorado City, returned to his cell Wednesday night at the Mohave County Jail. Jeffs, 52, was discharged from Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas and returned to Kingman. His medical condition was not released. Around noon Tuesday, Jeffs appeared weak and lethargic and suffered from convulsions and a high fever when he was taken to Kingman Regional Medical Center. He was later airlifted to Sunrise Hospital, Mohave County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Trish Carter said. Jeffs, the prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is charged in Mohave County with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor in two 2007 cases involving two underage victims. He has been held in county jail since Feb. 26. Jeffs' hearing scheduled for today was postponed until August because of another trial being held in Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn's court. The first case charges Jeffs with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor involving an underage girl between May 1 and June 30, 2002, and between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15, 2002. The second case also charges him with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor involving another underage girl on Aug. 31, 2003, and in September 2003. Last month, Conn dismissed four counts of incest filed against Jeffs. Jeffs was convicted in 2007 in St. George, Utah, on two counts of rape as an accomplice and was sentenced in November to 10 years in a Utah prison. While in Utah jail, he attempted suicide and went on a hunger strike, however, there have been no incidents while he has been in custody in Arizona. | |
| Polygamist leader Jeffs "doing just fine" | |
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The Associated Press Houston Chronicle Originally published July 11, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — A sheriff's spokeswoman in Arizona says polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs is doing well just days after he was rushed to a Las Vegas hospital for an undisclosed medical problem. The 52-year-old prophet of a breakaway Mormon sect was flown to Las Vegas Tuesday after being found weak and convulsive in his cell. He was returned to the Mohave County jail in Kingman late Wednesday. Spokeswoman Trish Carter says Jeffs spent part of Friday walking around the jail exercise yard and was drinking plenty of fluids and eating. She says he "appears to be doing just fine." Jeffs is awaiting trial in Arizona on charges of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor stemming from marriages he allegedly arranged between underage girls and older men. He's already been convicted of two counts of felony rape as an accomplice in Utah. | |
| Next court date set for Jeffs | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Thursday, July 24, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - The often-delayed hearing that could set a trial date for Warren Steed Jeffs, the convicted leader of the polygamist sect in Colorado City, has been set in Superior Court for the end of August. Jeffs, the prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is currently charged in Mohave County with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor in two 2007 cases involving two underage victims. Judge Steven Conn set Aug. 22 to hear all pending motions and possibly to set a trial date. Motions to be argued include a motion to remand the case back to the grand jury. The first case charges him with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor involving an underage girl between May 1 and June 30, 2002, and between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15, 2002. The second case also charges him with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor involving another underage girl on Aug. 31, 2003, and in September 2003. Last month, Conn dismissed four counts of incest filed against Jeffs. He was convicted in 2007 in St. George, Utah, on two counts of rape as an accomplice and was sentenced in November to 10 years in a Utah prison. He was also recently indicted on new charges in Texas. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith, who is prosecuting Jeffs' case, said the new Texas indictments will not affect Jeffs' Arizona charges. | |
| Ariz. judge considers remanding Jeffs charges | |
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The Associated Press San Angelo Standard-Times - San Angelo, Texas Originally published Friday, August 22, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. (AP) - A court hearing is on tap to decide whether to send four remaining charges against polygamist leader Warren Jeffs back to an Arizona grand jury for reconsideration. The charges stem from the arranged marriages of two teenage girls and their older male relatives. Defense attorney Mike Piccarreta argues that Jeffs was denied a fair, impartial and unbiased grand jury, and that the prosecution presented false or misleading evidence to the grand jury. Jeffs, who is jailed in Kingman, where today's hearing was scheduled, originally faced 10 charges in Arizona. Four of them were dropped at the request of the defense because Arizona's incest law doesn't apply to Jeffs' cases. Two others were dropped at the request of the prosecution because the alleged victim refused to testify. | |
| Jeffs lawyer says he'll challenge search in Texas | |
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By BOB CHRISTIE The Associated Press Houston Chronicle Originally published August 23, 2008 | |
| PHOENIX — A lawyer for polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs said Friday that he plans to fight the use of any evidence seized during a raid on the sect's Texas ranch at Jeffs' trial in Arizona. Attorney Mike Piccarreta told a judge at a court hearing in Kingman that he will challenge the search because it was based on a call that Texas authorities should have known was a hoax. "They proceeded to search the premises nevertheless," Piccarreta said in an interview after the hearing. "And there are also a whole assortment of constitutional errors by the Texas authorities and we intend to raise each and every one of them. "I believe the search is illegal and unconstitutional, even by Texas standards." The main focus of Friday's hearing in Arizona was a defense effort to have the case against Jeffs sent back to a grand jury for reconsideration. Piccarreta argues that Jeffs was denied a fair, impartial and unbiased grand jury, and that the prosecution presented false or misleading evidence to the grand jury. Mohave County Judge Steven Conn said he'll rule on that next week. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith wasn't immediately available for comment. Read more | |
| Arizona judge is considering fairness of grand jury hearings | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Deseret News Originally published Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — A judge will rule next week whether to remand the criminal case against FLDS leader Warren Jeffs back to the grand jury that indicted him. A lawyer for Jeffs, 52, was in Mohave Superior Court Friday for a hearing on a motion to remand the case on the grounds that Jeffs was denied his right to due process and had not received a fair and unbiased grand jury hearing. "Absolutely nothing was done" by the county attorney to question or determine if grand jurors were biased against Jeffs because of the media coverage, lawyer Mike Picarreta said. "If this is sufficient in this case, with all the publicity, then there is no right to a fair and unbiased grand jury," he said. "This is the most extreme situation (concerning media coverage) I've seen." Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith agreed that media coverage of Jeffs had been extensive, but added that he had asked both grand juries numerous times if they could remain unbiased. At least two jurors case excused themselves because they felt they could not be unbiased, he said. "I think we went far and above any grand jury in this county (when dealing) with this case," Smith said. After hearing from both sides, Judge Steven Conn said he would review the minutes of both grand juries and make a final written ruling. The judge granted a motion to quash a subpoena prosecutors filed to get FLDS records that were seized when Jeffs was arrested in Nevada in 2006. After the hearing, Picarreta announced plans to file a motion to challenge any evidence or information seized in the raid on the FLDS Church's YFZ Ranch in Texas that may be used in Arizona's prosecution of Jeffs. | |
| Defense says media coverage hurts case | |
| Polygamous sect leader faces trial in Arizona | |
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By DAVE HAWKINS SPECIAL TO THE REVIEW-JOURNAL Las Vegas Review Journal Originally published August 23, 2008 | |
| A defense lawyer argued Friday that media exposure and other flaws tainted grand jury proceedings that led to the criminal indictment of polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs. Mike Piccarreta said two Arizona cases against Jeffs should be remanded back to the panel for a new determination of probable cause. Piccarreta labeled as insufficient the prosecution effort to ensure a fair and impartial presentation to members of the grand jury panel that indicted Jeffs, 52. He argued transcripts reflect that grand jurors who handed up indictments in Kingman in the spring of 2007 conceded personal exposure to media coverage of Jeffs. "It was very prejudicial. There were comments, there were interviews, there were television shows," said Piccarreta, claiming he was shocked by the pervasive negative publicity even before he was hired to represent Jeffs. "There seemed to be no semblance of any balanced, fair reporting." Mohave County attorney Matt Smith conceded there was extensive publicity but countered that grand jurors were admonished on repeated occasions to recuse themselves if they could not be fair and impartial in their charging deliberations and decisions. Smith argued the instruction to weed out bias was effective because two grand jurors did opt out on the Jeffs case. Jeffs paid close attention to Piccarreta during the proceeding attended by 15 of his followers -- nine well-dressed men in coat and tie ensembles and six women wearing traditional pastel-colored prairie dresses. The handcuffed Jeffs, smiling occasionally, appeared in a standard jail jumpsuit with a flak jacket over his chest. Read more | |
| AZ Official Defends Texas Jeffs Evidence | |
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The Associated Press KPHO CBS 5 - Phoenix Originally published August 25, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. -- An Arizona county attorney prosecuting polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs said Monday he'll oppose any attempt by Jeffs' defense to prohibit use of evidence seized during a raid on the sect's Texas compound. Jeffs awaits trial in Arizona on four counts of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor. Those charges stem from the marriages of two teenage girls and their adult male relatives. Jeffs defense attorney Michael Piccarreta had told the judge presiding over the Arizona case that evidence from the Texas raid should be barred on the grounds that the raid was based on a call that Texas authorities should have known was a hoax. "They proceeded to search the premises nevertheless," Piccarreta told The Associated Press in an interview Friday after a hearing before Judge Steven Conn of Mohave County Superior Court. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith responded Monday by saying he believes that Texas authorities acted in good faith in their April raid on the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints compound. Their actions were "appropriate and constitutional," Smith said. "If they get information and it later turns out to be false, it doesn't necessarily invalidate the (search) warrant." Read more | |
| Judge declines to send Jeffs' case to grand jury | |
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The Associated Press Houston Chronicle Originally published August 25, 2008 | |
| FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — A judge has denied a request to have Arizona's case against polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs sent back to a grand jury. Jeffs' attorney Michael Piccaretta had argued that Jeffs was denied a fair and unbiased grand jury, and that the prosecution presented false or misleading evidence to the grand jury. Mohave County Judge Steven Conn ruled against Jeffs on Monday. Piccaretta also plans to ask the judge to bar evidence seized during a raid on the sect's Texas ranch at Jeff's trial in Arizona. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith had said he believed the actions of Texas authorities were appropriate and constitutional. Jeffs awaits trial in Arizona on four counts of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor. | |
| Jeffs indictment not thrown out | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008 | |
| A judge in Kingman, Ariz., has declined to throw out an indictment against Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn released his ruling late Monday, denying a motion by Jeffs' attorneys to remand the case back to the grand jury. In a 14-page ruling, Conn noted the massive amounts of publicity coverage surrounding the case, but said there was nothing to show it deprived Jeffs of a fair and impartial grand jury. Jeffs' defense attorney Michael Piccaretta argued that prosecutors also presented misleading, false and prejudicial information to the grand jury to secure the indictments. Conn said he did not believe prosecutors undermined the fairness of the grand jury presentation. Piccaretta said he plans to appeal Conn's decision. "We felt that there should have been more inquiries into whatever biases and prejudices the grand jurors had before they heard the case," he said. "We wanted a fair and unbiased grand jury. We wanted it returned so we could obtain one, and the judge disagreed." Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith's office did not immediately offer any comment. Read more | |
| Judge dismisses defense motion in Jeffs case | |
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By DAVE HAWKINS SPECIAL TO THE REVIEW-JOURNAL Las Vegas Review-Journal Originally published August 26, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. -- Sex offense charges against polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs were left intact Monday. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steve Conn rejected a motion by a defense attorney to remand two cases back to the grand jury for a new determination of probable cause. Jeffs, 52, the prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was indicted in Kingman in spring 2007 on two counts of sexual conduct with a minor on allegations that he assigned underage girls to male adult relatives in spiritual marriages. Sexual conduct in one of those unions led to rape-as-an-accomplice convictions in Utah where two five-years-to-life prison terms were imposed upon Jeffs. Defense attorney Mike Piccarreta argued that Mohave County attorney Matt Smith misled members of the grand jury and gave them incorrect information. Piccarreta also said Smith should have been more diligent in making certain that the grand jury members were not tainted by exposure to prejudicial publicity about Jeffs and the polygamous lifestyles of thousands of followers living in southern Utah, northern Arizona and elsewhere. Smith countered that he went above and beyond his duty with repeated admonitions that panel members should recuse themselves from the proceedings if they felt bias clouded their deliberations. In denying Piccarreta's request, Conn ruled that the defendant was not denied any substantial procedural right. Conn said the transcripts reflect an involved and inquisitive panel. Read more | |
| Jeffs' case won't return to grand jury | |
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By FELICIA FONSECA The Associated Press Mohave Daily News Originally published Tuesday, August 26, 2008 | |
| FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - A Mohave County judge has denied an effort to have Arizona's case against polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs sent back to a grand jury for reconsideration. Jeffs' defense attorney Michael Piccaretta had argued that Jeffs was denied a fair, impartial and unbiased grand jury, and that the prosecution presented false or misleading evidence to the grand jury. Piccaretta said Monday he plans to appeal Judge Steven Conn's decision. "We felt that there should have been more inquiries into whatever biases and prejudices the grand jurors had before they heard the case," he said. "We wanted a fair and unbiased grand jury. We wanted it returned so we could obtain one, and the judge disagreed." Conn agreed that the case has generated a fair amount of publicity in Arizona. But, he said, the law relating to pretrial publicity at a trial level does not apply to a case being presented to a grand jury. "It goes without saying that in many critical ways the grand jury is not like a trial jury and lacks numerous features that would safeguard the rights of a defendant," Conn wrote in the ruling. Read more | |
| Conn denies Jeffs' motions | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Tuesday, August 26, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - The Warren Jeffs case will not see a third or fourth grand jury. Judge Steven Conn denied Jeffs' attorneys' motion to remand the case back to a grand jury Monday afternoon. "The court has determined that the defendant was not denied a substantial procedural right in the presentation of either of these cases to the grand jury," Conn's ruling states. In June, Jeffs' attorney, Michael Piccarreta, filed a written motion to remand the case to the grand jury on the grounds that Jeffs was denied his right to due process and had not received a fair and unbiased grand jury. Picarreta reiterated his arguments Friday in court before Conn. "Absolutely nothing was done" by the county attorney to question or determine if grand jurors were biased against Jeffs because of the media coverage, he said. "If this is sufficient in this case, with all the publicity, then there is no right to a fair and unbiased grand jury," he said. "This is the most extreme situation (concerning media coverage) I've seen." Smith agreed that media coverage of Jeffs and the situation in Colorado City had been extensive. Smith pointed to numerous times during the grand jury proceedings where he had asked both grand juries if they could remain unbiased and fair during the proceedings. At least two jurors in one case excused themselves because they felt they could not be unbiased, he said, which proved that the jurors understood the situation and knew what actions they needed to take if they felt they could not treat Jeffs fairly. "I think we went far and above any grand jury in this county (when dealing) with this case," Smith said. He pointed out that there is no case law that states that the county should have done an extensive questionnaire or questioning of grand jurors to determine bias before seating a grand jury on the case. Read more | |
| Jeffs' attorneys move to suppress evidence | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Deseret News Originally published Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN — Warren Jeffs' attorneys have followed through on their threat to suppress any evidence from the raid of the Yearning for Zion ranch in Eldorado, Texas. Jeffs' attorney, Michael Piccarreta, filed a written motion to suppress the evidence on Sept. 3. In the motion, Piccarreta stated that Jeffs' Fourth Amendment protection from illegal searches and seizures was violated when Texas officials served the warrants. Therefore the evidence from the Texas raid was seized illegally and could not be used. The warrants used to search the property were overbroad and did not pinpoint which areas of the ranch were to be searched, he wrote. They also did not describe what items law enforcement officers were supposed to seize. He also argued that the warrants were not supported by probable cause and were based on false information. Texas law enforcement officials knew before the first warrant was served on the ranch that Dale Barlow, the object of the first warrant, was not currently living in Texas and was on probation in Arizona, Piccarreta wrote. He also stated that Texas authorities were already questioning the phone call that started the raid before the first warrant was served on the ranch. Read more | |
| Jeffs' attorney files motion to suppress Texas case evidence | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Thursday, September 18, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - An attorney for polygamist sect leader Warren Steed Jeffs filed a motion Wednesday in Mohave County Superior Court to suppress evidence obtained in an April search of Jeffs' Texas compound. Jeffs, 52, is charged in Mohave County with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor involving an underage girl between May 1 and June 30, 2002 and between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15, 2002. The second case also charges him with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor involving another underage girl on Aug. 31, 2003 and in September 2003. Conn previously dismissed four counts of incest filed against the defendant. Jeffs, the convicted prophet of the Colorado City-based sect, was convicted in 2007 in St. George, Utah on two counts of rape as an accomplice and was sentenced in November to 10 years in a Utah prison. He also faces on charges in Texas. The attorney, Mike Piccarreta, filed a motion to suppress evidence found in April at the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ compound in Eldorado, Texas. The motion claims that law enforcement officers applied for a warrant for church member Dale Barlow, who they believed was at the compound. Officers even talked to Barlow who was on probation in Arizona and living in Colorado City. During the raid, officers seized 468 children and invaded and seized sacred religious records, Piccarreta said. When applying for a second warrant, officers already knew that Barlow was in Arizona and that they withheld from the judge in Texas that the alleged child in danger had not been located after three days of searching. Piccarreta claims the phone call about the endangered child that triggered the Texas raid was a hoax and officers used the hoax to obtain a warrant to search each house at the compound. Read more | |
| Jeffs team: Texas evidence inadmissible | |
| Attorney says raid of YFZ ranch unconstitutional | |
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By DAVE HAWKINS SPECIAL TO THE REVIEW-JOURNAL Las Vegas Review-Journal Originally published September 19, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. -- The attorney leading the Arizona defense of the prophet of a polygamous sect has filed a motion here to suppress evidence seized in the controversial raid on the church's Yearning For Zion ranch in Texas. Michael Piccarreta contends nothing discovered during the April searches at the ranch is admissible in the Arizona prosecution of Warren Jeffs. Jeffs, 52, is head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints most of whose members live in Colorado City in northern Arizona, and the neighboring community of Hildale, Utah. Piccarreta's suppression motion contends Texas authorities "staged and perpetrated one of the most intrusive, invasive and unconstitutional raids of a disfavored religious group in American history." The motion says the raid that produced the temporary relocation of 468 children residing at the ranch was fundamentally flawed on many fronts. Piccarreta asserts that probable cause for the search warrant was largely established on the basis of false information provided by a Colorado woman who, over the telephone, claimed she was a 16-year-old victim of sexual abuse at the ranch established in 2006 by the FLDS. He also argues that Texas authorities, had they exercised any level of due diligence, could have learned that search target Dale Barlow was in Arizona rather than at the YFZ ranch. "The number and magnitude of the constitutional errors involved in this search leads one to conclude that Texas law enforcement simply did not care whether it violated the constitution," the motion states. "Texas authorities searched through and seized items that were clearly constitutionally protected religious matters and privileged communications under the law." Read more | |
| Malnourished Jeffs Takes Second Trip To Hospital | |
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ePress Tri-State News Network Originally published Monday, September 22, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - The leader of a polygamous sect headquartered along the border of northern Arizona and southern Utah was rushed from the Mohave County jail to Kingman Regional Medical Center (KRMC) Thursday. Jail commander Bruce Brown said self- imposed sporadic intake of food and fluids left Warren Jeffs, 52, in a lethargic, weak and frail state. "He should weigh no less than 160 lbs based on national standards for his height," Jail Commander Bruce Brown, said of Jeffs. "As of yesterday, he was down to 144 lbs." Brown said paramedics arriving at the jail administered intravenous fluids during his transport to the hospital. KRMC spokeswoman Jamie Taylor said Jeffs arrived at the emergency room at 5:41 p.m. and was discharged two hours later in stable condition. Brown said he and the jail physician had become increasingly concerned about Jeffs' health and weight loss and had been monitoring his consumption of food and liquid since September 11. "Over the last seven day period there was a progressive weight loss that did run up a red flag for the jail physician," Brown said. Brown said dehydration, malnourishment and associated lethargy also explain Jeffs' trip to KRMC in July. He said Jeffs was tested for an undisclosed abnormality and flown to Las Vegas for further testing at Sunrise Hospital before he was returned to jail in Kingman. Brown said both excursions were expensive because of the security convoy deployed to transport the head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He said both occasions also caused great disruption at the hospitals. Brown said jail administrators have asked legal counsel to research pursuit of a court order that will allow staff to essentially force-feed Jeffs whatever nourishment is required to ensure his health and safety. Read more | |
| Motion by Jeffs' attorney denied | |
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Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Monday, September 22, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - A special motion for oral arguments filed by Warren Jeffs' attorneys to the Arizona Court of Appeals has been denied. In June, Jeffs' attorney, Michael Piccarreta, filed a motion to remand the case to the grand jury on the grounds that Jeffs was denied his right to due process and had not received a fair and unbiased grand jury. Judge Steven Conn denied the motion to remand in August. | |
| FLDS leader Jeffs briefly hospitalized | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Monday, Sept. 22, 2008 | |
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Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs was briefly hospitalized last week for an undisclosed medical condition, sheriff's deputies confirmed. Jeffs was taken to Kingman Regional Medical Center for a few hours on Thursday after jail medical staff recommended he be taken to the hospital. Authorities refused to release any more details. "I cannot comment on the medical situation," Mohave County Sheriff's spokeswoman Trish Carter told the Deseret News on Monday. "Obviously, Kingman Regional determined him to be OK and he was returned to our jail." Jeffs, 52, was hospitalized in Las Vegas for a day back in July after another medical scare. Sheriff's officials said at the time that jail staff had observed him being lethargic, shaking, feverish and in a weakened state of health. The FLDS leader has been under 24-hour observation, dubbed a "medical watch," at the Mohave County Jail since he arrived there. While in Utah and awaiting trial, court papers said Jeffs was hospitalized after attempting suicide in the Purgatory Jail. He also developed health problems from a self-imposed fast and ulcers on his knees from spending so much time praying. Jeffs, who was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, was convicted and sentenced to a pair of five-years-to-life sentences in Utah for rape as an accomplice for performing a marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. In Arizona, Jeffs is awaiting trial on sexual conduct with a minor as an accomplice charges. He was recently indicted in Texas on sexual assault and bigamy charges.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com | |
| Jeffs treated at KRMC | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Tuesday, September 23, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - The Mohave County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that Warren Jeffs was taken to the Kingman Regional Medical Center for treatment last week. Jeffs was taken to the hospital at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday due to health problems. He was returned to the Mohave County Jail at 8:15 p.m. the same day, said Trish Carter, MCSO spokeswoman. "Jeffs has been on a medical watch since the first day he arrived," she said. "The jail physician felt that it was necessary to transport him to the hospital to be looked at further." Carter declined to comment on what sent Jeffs to the hospital and his current medical condition due to medical privacy laws. Jeffs attempted suicide, fasted extensively and was kept in isolation for his protection and the safety of others at the jail while in custody at the Hurricane, Utah, Purgatory Correctional Facility. | |
| Prosecutors get more time for response in FLDS leader's case | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Tuesday, September 23, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - A Mohave County Superior Court judge allowed more time Tuesday for prosecutors to respond to Warren Jeffs attorney's motion to suppress evidence found in a Texas raid. Jeffs' attorney, Mike Piccarreta, filed a motion last week to suppress evidence discovered in April at the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' compound in Eldorado, Texas. Superior Court Judge Steven Conn gave Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith until Friday to respond. Jeffs, 52, is charged in Mohave County with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor in two 2007 cases involving two underage girls. The crimes allegedly took place in the summers of 2002 and 2003. Piccarreta's motion claims that the phone call that triggered the Texas raid was a hoax and officers used the hoax to obtain a warrant to search each house at the compound. Arizona law enforcement officers also spent time in Texas with illegally seized items and documents. Read more | |
| Arizona defends evidence | |
| Prosecutors say FLDS lack grounds for their challenge | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008 | |
| Arizona prosecutors are responding to a challenge of evidence seized from the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch in the upcoming trial of polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs. "The defendant seeks suppression of evidence that is either not relevant to the current charges or that the state does not intend to use in the prosecution of the charges," Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith wrote in court papers filed earlier this week. Jeffs, 52, is charged in Arizona with sexual conduct with a minor, accusing him of performing child-bride marriages. Concerned that Arizona investigators spent time in Texas reviewing thousands of documents seized by authorities there, Jeffs' attorneys filed a motion to suppress any evidence seized in the YFZ raid and keep it out of his case in Kingman, Ariz. "Accordingly, the state of Arizona now bears the burden of proving that no evidence obtained from the Texas raid is used, directly or indirectly, against Mr. Jeffs in the present proceedings," Jeffs' defense attorneys Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta wrote in a motion filed earlier this month. In their response, prosecutors said they did disclose a pair of marriage certificates from the YFZ Ranch to the defense, but do not plan to use them in their case against Jeffs. Read more | |
| Search legality challenged in polygamous sect case | |
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By DAVE HAWKINS SPECIAL TO THE REVIEW-JOURNAL Las Vegas Review-Journal Originally published October 5, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. -- The constitutionality of controversial April raids at a Texas ranch and the admissibility of evidence seized at the property is being litigated in the Arizona prosecution of polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith has asked a judge in Kingman to reject the defense motion to preclude evidence gathered from the Yearning For Zion ranch. The ranch is occupied by members of the Jeffs-led Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a group of polygamists whose congregation is headquartered along the Arizona-Utah border. Defense attorney Michael Piccarreta argued the Texas search was illegal and that any evidence seized there should not be used in the Arizona prosecution of Jeffs. Smith's response motion contends the Texas evidence is irrelevant to the Arizona case and that Jeffs, 52, has no standing to argue for suppression. "As of the date of this filing, the State of Arizona has not charged the defendant with any crimes arising from evidence seized during the execution of the Search Warrants at the YFZ ranch," the response stated. "This obviates standing to raise the issue that the defendant asserts in his motion." Read more | |
| County Attorney responds in Jeffs case | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Monday, October 6, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - Warren Jeffs' attempt to relinquish control as the "key holder" of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints may have backfired. Jeffs' attorneys filed a motion last month to suppress any evidence gathered from the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado, Texas. Texas authorities raided the ranch earlier this year, after receiving a call from a woman claiming to be a girl who had been sexually abused by her 49-year-old husband. Michael Piccarreta, one of Jeffs' attorneys, stated in the motion that Jeffs' Fourth Amendment protection from illegal searches and seizures was violated when Texas officials served the warrants, and therefore, the evidence from the Texas raid was seized illegally and could not be used. The warrants used to search the property were over-broad and did not pinpoint which areas of the ranch were to be searched, he wrote. They also did not describe what items law enforcement officers were supposed to seize. Furthermore, the warrants were not supported by probable cause and were based on false information, he wrote. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith filed a response to the motion on Sept. 26. He argued that Piccarreta and Jeffs had no standing to file the challenge to the Texas search because during his incarceration in the Washington County Jail in Utah, Jeffs had relinquished his leadership of the church and his control of church property. Read more | |
| Polygamy Leader Eating After Tube Feeding Reality Check | |
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e-Press Tri-State News Network Originally published October 10, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - Those high security details whisking polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs from the jail to the hospital may be a thing of the past. Once this fall and previously this past summer, Jeffs, 52, had to be rushed to medical facilities after growing frail and weak from refusing to eat regularly while incarcerated in the Mohave County jail in downtown Kingman. Jail officials said Wednesday that Jeffs is now cooperating and putting on weight since he was confronted with the possibility that he'd be force-fed through a tube if he continued his sporadic intake of food and liquids. Jeffs awaits trial for sex offenses for alleged arrangements of spiritual unions involving underage Colorado City girls with their adult male relatives. | |
| Arizona court declines Jeffs' appeal to have charges remanded | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 | |
| PHOENIX — The Arizona Court of Appeals has declined to consider an appeal by Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs, seeking to have the charges against him remanded back to a grand jury. "It is ordered, in the exercise of its discretion, the court declines to accept jurisdiction of the special action," appeals court presiding Judge Michael J. Brown wrote in an order filed in Mohave County Superior Court on Oct. 1. Jeffs' attorneys had appealed a Kingman, Ariz., judge's decision not to send the case back to a grand jury. They argued that Jeffs' due process rights were denied by a biased grand jury and that prosecutors had presented misleading information to jurors. Jeffs, 52, is charged with sexual conduct with a minor, accusing him of performing underage marriages. The FLDS leader is serving a pair of five-years-to-life sentences after being convicted in Utah of rape as an accomplice, for performing a marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. He has also been indicted by a grand jury in Texas on sexual assault and bigamy charges. Jeffs' criminal defense attorneys are also challenging any plans by prosecutors to use evidence seized in the raid on the FLDS Church's YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas, in his Arizona case. See photo | |
| Witness in FLDS leader's case won't meet with his attorneys | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Friday, Oct. 17, 2008 | |
| A witness in the upcoming criminal case of Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs is apparently refusing to meet with his defense attorneys. They filed a motion earlier this week asking a judge in Kingman, Ariz., to force the witness to be deposed. "Ms. (name redacted) has refused the defendant's request to be interviewed," Jeffs' attorneys Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta wrote in court papers. "However, Ms. (name redacted) has no right to refuse an interview even though she is the complaining witness against the defendant in a separate criminal case." The woman has been interviewed as a witness in Utah's prosecution of Jeffs, the attorneys note. "Indeed, Ms. (name redacted) lived in the same household with Ms. (name redacted) during relevant time periods and was a close friend. She possesses potentially helpful information based on her law enforcement report. Accordingly, she has been listed as a potential defense witness," Wright and Piccarreta wrote. Because the names of the women were redacted from the public files by the courts, it is unclear who exactly is being uncooperative. Jeffs is facing sexual conduct with a minor charges in two separate cases in Arizona, accusing him of performing underage marriages. Read more | |
| FLDS leader's lawyers want to question Texas Rangers | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008 | |
| Lawyers for Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs want to question Texas Rangers about the raid on the polygamous sect's ranch. In court papers filed Monday in Arizona, Jeffs' defense attorneys ask a judge to order the depositions of Texas law enforcement officials. Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta say they have made repeated efforts to schedule interviews, but Texas authorities have not cooperated with them. "This failure to grant personal interviews is slowing the process of analysis as to all of the issues raised in the motion to suppress," the attorneys wrote. Jeffs' attorneys have filed a motion to keep any evidence seized in Texas out of Jeffs' upcoming trials in Kingman, Ariz. In this latest court filing, Wright and Piccarreta say they need to know whether Arizona law enforcement in the Jeffs case has been "tainted" by exposure to the evidence seized from the YFZ Ranch. Mohave County prosecutors have repeatedly said they do not plan on using any evidence seized from Texas in Jeffs' upcoming trials in Arizona. "Since the state is not planning on using any of the Texas evidence at either of the currently pending trials, this issue is not 'ripe' for adjudication at this time, and so depositions of the Texas law enforcement officers are unnecessary because they are not witnesses, material or otherwise at the current time," Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith wrote in a response. Read more | |
| Witnesses shun Jeffs' attorneys | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Thursday, October 23, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - Warren Jeffs' attorneys are asking to interview Texas law enforcement officers involved in the search and seizure of items from the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Texas. Michael Picarreta and Richard Wright, Jeffs' attorneys, filed a motion to depose the officers on Monday. Picarreta and Wright stated they have made numerous unsuccessful efforts to schedule interviews with three law enforcement officers, the sheriff of Schleicher County, one of his deputies and a Texas Ranger. "This failure to grant personal interviews is slowing the process of analysis as to all of the issues raised in the motion to suppress," the attorneys stated, referring to an earlier motion to suppress evidence from the Texas raid. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith filed a response, asking the court to deny the request to depose the officers, with the option that the defense could renew the motion at a later date. "The state would first point out that it has advised defense counsel that at the present time, we do not plan on using any of the evidence seized from Texas in either of the trials under either cause number," Smith states in his response. "So, depositions of the Texas law enforcement officers are unnecessary because they are not witnesses, material or otherwise, at the current time." This is the second motion the defense has filed requesting the deposition of a reluctant witness. The first was filed on Oct. 14 and involved a possible victim in the other criminal case pending against Jeffs in Mohave County. Read more | |
| Jeffs' attorneys seek to question Texas Rangers | |
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By FELICIA FONSECA The Associated Press Mohave Daily News Originally published Friday, October 24, 2008 | |
| FLAGSTAFF - Attorneys for polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs are asking a judge to order Texas Rangers to speak to them about the authorities' raid on the sect's ranch in Eldorado, Texas, earlier this year. But prosecutors say they have no plans to use evidence seized from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' Yearning for Zion ranch in a pending case against Jeffs in Arizona and want the judge to deny the motion filed this week. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn said the parties can expect the motion to be granted if he finds the testimony of the Texas Rangers is material to the case. Jeffs is awaiting trial in Arizona on four counts of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor. Those charges stem from the marriages of two teenage girls and their adult male relatives. Michael Piccarreta, an attorney for Jeffs, said Thursday that he has made repeated attempts by telephone and e-mail to interview the law enforcement officials but without success. He had filed a motion last month to suppress the evidence seized at the Texas ranch. The Texas attorney general's office and Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. Read more | |
| Hearing today on Jeffs lawyers' bid to depose Texans | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 | |
| An Arizona judge has scheduled a hearing today on a request by lawyers for Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs to depose Texas Rangers. In newly filed court documents, the polygamous sect leader's criminal defense attorneys also say they don't buy Arizona prosecutors' assertions that they won't use evidence seized in the April raid on the FLDS Church's YFZ Ranch in Texas. "The court is concerned that perhaps the state for now will want to reserve its options, not commit itself one way or the other as to whether it intends to use any of the Texas evidence and only make that decision at some time in the future," Mohave County Superior Court Judge Stephen Conn wrote in an Oct. 23 order released Monday. "The problem with the latter possibility is that the court and the defendant have the right to know now rather than later whether the state intends to use the Texas evidence at trial." Jeffs' attorneys are fighting to keep any evidence from the YFZ raid out of the FLDS leader's upcoming trial in Kingman, Ariz., on charges of sexual misconduct with a minor. Jeffs is accused of performing child-bride marriages. He was convicted in Utah of rape as an accomplice for performing a marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. The Mohave County Attorney's Office has said it does not intend to use any evidence seized from the ranch in Jeffs' trial. But defense attorneys Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta note that Arizona law enforcement has been in Texas reviewing thousands of documents. "The state has just disclosed an 'FLDS Evidence Inventory' of items received and reviewed by the state of Arizona from the Texas raids," they wrote. "The inventory itself comprises 23 pages and references thousands of documents and other items, including religious materials that are obviously constitutionally protected and other privileged communications." Read more | |
| Ruling on Texas evidence in Jeffs case expected today | |
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Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Tuesday, October 28, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - The question of whether the state of Arizona will use evidence from the raid of the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Texas against Warren Jeffs may be decided this morning. A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Jeffs' attorneys, Michael Picarreta and Richard Wright, have filed a motion to suppress any evidence from the raid and have requested to interview law enforcement officers involved in the raid. Picarreta and Wright argue that the Texas raid was illegal and any evidence or officers involved in the raid are tainted. The Mohave County Attorney's Office has responded, saying they do not currently plan to use any evidence from the raid in the two cases pending against Jeffs in Mohave County, and that the time is not yet ripe to decide whether the evidence from the Texas ranch was collected illegally. In a written statement, Judge Steven Conn wondered if the issue wasn't moot, if the CAO had decided not to use the evidence. Conn decided to rule on both the ripeness of the evidence and whether the defense should be able to interview the law enforcement officers today, just in case the CAO decided to use the Texas evidence at a later date. | |
| Judge to hear defense motion on Texas raid | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Tuesday, October 28, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - A Mohave County Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing today to discuss a defense motion to interview three Texas police officers in the case of a Colorado City polygamist. Warren Steed Jeffs' attorney, Mike Piccarreta, filed a motion last week asking to interview Texas law enforcement officials who were involved in the April raid at the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' compound in Eldorado, Texas. Piccarreta's motion also asked if Arizona law enforcement investigators were "tainted" by evidence that was allegedly seized illegally during the raid. A motion to suppress evidence found at the raid has yet to be decided. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith opposes deposing the Texas law enforcement officials because the prosecutor currently does not plan to use evidence from the Texas raid at Jeffs' trial in Mohave County, however, he does leave the door open to possibly use some of the evidence from the raid. Judge Steven Conn scheduled a hearing today on Piccarreta's motion to interview Texas law enforcement officials. Conn said if Smith agrees not to use any evidence from the Texas search, then it would not be necessary to rule on Piccarreta's motion to suppress the evidence seized during the Texas raid. Conn also previously ruled to allow the defense attorneys to interview one of the victims in Jeffs' Mohave County criminal cases. Piccarreta will interview the victim Nov. 7 at his Phoenix law office. Read more | |
| Texas Ranger, sheriff to be questioned by Jeffs' lawyer | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner and Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — Lawyers for Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs will be able to interview three Texas law enforcement officers about evidence seized from the polygamous sect's Yearning For Zion Ranch. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn on Tuesday ordered Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran, his deputy John Connor and Texas Ranger Brooks Long to submit to interviews with Jeffs' defense team — or face a deposition. Contacted by the Deseret News on Tuesday, Doran was unsure if he would submit to an interview. "Until I receive something officially, I can't answer that," he said. "We're going to work with our attorney general's office and take advice from them." During Tuesday's hearing, Jeffs' attorney, Michael Piccarreta, said he warned the Mohave County attorney and the attorney general's special prosecutor not to go or send any Arizona officers to Texas. They ignored his advice. Piccarreta said the defense has a right to interview the three Texas officers because they had contact with Arizona law enforcement and investigators. "These people have injected themselves into this case," he said. "I find it hard to believe that they have no information or relevance to this case." Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith told the judge the Texas evidence was already separated from the rest of their evidence with no plans to use it in court. "We are comfortable with the cases and don't need the evidence from Texas," Smith said. Read more | |
| Judge lets Warren Jeffs' attorneys talk to Texas law officers | |
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The Associated Press Yahoo! Canada News Originally published October 28, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. - The judge overseeing the Arizona trial of polygamist leader Warren Jeffs has ruled that his defence lawyers can interview Texas law officers about their raid on a sect-owned ranch. Jeffs is awaiting trial in Arizona on four counts of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor. Those charges filed in 2005 stem from the marriages of two teenage girls and their adult male relatives. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn said he wasn't convinced when prosecutors in the Jeffs' case said they weren't planning to use evidence seized when the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado was raided in April. The judge noted that prosecutors disclosed a 23-page inventory of items from the Texas raid that the state of Arizona has reviewed. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith told the judge that the Texas evidence has been separated from the evidence prosecutors will use in the Arizona case. The prosecutor raised concerns that interviewing the Texas authorities could hurt their cases. The judge granted a defence motion that allows Jeffs' attorneys to interview three Texas officials: Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran, Deputy Sheriff John Connor and Texas Ranger Brooks Long. Conn said the three officials possess abundant material about Jeffs, The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that he leads and the participants involved in the Texas raid. "If the Texas law enforcement officials have nothing to hide, they should have no objection to being interviewed or deposed," Conn wrote in his ruling. Mike Piccarreta, an attorney for Jeffs, said he has 60 days to interview the three officials. Read more | |
| Jeffs case depositions ordered | |
| Testimony sought from Texas lawmen | |
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By DAVE HAWKINS SPECIAL TO THE REVIEW-JOURNAL Las Vegas Review-Journal Originally published October 29, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. -- An Arizona Judge ordered three Texas lawmen Tuesday to submit to depositions to be conducted by defense lawyers representing polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs in Arizona. The leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or FLDS, awaits trial in Kingman for allegedly arranging the marriages of underage Colorado City girls to their male adult relatives. The FLDS also owns the Yearning For Zion ranch in El Dorado, Texas, where more than 400 children were rounded up and taken away from their parents during controversial raids conducted in April. Jeffs' Arizona lawyers want to preclude use of any evidence gathered in Texas from legal proceedings in Kingman. Attorney Michael Piccarreta asked Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steve Conn to order the depositions, complaining defense efforts to interview Texas authorities have not met with success and "these witnesses have not cooperated in granting a personal interview as of yet." Piccarreta said Arizona prosecutors have reviewed evidence seized in Texas and interviewed the law enforcement authorities and that the defense is entitled to the same privilege. Read more | |
| FLDS leader's lawyers to question anti-polygamy activist | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008 | |
| Lawyers for Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs plan to interview an anti-polygamy activist about the phone calls that sparked the raid on the sect's YFZ Ranch in Texas. In papers filed last week in a Kingman, Ariz., court, Jeffs' attorneys said they have scheduled a Nov. 24 interview with Flora Jessop in Phoenix. Jeffs' criminal defense team has asked her to bring copies of "any recordings of any phone calls between yourself and Rozita Swinton," the woman suspected of making the hoax call that launched the raid. The FLDS leader's attorneys also seek phone call recordings between Jessop and Arizona and Texas law enforcement and child welfare officials. Jessop told the Deseret News earlier this year she received numerous calls from Swinton, who claimed to be an abused, pregnant teenager trapped in a marriage to an older man on the YFZ Ranch. Jessop said she went to law enforcement when she began to believe the calls were a hoax. It was similar calls to a family crisis shelter in San Angelo, Texas, that prompted authorities to investigate the FLDS Church's property near Eldorado. On site, Texas CPS and law enforcement said they saw other evidence of abuse that led a judge to order the removal of all of the children from the ranch. Approximately 439 children were returned two months later when a pair of courts ruled the state acted improperly in removing all of the children. Swinton, 33, is considered a "person of interest" by Texas authorities. The Deseret News reported last month that she is undergoing in-patient mental health treatment as part of a pair of unrelated false reporting cases in Colorado. Read more | |
| Jeffs' attorney to interview witness | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Wednesday, November 19, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - The attorney for the convicted prophet of a Colorado City polygamist church will interview a key witness in his Arizona case Monday. Superior Court Judge Steven Conn ruled in October to allow Warren Steed Jeffs' defense attorneys to interview Flora Jessop in Jeffs' two Mohave County cases. Jessop was a former member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Colorado City who escaped the polygamist community in 1986. She is now executive director of the Child Protection Project in Phoenix. Jeffs, 52, is charged with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor in two 2007 cases involving two underage girls. The crimes allegedly took place in the summers of 2002 and 2003. Jeffs also is charged with felony sexual assault of a child under 17 and aggravated sexual assault in Schleicher County, Texas. Jeffs' attorney, Mike Piccarreta, will interview Jessop Monday at the Arizona Attorney General's Office in Phoenix. Jessop also must bring any recordings of phone calls she made with Arizona or Texas law enforcement or the Texas Child Protection Services from March 22 to April 16. She also must provide any phone tapes she made with Rozita Swinton, the Colorado woman whose phone call initiated a raid at the FLDS compound in Texas. Read more | |
| Texas law enforcement set for interview in Jeffs case | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Wednesday, November 26, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - Dates have been set for the interview of three Texas law enforcement officials by Warren Jeffs' attorneys. Jeffs, former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints polygamist sect based in the Arizona Strip and bordering Utah, was indicted in August by a Texas grand jury on charges of sexual assault and bigamy in connection with the raid. He is awaiting trial on four felony charges of accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor. Four charges of incest were dismissed against Jeffs in May. Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran and Deputy John Connor will be interviewed on Dec. 16 at an attorney's office in San Angelo, Texas, and Texas Ranger Brooks Long will be interviewed on Dec. 17. Jeffs' attorneys - Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta - in October asked Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn to order the interviews after repeated attempts to schedule interviews with the officers had failed. Conn ruled on Oct. 28 that the three officers must submit to interviews or be deposed within 60 days. Piccarreta argued that he and Wright had a right to interview the Texas officers, since they had been in contact with Arizona law enforcement. County Attorney Matt Smith said his office had no plans to use evidence from the Texas raid of the Yearning for Zion Ranch in the cases in Mohave County. Smith said he was willing to vow in court that the CAO would not use evidence from Texas in cases against Jeffs, if the court and the defense would drop the motion to depose Texas officers. He said having Arizona attorneys depose the Texas officers could hurt the case. | |
| Reporter's presence stymies polygamist leader's lawyers | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Sunday, November 30, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - The attorney for the convicted leader of a Colorado City polygamist church is asking to depose a witness in the case of his client, Warren Steed Jeffs. Jeffs' defense attorney, Mike Piccarreta, was supposed to interview Flora Jessop on Nov. 24 in Phoenix for Jeffs' two Mohave County cases. Jessop was a former member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colorado City who left the polygamist community in 1986. In asking Superior Court Judge Steven Conn for the deposition, Piccarreta said Jessop showed up at the interview Monday with a Channel 3 television crew and reporter Mike Watkiss, who also reports for CNN. Jessop's interview was necessary to find out her knowledge of phone call believed to be a hoax. The phone call triggered a raid on the FLDS compound in Texas and allowed Texas authorities to obtain a warrant to search the compound. Piccarreta claims Watkiss' reports are one-sided against the FLDS. "The only possible result of Jessop's latest publicity stunt is to generate adverse publicity to prejudice the defendant in the local media and possibly on the national level," Piccarreta said. "It is proper for a trial court to prohibit media recordings of pretrial interviews or depositions." Read more | |
| FLDS leader's attorneys seek deposition of anti-polygamy activist | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Monday, Dec. 1, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — Lawyers for Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs are seeking a court-ordered deposition of an anti-polygamy activist. In papers filed Friday in Mohave County Superior Court, Jeffs' attorneys seek a deposition of Flora Jessop, objecting to her appearance at a voluntary interview with them on Nov. 24. She brought a TV crew with her and the interview was over before it started. "Ms. Jessop's publicity stunt is clearly an unacceptable condition ... ," attorneys Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta wrote, adding that Jessop sought to turn her interview into "The Jerry Springer Show." Jessop claimed in a statement that she showed up willing to cooperate, but wanted someone to document the "truth of abuse in polygamy." Jessop declined earlier requests for a newspaper reporter to attend the interview. Jessop said she will not object to a deposition. "The only possible result of Ms. Jessop's latest publicity stunt is to generate adverse publicity to prejudice the defendant in the local media, and possibly on a national level," Wright and Piccarreta wrote. Jeffs' defense attorneys are seeking to question Jessop about phone calls she had with Rozita Swinton, who is suspected of making the hoax call that launched the April raid on the FLDS Church's ranch in Texas. They are seeking to suppress any evidence taken from the Texas raid in Jeffs' upcoming Arizona trial, where he is accused of performing underage marriages. | |
| Jeffs witness asks for a TV crew at interview | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published December 3, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - Attorneys for Warren Jeffs have filed another motion to depose Flora Jessop, a critic of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Jessop was supposed to be interviewed by Jeffs' attorneys, Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta, and Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith on Nov. 24. According to court documents, the interview was cancelled after Jessop showed up with a camera crew and reporter Mike Watkiss from KTVK Channel 3 news in Phoenix. Jessop apparently insisted that a news crew of her choosing film the interview or she would not submit to it. "Ms. Jessop's publicity stunt is clearly an unacceptable condition to her interview," Wright and Piccarreta stated in their motion. Her actions also violated the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure, which state that information from pretrial discovery interviews are not to be disclosed to the public. "Apparently, it is Ms. Jessop's desire to turn her interview into 'The Jerry Springer Show' and hopefully appear on Phoenix and national TV," Wright and Piccarreta wrote in their motion. Read more | |
| Anti-polygamy activist to be deposed in FLDS case | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008 | |
| A judge has ordered an anti-polygamy activist to give a deposition about conversations she had with the woman suspected of making hoax phone calls that sparked the raid on the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch. FLDS leader Warren Jeffs' defense attorneys are seeking to question Flora Jessop about conversations she had with Rozita Swinton. They're seeking to block any evidence from the Texas raid from Jeffs' pending trial in Arizona on sex crimes charges. In an order issued in Kingman, Ariz., on Tuesday, Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven F. Conn said that despite Arizona prosecutors' insistence that they won't use any YFZ evidence in Jeffs' upcoming trial, the court is not convinced the issue would never have to be addressed. "As long as the circumstances under which those warrants were issued could become an issue at some point, it would seem that a person having information about those circumstances could conceivably be a material witness," Conn wrote. Read more | |
| FLDS critic gets her orders from judge | |
| Jessop will have to give deposition without TV crew and reporter present, Conn says | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Friday, December 12, 2008 | |
| KINGMAN - Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn has ordered Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints critic Flora Jessop to sit for a deposition without a TV crew and reporter. Jessop was supposed to be interviewed about her conversations with Rozita Swinton and Texas law enforcement by Warren Jeffs' attorneys, Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta, and Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith on Nov. 24. Swinton is the woman who allegedly made the false phone call from Colorado claiming she was an abused and pregnant 16 year-old at the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado, Texas. Jessop is well known for her attempts to help young women and men escape the FLDS. The interview with Jessop was cancelled after she showed up with a TV camera crew and a reporter from a station in Phoenix. Wright and Piccarreta stated in a motion to the court that Jessop's actions were nothing more than a publicity stunt and violated the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure, which state that information from pretrial discovery interviews are not to be disclosed to the public. "The court determines that a desire to turn a pretrial discovery process into a media event, whether for self-promotion purposes or otherwise, is a failure to cooperate in granting a personal interview," Conn stated in his order, dated Dec. 9. Conn then ordered that the interview take place and "Ms. Jessop will not be allowed to be accompanied at the deposition by anyone other than legal counsel, if applicable." | |
| Sect attorneys question Schleicher County sheriff | |
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By Paul A. Anthony San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published Friday, December 19, 2008 | |
| The attorney for polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs interviewed local law enforcement officials Thursday about their roles in the massive, controversial raid on the sect's YFZ Ranch in April. The interviews were scheduled to begin in the morning and potentially last through today, although no one involved in the process returned phone calls for comment to provide details on the schedule. The interviews, conducted by the attorney for Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints leader Warren Jeffs in an Arizona case, initially were scheduled for the San Angelo law offices of Hennington Butler and Jones. That is the firm representing ranch leader Merril Jessop. The interviews were moved after the officials balked at using those offices, said attorney Amy Hennington. Attorney Michael Piccarreta is defending Jeffs against charges of sexual contact with a minor in Arizona. He won a ruling from a Mohave County judge in October that ordered Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran, his deputy John Connor and Ozona-based Texas Ranger Sgt. Brooks Long to either submit voluntarily to interviews with Piccarreta or be required to give sworn depositions. Piccarreta has said law enforcement illegally seized evidence during the April raid that may be used against his client, although prosecutors in the Arizona case have said they have no plans to use Texas evidence against Jeffs. Doran did not return calls for comment, and an attorney listed for Long in September court records - Dallas lawyer Bob Gorsky - was not immediately available for comment. An assistant in Piccarreta's Tucson office said he was not available for comment Thursday. | |
| Polygamist leader's attorney seeks hearing to suppress raid evidence | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Monday, January 19, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - The attorney for Warren Steed Jeffs, the convicted leader of a Colorado City polygamist church, is asking a Mohave County Superior Court judge to hold a hearing to suppress evidence found at a Texas raid. In a motion filed last week, Jeffs' defense attorney, Mike Piccarreta said his client is entitled to a hearing in Mohave County to suppress evidence found by Texas law enforcement officers at the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints compound in Eldorado, Texas. Jeffs is the leader of the FLDS church in Colorado City. The Texas officers were involved in the April raid at the compound in which they collected tainted evidence that was allegedly seized illegally during the raid. A phone call that triggered the Texas raid was a hoax and officers used the hoax to obtain a warrant to search each house at the compound, Piccarreta said. The Tucson attorney said that Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith is denying his client his right to a hearing, calling it a "Texas two step." He also spoke of Smith's attempt to obstruct the "truth-finding process" about the "illegal" raid. Read more | |
| Texas Two Step complicates Jeffs case | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Thursday, January 22, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - Attorneys for Warren Jeffs are accusing Texas and Arizona law enforcement authorities of doing a Texas Two Step. Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta, Jeffs' attorneys, filed a response on Jan. 9 asking the Mohave County Superior Court deny a request by the Mohave County Attorney's Office to hold a hearing on whether Jeffs is entitled to have a hearing on a motion to suppress evidence. The Mohave County Attorney's Office stated in its motion that Jeffs' attorneys have not shown specific evidence to support their claim that the search of the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado, Texas, was unconstitutional and any evidence from the raid must be suppressed. The YFZ Ranch is part of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints. It was raided in April after Texas law enforcement received a phone call from a teen alleging to be pregnant and having been abused by her much older husband. Texas law enforcement removed more than 400 children from the ranch. The phone call turned out to be hoax. Jeffs' attorneys argued in their response that Texas and Arizona authorities are attempting to do a Texas Two Step. The Texas and Arizona authorities are asking for specific information showing that the Texas search may be unconstitutional, but at the same time the two states may have impeded Jeffs' attorneys' search for more information during the interview of three Texas law enforcement officers. Read more | |
| Arizona judge may rule if evidence in FLDS case is legal | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009 | |
| An Arizona judge may end up ruling on whether evidence seized by law enforcement officers during the raid on the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch in Texas is legal. In an order released Wednesday, Mohave County Superior Judge Steven Conn denied a state request for arguments on whether FLDS leader Warren Jeffs should even be allowed to have a hearing to suppress evidence. "The state's attempt to deny defendant his right to an evidentiary hearing is yet another example of the 'Texas two step' previously referred to by the defendant," Jeffs' attorneys, Michael Piccarreta and Richard Wright, wrote in court documents filed in a Kingman, Ariz., court earlier this month. Jeffs is seeking to block any evidence seized from last year's raid on the YFZ Ranch from coming into his upcoming trial on sexual misconduct charges, accusing him of performing underage marriages. The 53-year-old polygamist sect leader already has been convicted in Utah of rape as an accomplice, for performing a marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. Jeffs is also facing sexual assault of a child and bigamy charges in Texas. Arizona prosecutors have said they did not plan to use any evidence seized in the raid in Jeffs' upcoming trial, but the judge seemed unconvinced. "It would appear that both parties are now acknowledging that the defense motion to suppress evidence seized in the Texas search will have to be ruled on," Conn wrote, adding that it is unlikely the court could rule on whether Texas law enforcement exceeded the scope of their search warrant without having evidence presented in a hearing on the scope of the actual search of the FLDS property. "It will therefore be the defendant's obligation, not the state's, to 'subpoena several witnesses to travel from the state of Texas to testify,' " Conn wrote. Read more | |
| Attorneys told to sort out Jeffs' evidence | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Tuesday, February 3, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - Judge Steven Conn is leaving it up to the Mohave County Attorney's Office and Warren Jeffs' attorneys to determine how they want to move forward on a motion to suppress evidence. According to a minute order from Conn, both parties have until Feb. 27 to submit their decision in writing to the court. Otherwise, the court will set a date and time for an evidentiary hearing and oral arguments. Jeffs' attorneys, Michael Picarreta and Richard Wright, filed a motion to suppress any evidence from the raid of the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado, Texas in October. They have argued that the Texas raid was illegal and any evidence or officers involved in the raid are tainted. Therefore, they contend, any Arizona law enforcement officer who came in contact with the evidence or spoke with Texas law enforcement is also tainted. The Mohave County Attorney's Office has responded to the motion by stating it currently does not plan to use any evidence from the raid in the Mohave County cases. If an evidentiary hearing is set it could require three Texas law enforcement officers - Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran, SCSO Deputy John Connor and Texas Ranger Brooks Long - to travel to Arizona and testify in court. Their testimony could be used to determine if the search of the YFZ Ranch was legal. Jeffs is currently in custody in the Mohave County Jail on four felony counts of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor. Conn threw out four felony counts of being an accomplice to incest last year after determining the state statute defining what constitutes incest was "clear and unambiguous" and required that both parties involved in the act of incest must be 18. | |
| FLDS leader's lawyers seek tapes, witness in Texas raid | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009 | |
| Lawyers for Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs want Arizona prosecutors to hand over any audio or videotapes of the beginning of the raid on the polygamous sect's ranch in Texas. But Arizona prosecutors say they'll have to talk to Texas. In court papers filed Monday in Mohave County Superior Court in Kingman, Ariz., Jeffs' defense attorneys Michael Piccarreta and Richard Wright say they want the tapes as part of their efforts to get any evidence seized from the YFZ Ranch tossed from his upcoming trial on sexual misconduct charges. The existence of the tapes were disclosed by Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran when he was deposed by Jeffs' attorneys last month, court filings said, and Piccarreta wants to interview him again. "These items may, in part, be inconsistent with the public positions taken by Texas law enforcement regarding the search," he wrote in a letter to Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith. In their filing, Piccarreta and Wright said the tapes will "directly support the defendant's claim that the Texas law enforcement authorities acted with reckless disregard with respect to the information in the search warrant affidavit that led the magistrate to issue the search warrants." Prosecutors agreed that Jeffs' lawyers should be entitled to the tapes but said they should not be asking Arizona for them. Read more | |
| Prosecutors fighting deposition in Jeffs case | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Friday, Feb. 6, 2009 | |
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KINGMAN, Ariz. — Prosecutors here are challenging an effort by Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs' attorneys to depose a private investigator. Jeffs' criminal defense team said in a filing Friday that Sam Brower's employment by people who have sued the church and ties to the polygamous sect leader's accusers is necessary for their case. In a response, Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said he opposed efforts to depose Brower saying he is not a witness in Jeffs' upcoming trial on sexual misconduct charges. Smith also said in the filing that Brower's work would be protected by attorney-client privilege. Brower works for a pair of Salt Lake attorneys who have sued the FLDS Church and also represent Elissa Wall, the star witness in Utah's case against Jeffs. She is a witness in one of the Arizona cases. "He is not necessary as a witness concerning benefits given to any of the witnesses in this case because that information has already been disclosed to the defense and has been the subject of questions during interviews of other state's witnesses," Smith wrote. Jeffs, 53, is accused in Arizona of performing a pair of underage marriages. He was convicted in Utah of rape as an accomplice and sentenced to a pair of five-to-life prison terms for performing a marriage between a then-14-year-old Wall and her 19-year-old cousin.
— Ben Winslow | |
| Bill aims to expand incest prosecution | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Friday, February 6, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - An Arizona House bill, if passed, could impact the way incest crimes are handled, especially cases against Colorado City polygamists. State House bill HB-2066 would add to the law making the charge of incest a Class 2 felony for anyone who has sex or marries a relative of full blood who is a minor under 15 years of age . The law also would make it a Class 3 felony for anyone to have sex or marry a relative who is a minor at least 15 years old. The proposed law would still make it a Class 4 felony if the incest victim is at least 18 years old. The law was introduced by House Rep. David Lujan D-Phoenix, who said he introduced the bill primarily because of the dismissal of charges by Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn against Warren Steed Jeffs. "We want to make sure that does not happen in future cases," he said. The bill was in part after Conn ruled in June 2008 to dismiss four counts of incest against Jeffs, the jailed leader of the polygamist sect in Colorado City. Conn ruled that the current law states both parties to an act of incest must be 18 years or older. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith argued as absurd that a man could be subjected to harsher penalties for having sex with a relative older than 18 compared to a girl younger than 18. Smith supports the proposed bill but believes Conn would have thrown out the four incest charges against Jeffs anyway because the victims were first cousins from half blood, not full blood. The current statute does not apply to first cousins of half blood. Read more | |
| Witness depositions sought in Jeffs case | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Monday, February 9, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - A Phoenix attorney is asking to interview two witnesses in the upcoming criminal case of Warren Steed Jeffs, the convicted leader of a Colorado City polygamist church. Jeffs' defense attorney, Mike Piccarreta, is asking Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn to order a deposition for Sam Brower and Rebecca Musser. Brower is a private investigator who works with Mohave County Attorney Office's investigator Gary Engels; Musser is a prosecution witness who once was married to Jeffs' late father, Rulon Jeffs. Jeffs succeeded his father as the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northern Mohave County community. The defense attorney claims that Brower has been employed by the Diversity Foundation, which recruits former FLDS members to sue the church and Jeffs. Brower also allegedly knows and provided benefits to the victims in Jeffs' two Mohave County cases. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith argued that Brower is not a state witness and would not testify at Jeffs' upcoming trial. Information about benefits to witnesses in Jeffs' case was already disclosed to the defense attorneys. Piccarreta also said after a December interview that Musser refused to talk about the Texas law enforcement officers' raid on the FLDS compound in Eldorado, Texas. The Texas officers allegedly collected tainted evidence that was allegedly seized illegally during the raid. A phone call that triggered the Texas raid was a hoax, and officers used the hoax to obtain a warrant to search the compound, Piccarreta added. Read more | |
| Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs quietly awaits trial in jail | |
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By Felicia Fonseca The Associated Press The Charlotte Observer Originally published Saturday, February 14, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. - He's the most notorious inmate at the Mohave County Jail, segregated for the crimes he's accused of and the name he's built for himself. Most of his fellow prisoners know him from the news, though they've never seen him in person. Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs was brought to the Arizona jail nearly a year ago, far from his followers, to await trial on four counts of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor. The charges stem from two arranged marriages between teenage girls and their older male relatives. But Jeffs' journey through the justice system won't end here. As he awaits his day in an Arizona court, Texas is building an unrelated case against him, and he's already been convicted in Utah. For now, though, his life is a jail cell where he spends his days poring over religious material and talking with lawyers over what lies ahead. Once a fugitive on the FBI's Most Wanted List, he's now described as respectful and polite and his habits are held up as a model for fellow inmates. In past jail stints, Jeffs refused to eat, banged his head against walls, attempted suicide and was restrained to his bed for spending too much time on his knees praying. "I'm having better luck with him," said Jeff Brown, deputy director at the Mohave County Jail. Read more | |
| Jeffs' attorneys seek interviews with witnesses | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Tuesday, February 17, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - Attorneys for Warren Jeffs continue to try to collect evidence and testimony in their attempt to defend the religious sect leader. Michael Piccarreta and Richard Wright, Jeffs' attorneys, have filed several requests in the last two weeks to interview people who may be called as witnesses in the case. Rebecca Musser, who was once married to Jeffs' father, Rulon, testified in the Utah cases against Jeffs in 2007 and she may testify about the practices of the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during Jeffs' trial in Mohave County. Piccarreta and Wright also claim that Musser was at the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Texas when Texas authorities raided the property last year. Texas authorities raided the ranch after receiving a phone call from a woman claiming to be a teenage bride who said she was beaten by her husband at the ranch. More than 400 children were removed from the ranch by Texas law enforcement officers and placed in the care of Children Protective Services. The call later turned out to be a hoax and many of the children have been returned to their families. According to court documents, the Mohave County Attorney's Office has arranged a phone interview between Piccarreta and Wright and Musser and her attorneys. Piccarreta and Wright have notified the court they may withdraw their formal request if Musser answers questions about what happened during the raid of the YFZ Ranch. Read more | |
| Federal grand jury investigates FLDS | |
| They say Texas, Arizona authorities blocking efforts to find origins of YFZ raid | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Thursday, Feb. 20, 2009 | |
| A federal grand jury has apparently been convened to investigate the Fundamentalist LDS Church in the aftermath of the raid on the Utah-based polygamous church's Texas ranch. Lawyers for FLDS leader Warren Jeffs are accusing Texas and Arizona authorities of blocking their efforts to ferret out the origins of the raid on the YFZ Ranch. In a court filing made public in Kingman, Ariz., on Thursday, Jeffs' criminal defense attorneys complain that Texas law enforcement officials forbade any inquiry into the apparent hoax call that sparked the raid, where hundreds of children were taken into state protective custody. Excerpts of interview transcripts filed with their complaint also revealed the apparent federal grand jury probe. "This is all part of what has become a pattern of obstruction on the part of Texas law enforcement authorities," attorneys Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta wrote. "The state of Texas simply would not allow any questions showing that the Texas law enforcement authorities now know that their search warrant affidavits were full of lies." Jeffs' attorneys are seeking to prevent evidence taken from last year's raid from being used in his upcoming trial in Arizona, where the 53-year-old is accused of performing underage marriages. He was convicted in Utah of rape as an accomplice for performing an underage marriage. Jeffs' defense team questioned Schleicher County (Texas) Sheriff David Doran, one of his deputies and Texas Ranger Brooks Long. But when the attorneys started asking about Rozita Swinton, the woman suspected of making the phony phone calls, interview transcripts showed that Texas authorities objected. "I can't comment on that simply because I would be violating federal law in reference to that particular question," Long said in the interview. Read more | |
| Hearing expected on seized evidence | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Sunday, February 22, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - A Phoenix attorney is asking a Mohave County Superior Court judge to order Texas law enforcement officers to answer questions concerning a search warrant issued before a raid on a polygamist compound in Texas. Mike Piccarreta, the attorney for Warren Steed Jeffs, the convicted leader of a Colorado City polygamist church, is asking Judge Steven Conn to hold a hearing to argue whether to sanction the prosecution's response to his motion to suppress evidence found in the April raid. Jeffs, 52, the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colorado City, is charged in Mohave County with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor in two 2007 cases involving two underage girls, which allegedly took place in 2002 and 2003. Piccarreta claims that during depositions with a Texas Ranger and a Texas county sheriff that the state of Texas and Arizona banned any inquiries into a "hoax" phone call that triggered the raid on the FLDS compound in Eldorado, Texas. Officers reportedly used the hoax to obtain a warrant to search the compound. The Texas officers allegedly collected evidence that was seized illegally during the raid, he argued. The defense attorney also said Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith would not admit the search warrant contained false accusations of criminal activity since the "victim" was fictitious and the alleged suspect was not at the compound. Smith's response is impeding the progress of the case, Piccarreta added. Read more | |
| Texas FLDS raid may be under grand jury scrutiny | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Monday, March 2, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - Interviews with three Texas law enforcement officers may not have garnered Warren Jeffs' attorneys the information they were looking for, but it may have revealed another surprise. A federal grand jury may be investigating the April raid of the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado, Texas. In November, Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn ordered three Texas law enforcement officers - Texas Ranger Brooks Long, Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran and Deputy John Connor - to submit to interviews from Jeffs' attorneys, Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta. According to transcripts from the November interviews, the Texas Attorney General's Office refused to allow at least two officers, Doran and Long, to respond to any questions about the investigation of the phone calls that led to the raid, confidential informants and anything after April 9 concerning the raid. Long may have revealed the reason why during his interview with the two attorneys. "I can't comment on that (the investigation into the phone calls) because I would be violating federal law in reference to that particular question," Long said. "And what, why is that, because ..." Piccarreta asked. "Because I'm on a 6(e) list," Long said, referring to federal rules governing grand jury secrecy. "A grand jury list," Piccarreta said. "Yes," Long said. Read more | |
| Arizona the center of FLDS Texas warrant questions | |
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By Paul A. Anthony San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published March 5, 2009 | |
| Eleven months ago, the story of Sarah Jessop Barlow captured a nation. She was a frightened 16-year-old girl forcibly married to a 49-year-old man, physically and sexually abused - and the mother of an 8-month-old baby. Except she wasn't real. "I don't think that you're gonna have somebody stand up and say, 'I made the call,'" Texas Ranger Lt. Brooks Long told attorneys during an interview in December. The alleged figment of a 33-year-old Colorado woman's imagination, the "Sarah Jessop" phone calls sparked a massive raid on the Schleicher County compound of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that led to the removal of 439 children, the ultimate return of 437 of them, and 12 criminal indictments. Yet, surprisingly, the question of whether the raid should have even taken place has not been addressed. "Texas law enforcement authorities now know that their search warrant affidavits were full of lies," wrote Michael Piccarreta, an attorney for sect leader Warren Jeffs, in an Arizona court filing. "The whole thing is a lie." In an odd twist, arguments over the validity of the Texas search warrants are playing out 1,000 miles away, in Arizona, where Jeffs faces charges of indecent conduct with a minor and his attorneys are seeking to prevent prosecutors from using any evidence obtained from the YFZ Ranch, which the FLDS purchased in 2003. It's a debate that has been short-circuited in Texas by the presence of a sealed federal warrant, which has made moot efforts to stop the state's search and return the evidence. With the state's criminal case against the 12 defendants still in the early stages, the argument that evidence of wrongdoing found at the ranch should be thrown out is likely still to come. "It is a little unusual," said Charles P. Bubany, adjunct professor of law at Texas Tech University and an expert in state criminal procedure. "It's unusual to have an Arizona court case about a search made in Texas." Read more | |
| Arizona fight over FLDS evidence delayed | |
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By Ben Winslow Deseret News Originally published Monday, March 9, 2009 | |
| A battle over evidence seized from the Fundamentalist LDS Church's Texas ranch will be delayed until at least May, prosecutors in Arizona said Monday. "Our evidentiary hearing is not going to take place until after Texas' evidentiary hearing," Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith's office said in an e-mail to the Deseret News. Lawyers for FLDS leader Warren Jeffs are seeking to keep any evidence taken from the YFZ Ranch out of his upcoming trials in Kingman, Ariz., on charges of sexual conduct with a minor, accusing him of performing underage marriages. A judge in Mohave County Superior Court set a Friday deadline to know lawyers' plans for any evidence issues. Jeffs' criminal defense team has accused Texas and Arizona authorities of stymieing their efforts to determine the origins of the controversial raid, where 439 children were taken into state protective custody in response to a phone call alleging abuse. The call is believed to be a hoax and Jeffs' attorneys have challenged the Texas search warrants in an Arizona court. Prosecutors in Arizona have said they do not intend to use evidence taken from the ranch in Jeffs' upcoming trials, but Judge Stephen Conn seemed unconvinced and said in a recent ruling that a hearing may be necessary. Read more | |
| Arizona Supreme Court rejects appeal in polygamist leader Warren Jeffs' case | |
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The Associated Press FOX 13 Utah Originally published March 17, 2009 | |
| FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The state Supreme Court has denied an appeal from attorneys for polygamist leader Warren Jeffs who sought to have a grand jury reconsider the case. A Mohave County judge rejected an effort by Jeffs' attorneys in August to return the case to a grand jury, and the state Court of Appeals later denied an appeal. Jeffs' attorneys took it to the high court, which decided Tuesday against reviewing the lower court's decision. Jeffs' attorneys had argued that grand jurors were tainted by publicity in the case and that they were not read the legal definition of "accomplice." Jeffs is awaiting trial in Arizona on charges of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor, stemming from arranged marriages between teenage girls and their older male relatives. | |
| Texas FLDS case stalls Ariz. case against Jeffs | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Deseret News Originally published Monday, March 30, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — The Arizona case against Warren Jeffs is temporarily on hold as his attorneys battle with Texas authorities over when police knew phone calls leading to last year's raid on the YFZ Ranch were false. Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs' attorneys, Michael Piccarreta and Richard Wright, asked the Mohave County Superior Court Monday to strike Arizona's response to a motion to suppress evidence from Texas or order a second round of interviews with three Texas law enforcement officers. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn has already agreed to defer ruling on the Arizona motion to suppress evidence until after a similar motion has been ruled on in Texas. Piccarreta agreed that his motion to strike was mostly a symbolic gesture borne out of frustration with Texas authorities. "The affidavit for the search warrants is a lie," Piccarreta said Monday. "Everyone involved knew the facts were untrue." Piccarreta and Wright interviewed Texas Ranger Brooks Long, Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran and sheriff's deputy John Connor in December. During that interview, Texas authorities limited questions to what happened during the investigation of the YFZ Ranch to events after April 9, Piccarreta said, and attorneys were not allowed to ask leading questions. Arizona authorities were also at the interviews. Read more | |
| Attorney seeks to re-interview Texas officers | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Monday, March 30, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - The attorneys in the case of Warren Steed Jeffs, the convicted leader of a Colorado City polygamist church, on Monday argued a motion about interviews with Texas law enforcement officers. Jeffs' attorney, Mike Piccarreta, asked Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn to strike the prosecution's response to his motion to suppress evidence found in the April 2008 raid on a polygamist compound in Texas. In the alternative, Jeffs’ attorney is asking to re-interview the Texas officers and to answer all of Piccarreta's questions. Piccarreta said that during interviews with a Texas Ranger and a Texas county sheriff, the Texas Attorney General's Office banned any inquiries into a hoax phone call that triggered the raid on the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints compound in Eldorado, Texas. Piccarreta called it a reckless disregard by Texas authorities. The phone calls came from someone claiming to be a 16-year-old girl who claimed Dale Barlow, of Colorado City, sexually abused her; the calls came from a 33-year-old Colorado woman. "They're blocking the truth-seeking process," Piccarreta said. "Everything about that phone call was completely fabricated." Piccarreta admitted the bulk of his complaint is with Texas authorities, and not with Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith. The defense attorney is asking Conn to order Texas law enforcement officers to answer questions concerning the search warrant issued before the raid on the FLDS compound in Texas, or have Texas prosecutors acknowledge the call was a lie. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith opposed striking the state's response and to re-interview the Texas officers. He said everyone now knows that the Colorado woman, Rozita Swinton, made the calls and Dale Barlow was not in Texas at the time. He also previously said he does not plan to present evidence collected from the Texas raid during Jeffs' trial in Mohave County. Read more | |
| Polygamist leader wants to question Texas authorities | |
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The Associated Press KENS 5 - San Antonio Originally published Tuesday, March 31, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - Attorneys for polygamist leader Warren Jeffs are asking an Arizona judge to force Texas authorities to fully answer questions about a raid at a sect compound. Jeffs lawyer Mike Piccarreta of Tucson wants to question Texas authorities about when they discovered that a phone call that triggered the April 2008 raid on the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints compound in Eldorado, Texas, was a fake. Texas authorities refused to allow Piccarreta to ask three officers details about the investigation of the YFZ Ranch. If they don't, Piccarreta told a judge in Mohave County on Monday, he wants Texas prosecutors to admit the call was phony and he wants any evidence collected there barred from trial. Jeffs is jailed in Mohave County awaiting trial on four counts of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor. The charges filed in 2007 are related to marriages he allegedly performed between older men and underage girls. He's already been convicted in Utah of two felony counts of rape by accomplice and faces similar charges in Texas. Piccarreta is trying to show that the Texas raid, reportedly set off by a hoax phone call from a Colorado woman, shows that authorities acted in reckless disregard of the truth. Piccarreta acknowledged his efforts are mostly a symbolic gesture borne out of frustration with Texas authorities. "The affidavit for the (Texas) search warrants is a lie," Piccarreta said Monday. "Everyone involved knew the facts were untrue." Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn has already agreed to hold off ruling on Piccarreta's request to suppress evidence gathered in the Texas raid until after a similar request has been ruled on in Texas. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith opposes the move to re-interview the Texas officers. He said he does not plan to present evidence collected from the Texas raid during Jeffs' trial and is willing to acknowledge which facts that led to the Texas warrant later proved to be untrue. | |
| YFZ raid looms over trial | |
| Toss out evidence, Jeffs' lawyers say | |
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By DAVE HAWKINS Special to the Standard-Times San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published Thursday, April 2, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. - Defense attorneys representing jailed polygamous sect church prophet Warren Jeffs in Arizona continue routing their pretrial pleadings through Texas. Raids on the YFZ church compound a year ago near Eldorado were the focal point of the latest Arizona hearing conducted Monday in Mohave County Superior Court in Kingman. Under the usual heavy security detail, Jeffs, 52, was led into the courtroom where he exchanged smiles and affectionate gazes with more than a dozen supporters attending the hearing. The leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints awaits trial for sex offenses stemming from the alleged church-sanctioned unions of two underage girls to their male adult relatives. Jeffs' attorneys continued their efforts to have any information gleaned from the raid on the YFZ Ranch suppressed in Jeffs' trial. On Monday, they argued against a state response to the defense motion to suppress introduction of any evidence emanating from the raids in Texas last April, during which hundreds of women and children were rounded up as part of an investigation into alleged abuse. Authorities also seized documents and data in the raid. Defense attorney Mike Piccarreta said false allegations of abuse communicated by Rozita Swinton served as foundation for the search and seizure activity in Texas. "Almost in its entirety, the affidavit for the search warrant is a lie," Piccarreta said of the statement of probable cause for the YFZ incursion. Piccarreta complained Texas law enforcement officials have refused to answer some questions about how they received and used what they discovered to be false information and allegations. Read more | |
| Jeffs is Tucson lawyer's latest high-profile client | |
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By Kim Smith ARIZONA DAILY STAR - Tucson, Arizona Originally published April 5, 2009 | |
| Tucson defense attorney Michael Piccarreta finds himself on the road quite a bit lately. At least every other week, Piccarreta travels to the Mohave County Jail in Kingman to visit his latest high-profile client, Warren Jeffs. Jeffs, the head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is awaiting trial on multiple sex-related charges pertaining to the marriages of two teenage girls to their adult male relatives. Piccarreta prefers to practice locally, but when he was approached by members of Jeffs' church, he agreed to take on the case. "I try not to take out-of-town cases, but occasionally I'm sought out and if the case is interesting factually and legally and if I believe the cause is meritorious and the accused is someone I'm comfortable working with, I'll take it," Piccarreta said. The Jeffs case appeals to him because of its "cutting-edge" nature, said Piccarreta, who has been practicing law for 34 years. The government is prosecuting a religious group and it's not often an attorney gets the opportunity to work on such a case, the former Arizona State Bar Association president said. Read more | |
| Arizona judge denies motion by Jeffs' attorneys | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Deseret News Originally published Monday, April 6, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN — Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs' attorneys will have to continue to deal with their frustration with the Mohave County Attorney's Office and Texas authorities. Judge Steven Conn denied a motion Monday to strike parts of Mohave (Ariz.) County Attorney Matt Smith's response to Jeffs' motion to suppress evidence from the raid of the church's YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas. Jeffs' attorneys, Michael Piccarreta and Richard Wright, filed a motion to suppress any evidence from the YFZ Ranch and prevent it from being used in the Arizona case against Jeffs in September. He faces criminal charges accusing him of performing underage marriages. Smith has said numerous times that he has no plans to use evidence from the Texas raid in his case against Jeffs, but has not put that statement in writing. Piccarreta argued in court on March 30 that Texas authorities prevented him from discovering when Texas law enforcement officers found out that the phone call that launched the raid of the ranch was a hoax. During interviews with three Texas law enforcement officers, authorities there would only allow the officers to answer questions about what happened during the raid. The question is when did the Texas officers find out that the information was false and did they act with reckless disregard when they applied for the warrants to search the ranch, Piccarreta said last week. He asked Conn to force the Mohave County Attorney's Office to stipulate which facts were true concerning the phone calls from the Texas raid or order the three Texas police officers to respond to questions about the phone calls. Read more | |
| Judge denies defense motion in Jeffs case | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Wednesday, April 8, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - A Superior Court judge denied a defense motion Friday in the continuing case of the convicted leader of a Colorado City polygamist church. In a hearing last week, Warren Jeffs' attorney, Mike Piccarreta, asked Superior Court Judge Steven Conn to strike Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith's response to his motion to suppress evidence found in the April 2008 raid on a polygamist compound in Texas. Jeffs' attorney also asked to re-interview the Texas officers. Piccarreta claimed that during interviews with two Texas law enforcement officers the Texas Attorney General's Office refused to answer questions about a hoax phone call that triggered the raid on the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints compound in Eldorado, Texas. The phone calls came from someone claiming to be a 16-year-old girl and who claimed Dale Barlow, of Colorado City, sexually abused her. It is believed the calls actually came from a 33-year-old Colorado woman. Piccarreta asked Conn to order Texas law enforcement officers to answer all questions concerning the search warrant issued before the raid on the FLDS compound in Texas or have Texas prosecutors acknowledge the call was a lie. Conn, who called the motion a symbolic gesture, said he believed the reason for the motion is to express Piccarreta's frustration to question Texas officers further about the hoax phone call in an attempt to suppress all evidence found at the Texas compound. "The fact remains that the court will eventually rule on the defense motion to suppress by determining what the facts are based on the evidence presented, not based on counsel's pleadings, will identify what it considers the applicable law, will apply that law to facts and will by that process formulate a ruling on the motion," Conn ruled. Read more | |
| Judge: Jeffs can't re-interview Texas officials | |
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By FELICIA FONSECA The Arizona Daily Sun Originally published Thursday, April 9, 2009 | |
| FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - An Arizona judge has denied a request from attorneys for polygamist leader Warren Jeffs to force Texas authorities to fully answer questions about a raid at a sect compound. Mohave County Judge Steven Conn said in an April 3 ruling that he wasn't sufficiently briefed on the matter. But he said the request could be reconsidered later, depending on whether the officers voluntarily consented to an interview with Jeffs' attorneys in December or did it under a court-ordered deposition. Jeffs' attorney, Mike Piccarreta, said Thursday he would file a motion to specifically address re-interviewing the Texas authorities. Piccarreta wants to know when Texas officials found out that a fake phone call had triggered their April 2008 raid on the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints compound in Eldorado, Texas. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith has opposed the move to re-interview the Texas authorities. Piccarreta had argued that the raid showed reckless disregard of the truth by Texas authorities and wants all evidence collected from the raid barred from Jeffs' trial in Arizona. Conn said he won't rule on the request to suppress evidence from the raid until after a similar request in Texas has been decided. Read more | |
| TOP LAWYERS: White Collar Defense | |
| Richard Wright, Wright Standish & Winckler | |
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By Anna Huddleston Las Vegas Business Press Originally published Monday, April 27, 2009 | |
| For the past two-and-a-half years, Richard Wright, principal at Wright Stanish & Winckler law firm, has spent a lot of time in his car and in hotel rooms in Kingman, Ariz., and St. George, Utah, representing infamous polygamist Warren Jeffs. "It's a fascinating case," he said. "They believe in exactly what they are doing." Over several decades of practicing law, Wright has been involved in many high-profile cases and has enough stories to fill a tome. Wright, a native Las Vegan, became fascinated with law early and was the first in his family to become a lawyer. His choice fell upon University of Southern California Law School and in 1972 he returned to Las Vegas and became a clerk for Federal Judge Roger Foley. "It was the height of the Vietnam era and I was a ponytailed, long-haired law clerk who wanted to do legal services," Wright said. Soon he got offered a job as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's office in Las Vegas. "At first I laughed because it was the last thing I thought could interest me in any fashion," he said. "But Judge Foley said, 'Don't pass up on this opportunity. Get a haircut and take the job.'" Read more | |
| Motion filed to suppress evidence in Jeffs' case | |
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By 3 TV AZFamily - Phoenix, Arizona Originally published Tuesday, May 12, 2009 | |
| POLYGAMY - It's been more than a year since polygamy took center stage nationwide after a raid on a polygamist compound in Texas. But now all that law enforcement and CPS worked for could come crashing down. Fifty-six years ago Arizona law officers raided the polygamist community of Short Creek. It was a disaster. And now it seems Texas' raid on Warren Jeffs' YFZ Ranch last year is headed in exactly the same direction. A motion has been filed to suppress evidence that the defense says was unlawfully obtained. | |
| Motion in FLDS case in Texas called long shot | |
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By Dave Hawkins/Special to the Standard-Times San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published Wednesday, May 20, 2009 | |
| Tucson attorney Mike Piccarreta believes a motion to suppress evidence seized during April 2008 raids on the Yearning for Zion ranch near Eldorado stands a better chance of being granted in Arizona than in Texas. Piccarreta in Arizona is defending Warren Jeffs, the head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the polygamous sect that owns the YFZ ranch where hundreds of women and children were rounded up in an investigation prompted by a sex offense allegation that was later proved to be a hoax. Jeffs, 52, awaits trial in Kingman, Ariz., on charges of sexual conduct with a minor, offenses he allegedly facilitated by arranging FLDS spiritual marriages between two underage girls and their legally married adult relatives. Piccarreta filed a motion in September arguing that the Texas search was illegal and that any evidence seized at the YFZ should not be used in the prosecution of Jeffs in Arizona. Attorneys for 10 members of the polygamous sect during a four-day session last week attempted to persuade 51st District Judge Barbara Walther that they deserve a hearing to argue that evidence that might be used against their clients who are accused in Texas of crimes involving underage marriages and child abuse should be suppressed. Walther is awaiting written briefs from the attorneys and the state before issuing a ruling. Noting that Walther signed the warrant for the YFZ search, Piccarreta said he’s skeptical that she’d essentially reverse that decision by granting the suppression motion. Read more | |
| FLDS Leader Warren Jeffs Being Force-Fed; Death May Be Imminent | |
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By Kirk Yuhnke, Reporter and David Wells, Senior Web Producer FOX 13 Utah Originally broadcast August 4, 2009 | |
| MOHAVE COUNTY, Ariz. - New court documents out of Arizona say FLDS church president Warren Jeffs' death might be imminent. Arizona officials say Jeffs is being force fed in an effort to save the life of the polygamous sect leader. In a letter written Friday and filed with the court in Mohave County Monday, Doctor Mortenson writes Jeffs "has been unable to urinate for us. He is weaker and more debilitated than when I saw him two days ago. His vital signs are worse." Mortenson went on to write "this deterioration will continue to accelerate and become harder to reverse the longer it persists. His death could be imminent without immediate medical intervention." According to the letter, Jeffs refuses to eat. Force feeding and urine monitoring were put in place Friday morning for Jeffs, who is the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in southern Utah and Arizona. Jeffs is being held in the Mohave County jail in Kingman, Ariz. based on charges that he married an underage girl and an adult man. The sheriff's office to confirm whether or not Jeffs was sent to a hospital for the force feeding and urine monitoring treatments, but court documents indicate he's being treated at the jail. Jeffs has been in the Mohave County jail since February 26, 2008. | |
| Read the Mohave County Sheriff's Office Press Release regarding the bad health of Warren Jeffs dated August 4, 2009 | |
| Jail resumes force-feeding FLDS leader Jeffs | |
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By Linda Thomson Deseret News Originally published Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009 | |
| Polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs, who has been fasting to such an extreme degree that his life is in jeopardy, is once again being force-fed by staffers at an Arizona jail. The jail started force-feeding Jeffs on Friday, but jail spokeswoman Trish Carter said Jeffs began eating again, although it was unclear exactly when Jeffs resumed eating. At that point, the jail staff stopped the force-feeding. However, Jeffs began refusing food again late Monday afternoon so jail staffers resumed forcing nutrition and fluids. Carter said jailers are keeping a close eye on the leader of the Fundamentalist LDS Church. "He's being monitored," Carter said. "Warren Jeffs is in a private cell already and he's just being watched closer now. They have to force-feed him instead of just laying down a dinner tray." The extra effort may be more work for employees at the Mohave County Jail, but Carter said workers there do what is necessary to attend to prisoners' needs. "Jail staff has to do what it has to do. We have to keep an inmate healthy and alive," she said. "He's got a judge and jury to speak to." Read more | |
| Ariz. jail force-fed sect leader Jeffs | |
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By Jennifer Dobner The Associated Press KVOA Tucson, Arizona Originally published August 4, 2009 | |
| BEAVER, Utah (AP) - Polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs has resumed eating after a period of fasting in jail that left doctors so concerned about an "imminent" risk of death that he was forcibly fed, Arizona officials said Tuesday. "He has resumed eating and he is recovering, but he's got to continue to be monitored because his health is still at risk," Mohave County sheriff's spokeswoman Trish Carter said. Carter said she did not know when Jeffs first began refusing food or when he resumed eating. The Kingman, Ariz., jail began force-feeding Jeffs on Friday. In a letter filed with the Mohave Superior Court the same day, the jail's medical director said Jeffs had been refusing food and was no longer urinating. Medical Director Kirsten Mortenson said Jeffs' vital signs were worsening and he was suffering peripheral edema - the swelling of extremities like hands, feet and legs - brought on by "protein/calorie malnutrition." "This deterioration will continue to accelerate and become harder to reverse the longer it persists," Mortenson wrote in a letter to Judge Steven F. Conn. "His death could be imminent without immediate medical intervention." Contacted by cell phone Tuesday by The Associated Press, Mortenson said federal privacy laws prevented her from making any comment. "I can't even tell you if I've seen him," she said. Read more | |
| Polygamist Leader Warren Jeffs Force-Fed in Northern Arizona Jail | |
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By Malia Politzer in News Phoenix New Times Originally published August 4, 2009 | |
| We almost forgot about Warren Jeffs when he was thrown in prison to serve two consecutive five-to-life sentences. But his name's bubbled up again. And, this time, it's not connected to the rape or forced marriage of underage girls: Warren Jeffs has decided not to eat. Authorities say Jeffs has refused food for the second time in less than a week and is being force-fed by tube in his Kingman, Arizona jail cell. The most recent set of feedings began on Friday after Jeffs became weak after a long fast. He then resumed eating on his own, but was force-fed on Tuesday yet again when he refused food over the weekend. According to a July 31 letter from jail Medical Director Kirsten Mortinson, Jeff's' condition was so serious that "death could be imminent without immediate intervention." Jeffs' fasting appears directly related to significant court hearings involving the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Last week there was a hearing in Utah on the sale of property that used to belong to the church. "Mr. Jeffs is a deeply religious man and sometimes engages in lengthy religious practices while in jail. When he does, he declines food and beverages and this sometimes occurs," Jeff's' lawyer, Michael Piccarreta, told the Associated Press. "If you look at other religious and political people who have been wrongly incarcerated, you'll see others have gone through this." Jeffs may be on hunger strike, but he's certainly no Gandhi: His convicted offenses include two counts of rape as an accomplice, and he's awaiting trial for two other charges related to underage marriages of sect girls. He is also facing new charges of bigamy, rape, and sexual assault on a child -- charges that came out of raids on a church ranch near Eldorado, Texas, last year. | |
| Fasting sect leader again fed by tube | |
| Jail official says Jeffs' condition deteriorating | |
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By DAVE HAWKINS SPECIAL TO THE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Originally published August 5, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. -- The leader of a polygamous church sect is being force-fed again in the Mohave County jail in Kingman after resuming his periodic practice of fasting while incarcerated. Kirsten Mortenson, the medical director of the jail, notified the court in a July 31 correspondence that the physical condition of Warren Jeffs, 53, was deteriorating because of his refusal to eat. Jeffs is the head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which has its headquarters along the Arizona-Utah border. It has a compound in Texas where more than 400 women and children were rounded up in April 2007. Jeffs was sentenced to prison in Utah for rape-as-an-accomplice convictions. He awaits trial in Arizona, accused of assigning underage girls to spiritual and sexual unions with married men. Mortenson informed Superior Court Judge Steve Conn that Jeffs had been unable to urinate and had grown weaker, and that his vital signs had worsened because of malnourishment. "This deterioration will continue to accelerate and become harder to reverse the longer it persists," Mortenson said. "His death could be imminent without immediate medical intervention." Mortenson said daily force- feedings were initiated July 31. Sheriff Tom Sheahan said Jeffs indicated over the weekend that he would cooperate and eat, but that he started fasting again. Sheahan said Jeffs is secured and strapped to a chair when force-fed through a stomach tube. He said defense attorneys have endorsed the forced nutrition. Read more | |
| Officials: Jeffs again being force-fed | |
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By HEATHER SMATHERS Mohave Daily News Originally published Wednesday, August 5, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - The Mohave County Jail in Kingman is once again force-feeding Warren Jeffs, officials confirmed. Jeffs had stopped eating on Friday but had resumed eating on his own on Monday night, said Trish Carter, spokeswoman for the Mohave County Sheriff's Office. Since then, jail officials have had to begin feeding him again. "And realize, this is not the first time Mr. Jeffs has refused to eat while he has been in our facility," Carter said. Carter said it was not known why Jeffs is refusing to eat. Jeffs is suffering from malnutrition, court documents show. A letter filed with the Mohave County Superior Court on Friday says the jail will continue to force-feed and monitor Jeffs until he improves. The letter to Judge Steven Conn alleges Jeffs faces "imminent death" if he is not force fed. "This deterioration will continue to accelerate and become harder to reverse the longer it persists," jail Medical Director Kirsten Mortenson wrote. "His death could be imminent without immediate medical intervention." Jeffs, 53, has been incarcerated in the Mohave County Jail since Feb. 26, 2008. Jeffs is the leader of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints, a Utah-based sect, and is in jail awaiting trial on charges relating to arranging marriages involving underage girls. Jeffs also faces criminal charges of bigamy and sexual assault of a child. The charges stem from information gathered by authorities during a raid on a church ranch near Eldorado, Texas, last year. | |
| Arizona Jail Continuing to Force-Feed FLDS Leader Jeffs | |
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The Associated Press FOX 13 Utah Originally published Wednesday, August 5, 2009 | |
| SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Polygamous church leader Warren Jeffs is continuing to refuse solid foods and remains on a feeding tube. Mohave County sheriff's spokeswoman Trish Carter says Jeffs ate a sandwich and an orange around 6 a.m. Wednesday, but then refused further nourishment. Jail officials began force-feeding Jeffs, 53, on Friday after a period of fasting deteriorated his health so much that a doctor feared the church leader might die. The tube was removed Sunday, when it appeared Jeffs would eat, and reinserted Monday after he again skipped meals. Head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Jeffs is in the Kingman jail awaiting trials on criminal charges related to alleged underage marriages of sect girls. | |
| Jail says polygamist leader's health improving | |
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By JENNIFER DOBNER
The Associated Press Dallas Morning News Originally published August 6, 2009 | |
| Officials from an Arizona jail say polygamous church leader Warren Jeffs remains on a feeding tube, but his health appears to be improving after eating a few meals. Mohave County sheriff's spokeswoman Trish Carter said Jeffs ate a breakfast of eggs, potatoes and fruit Thursday morning. Jeffs has refused most food and liquids for more than a week as part of a self-imposed religious fast. "As of today, the medical director did make a comment that it appears he is getting better," Carter said Thursday. "We are monitoring his intake, and he is cooperating on and off." Medical staff at the Kingman, Ariz., jail began force-feeding the 53-year-old head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints last Friday after the jail doctor said she feared Jeffs' death could be "imminent" without medical intervention. In a letter to a Mohave County Superior Court judge, Dr. Kirsten Mortenson said Jeffs' vital signs were poor and he was suffering from peripheral edema — a swelling of the extremities — caused by malnutrition. In addition to breakfast Thursday, Jeffs ate a sandwich and an orange early Tuesday. A feeding tube remains in place and is providing liquid nutrition, Carter said. Staff is also forcing him to get up and walk for 20 minutes every two hours, sometimes outdoors in an exercise yard, she said. Read more | |
| FLDS leader off feeding tube | |
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The Associated Press Deseret News Originally published Monday, Aug. 10, 2009 | |
| Arizona jail officials say polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs is eating normally and no longer needs to be force-fed through a tube. Mohave County sheriff's spokeswoman Trish Carter says a feeding tube that had provided Jeffs with liquid nutrition for about a week was removed over the weekend. She says Jeffs has resumed eating regular meals and is taking vitamins. Jail officials began force-feeding Jeffs on July 31 after a period of self-imposed fasting left his health at risk and a doctor said she feared he could die. Jeffs' fasts are part of the way he practices his religion. Head of the Fundamentalist LDS Church, Jeffs is in the Kingman jail awaiting trials on criminal charges related to alleged underage marriages of girls. The Utah-based sect owns a large west Texas ranch near Eldorado. | |
| Jeffs' defense attorney wants more interviews | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Thursday, August 27, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - The attorney for the convicted leader of a Colorado City polygamist church is again asking a Mohave County Superior Court judge to order the questioning of three witnesses in his client's case. Warren Steed Jeffs' attorney, Mike Piccarreta of Tucson, filed another motion before Superior Court Judge Steven Conn to order Sam Brower, Dr. Dan Fischer and Rebecca Musser to be brought in for interviews. Conn previously ordered Brower and Musser to be deposed while Fischer voluntarily agreed to a pre-trial interview. Piccarreta argued that Brower and Fischer are withholding evidence related to Jeffs' case. The defense attorney claims that the two have waged a campaign against Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In prior interviews, Fischer and Brower have refused to answer questions about Jeffs' case claiming attorney-client privilege, Piccarreta said. Brower is a private investigator who has worked with Mohave County Attorney Office's investigator Gary Engels. Fischer is a dentist and former member of the FLDS, who Piccarreta claims funds the campaign against his client. Musser, who had been married to Jeffs' late father, Rulon Jeffs, is a witness for the prosecution against Jeffs on his Arizona charges and has testified against Jeffs at his previous trial in Utah. She was also present during the search by Texas authorities at the FLDS compound in Texas, Piccarreta said. Read more | |
| Judge orders new interview with woman | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Friday, September 4, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - A Mohave County Superior Court judge ruled to allow the deposition of a woman involved the case of Warren Steed Jeffs. Jeffs' attorney, Mike Piccarreta, filed a motion for Judge Steven Conn to order Rebecca Musser to be deposed for an interview. In a separate motion, Piccarreta also asked Conn to order the deposition of Sam Brower and Dr. Dan Fischer. Conn granted Piccarreta's motion Wednesday to formally interview Musser. The judge did not address a request for the county attorney's office to pay for Piccarreta's expenses to travel to Texas if the deposition is held in that state. In his motion, Piccarreta argued that Musser, who had been married to Jeffs' late father, Rulon Jeffs, did not answer certain questions in her previous interview in December 2008 in Las Vegas. Musser was to have been deposed in April but according to prosecutors, Musser who lives in Idaho, had back surgery. Musser is a witness for the prosecution against Jeffs in his Arizona charges and has testified against Jeffs at his previous trial in Utah. She also was present during the search by Texas officers at the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints compound in Texas. Piccarreta wants her to answer questions related to the April 2008 raid at the FLDS compound in Eldorado, Texas. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith previously argued that he does not plan to introduce any evidence from the raid at the Texas compound at Jeffs' upcoming trial in Mohave County. The prosecutor also said Texas authorities should also be present at Musser's interview. Read more | |
| Attorneys voice opposition to depositions in Jeffs case | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Wednesday, September 23, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - Two Kingman attorneys have filed motions in opposition to depositions requested by Warren Jeffs' attorney. Jeffs' attorney, Mike Piccarreta, recently filed motions to interview Sam Brower and Dr. Dan Fischer in the Mohave County case against his client. Brower and Fischer were previously interviewed but refused to answer certain questions. Piccarreta argued that Brower and Fischer are withholding evidence related to Jeffs' case. The defense attorney claims that the two have waged a personal vendetta against Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Fischer and Brower have refused to answer questions about communications with a Utah law firm and its clients, Piccarreta said. Billy Sipe Jr., who is representing Fischer, said that his client previously consented to a recorded interview and testified of his and Diversity Foundation's support for former FLDS members. The attorney also denies that his client falsely accused Jeffs. Questions Fischer refused to answer also would violate attorney-client privilege, Sipe argued. Lee Novak also filed a motion in opposition to deposing Brower, a private investigator from Utah, and Fischer. The Kingman attorney argued that there is no merit to Jeffs' claims. Novak represents the Utah law firm of Hoole & King and its clients, former members of the FLDS church and alleged victims of child abuse. Brower was hired to investigate the claims of child abuse and Fischer, a Utah dentist who has financially supported former FLDS members. Read more | |
| Attorney questions witnesses' expertise on FLDS religion | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Thursday, November 19, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - The attorneys for Warren Steed Jeffs is asking a Mohave County Superior Court judge to set another court hearing to argue whether the prosecutor's witnesses are experts in religious practices. Jeffs' attorney, Mike Piccarreta, is asking Judge Steven Conn to set a hearing to argue whether Carolyn Jessop, Richard Holm and Rebecca Musser are experts on the religious practices of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jeffs is considered a prophet by the polygamist church in Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah. Jessop and Holm are former members of the FLDS church. Musser was married to Jeffs' late father, Rulon Jeffs. "It appears that all of the state's so-called experts on the practices and beliefs of the FLDS share one common trait, an intense dislike for the FLDS after having left the church," Piccarreta stated in his motion. The attorney said the state's witnesses are not typical experts normally called at a trial and asks the prosecutor to establish the qualifications of the witnesses. The state's experts will testify about the church's practices, the role of the prophet, the power of the United Effort Plan Trust over the people in the communities, the practice of arranged marriages of older, married men to underage girls, the disfavor of education in the community and the suppression of woman by men in the FLDS church. Read more | |
| Attorney for Jeffs has new wish list | |
| Interviews with people linked to FLDS sought | |
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published Sunday, December 13, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - The case against Warren Jeffs continues to gain complexity. In a hearing Friday afternoon, Jeffs' attorney Michael Piccarreta argued that he should be able to interview Don Fischer, Sam Bower and the Diversity Foundation about the conversations they had with the two victims in the Jeffs case and the victims' civil attorney in Utah, Roger Hoole, in order to defend Jeffs against statements they might make in court. Fischer was once a member of the Fundamental Church of Latter Day Saints. He left and created the Diversity Foundation in order to help other members of the FLDS who wanted to leave. Piccarreta argued that not only did Fischer and the Diversity Foundation provide the two victims, and several witnesses that may be called against Jeffs in a trial, with funds to find housing, food and other necessities, they also provided them with funds to pay for attorneys to help them in their civil lawsuits against the FLDS. Bower acted as an investigator for the Diversity Foundation. At times, Fischer and the Diversity Foundation acted as a go-between for the victims and Hoole, Piccarreta said. When he tried to interview Fischer and Bower about some of the conversations they passed on from the victims to Hoole and vise versa, Fischer's attorney Randy Dryer claimed that under Utah law the Diversity Foundation and Fischer fell under attorney/client privilege. The privilege prevents an attorney from testifying or revealing information about his client or his client's case. Read more | |
| Jeffs' attorney: 'I smell a rat' | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Sunday, December 13, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - The attorneys in the case of Warren Steed Jeffs met Friday to argue a motion to depose two Utah men. Jeffs, 54, is the jailed leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a polygamist church in Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah. He is in Mohave County Jail facing felony charges in Arizona. Jeffs' attorney, Mike Piccarreta, argued to have Superior Court Judge Steven Conn order Sam Brower and Dr. Dan Fischer for another deposition. Brower and Fischer were previously interviewed by Piccarreta but refused to answer certain questions. Brower is a private investigator who has worked with the Mohave County Attorney's Office. Fischer is a dentist and former member of the FLDS, who Piccarreta says funds an anti-polygamist campaign against his client. Piccarreta is asking for Brower and Fischer to answer more questions related to conversations between the men and Jeffs' accusers, Elissa Wall and Suzie Barlow. The defense attorney said Fischer and Diversity Foundation have poured millions of dollars into a campaign against the FLDS church. The defense is entitled to communication between Wall and Barlow and Hoole & King, a Salt Lake City law firm, through Fischer. Piccarreta also said Brower was an informant for the FBI and would also not talk about conversations with law enforcement in previous interviews. Roger Hoole countered that his law firm represents several clients, who currently have civil litigation with the FLDS and Jeffs. He said that Fischer is a client representative and is entitled to the same attorney-client privilege. Hoole, who represents Brower, also said Diversity Foundation has been above board with disclosing financial information about the group that helps young men and women who have fled the church by providing money for housing, education and food. Brower is investigating the case of child abuse against the FLDS. Read more | |
| Judge sets next hearing on searches of FLDS property | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Sunday, December 27, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN - A Mohave County Superior Court judge made several rulings in the criminal case against Warren Steed Jeffs. Jeffs, 54, is the leader of for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a polygamist church in Colorado City and Hildale, Utah. He is in county jail facing four felony charges in Arizona. He also faces charges in Texas. Judge Steven Conn denied a motion from Jeffs' attorney, Mike Piccarreta, who asked for a deposition of Sam Brower and Dr. Dan Fischer. Brower and Fischer were previously interviewed and deposed by Piccarreta but refused to answer certain questions. Brower is a private investigator and Fischer is a dentist and former member of the FLDS. The judge ruled that the questions the two men did not answer, "related to remote, peripheral, tangential issues," were not relevant to the case and they are not subject to further deposition. Piccarreta asked for Brower and Fischer to answer more questions related to conversations between them and Jeffs' accusers, Elissa Wall and Suzie Barlow. The defense attorney said Fischer and Diversity Foundation have poured millions of dollars into a campaign against his client and the FLDS church. At a recent hearing, Roger Hoole countered that Fischer is a client representative and is entitled to the attorney-client privilege. Hoole, who represents Brower, also said Diversity Foundation has been above board with disclosing financial information about the group that helps young men and women who have fled the church by providing money for housing, education and food. Brower is investigating the case of child abuse against the FLDS. Read more | |
| FLDS leader Warren Jeffs awaits criminal trial in Arizona | |
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Dave Hawkins Special to the Standard-Times San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published December 28, 2009 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — The leader of a northern Arizona-based polygamous sect who has been convicted in Utah and is charged in Texas is expected to stand trial in Kingman some time next year. Sexual conduct occurring through arrangements of unions involving underage girls and male adults is the common theme premise in each of the tri-state prosecutions of Warren Jeffs, leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). Hearings in the Arizona case against Jeffs, 53, have occurred months apart in the near two-year period he’s been awaiting trial in the Mohave County jail. That doesn’t mean attorneys aren’t working the case. "I wouldn’t look at it that way," said Mohave County attorney Matt Smyth. "I think that the defense in this case is being paid an extraordinary amount of money to turn over every rock and to look at every possible angle in the case, and we’ve actually done more witness interviews in this matter than in any other case I’ve ever been involved in." Jeffs does not qualify for indigent representation, and Smith said church donations are financing his defense team that includes Richard Wright of Las Vegas and Mike Piccarreta of Tucson. Piccarreta agrees that pretrial preparation has been exhaustive. Piccarreta, however, is building a defense that big money flowing from a former FLDS member who is trying to take down the church is possibly fueling the prosecution of Jeffs and civil litigation against the FLDS. Read more | |
| February hearing set on searches of FLDS property | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Sunday, January 24, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN - Subpoenas were issued for four Texas and Arizona law enforcement officers in the criminal case against Warren Steed Jeffs. Jeffs' attorney, Mike Piccarreta, filed criminal subpoenas against a Mohave County probation officer, Mohave County sheriff's deputy, a Ranger with the Texas Department of Public Safety and a Schleicher County sheriff's deputy also from Texas. The subpoenas call for the officers to testify at a hearing Feb. 17 before Superior Court Judge Steven Conn to argue a defense motion to exclude from Jeffs' trial, evidence seized during a 2008 raid by law enforcement on a Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints compound in Texas. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith previously told Conn that he does not plan to introduce any evidence from the raid at the Texas compound at Jeffs' upcoming trial in Mohave County. Piccarreta's argument is that Arizona law enforcement investigators were "tainted" by evidence that was allegedly seized illegally during the raid. The motion claims that the phone call that triggered the Texas raid was a hoax and officers used the hoax to obtain a warrant to search each house at the compound. Arizona law enforcement officers also spent time in Texas with illegally seized items and documents Read more | |
| Prosecutor won't use Texas evidence at Jeffs' trial | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Sunday, January 31, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN - A Mohave County prosecutor agreed not to use evidence seized at a 2008 raid of a Texas compound at Warren Jeffs' upcoming trial in Kingman. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith filed a motion agreeing not to use the evidence seized by Texas officers at the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints compound in Eldorado, Texas, in April 2008. "The state believes that this should take care of the pending evidentiary hearing and there should be no need to proceed with the hearing at any time," Smith said. Jeffs' attorney, Mike Piccarreta, recently filed criminal subpoenas against a Mohave County probation officer, Mohave County sheriff's deputy, a Texas Ranger with that state's Department of Public Safety and a Schleicher County sheriff's deputy from Texas. The subpoenas call for the officers to testify at a hearing Feb. 17 before Superior Court Judge Steven Conn to argue a defense motion to exclude from Jeffs' trial, evidence seized during the 2008 raid at the FLDS compound in Texas. Piccarreta claims that Arizona investigators were tainted by evidence that the defense attorney claims was illegally seized during the raid. Piccarreta also argues that the phone call that triggered the Texas raid was a hoax and officers used the hoax to obtain a warrant to search the compound. Arizona law enforcement officers also spent time at the Texas compound. Jeffs, 54, is the former leader of the FLDS, a polygamist church based in Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah. He is in county jail facing felony charges in Mohave County including four counts of sexual conduct with a minor in two 2007 cases. He is charged with being an accomplice of two men who had sex with two underage girls, which allegedly took place in 2002 and 2003. Jeffs is also charged with felony sexual assault of a child under 17 and aggravated sexual assault in Schleicher County, Texas after the raid by officers at the YFZ compound in Texas. Jeffs was convicted in 2007 in Utah on two counts of rape as an accomplice and was sentenced in November 2007 to 10 years in a Utah prison. | |
| Polygamist Leader's Hearing in Arizona to go Forward | |
| Prosecutor contends the hearing is unnecessary | |
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By Associated Press KCSG TV Originally broadcast Feb 1, 2010 | |
| (Kingman, Arizona) - A judge says he'll hold a hearing on a defense request to prevent evidence seized in the raid of a polygamous sect in Texas in polygamist leader Warren Jeffs' trial in Arizona. Prosecutor Matt Smith contends the hearing is unnecessary because he has agreed not to use the evidence from the April 2008 raid on the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints compound in Eldorado, Texas. Jeffs' attorney Mike Piccarreta wants Smith to prove the evidence has not and will not be used directly or indirectly in the Arizona case. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn on Monday said the Feb. 17 hearing won't be vacated unless both parties agree. Jeffs is awaiting trial in Arizona on four counts of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor, charges that were filed in 2007. Jeffs was moved to Kingman from the Utah State Prison in February 2008. In September 2007, a Utah jury convicted Jeffs of two counts of rape as an accomplice for his role in the 2001 marriage of an underage follower to her husband. He was sentenced to two consecutive prison terms of five years to life. See photo | |
| Judge bars evidence in Warren Jeffs hearing in Arizona | |
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Deseret News Originally published Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. (AP) — A judge has granted a defense request to bar evidence seized in the raid of a polygamous sect in Texas from being used in polygamist leader Warren Jeffs' trial in Arizona. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn's decision means a Feb. 17 hearing on the request has been vacated. Prosecutor Matt Smith and Jeffs' attorneys agreed in documents released Monday that no evidence from the April 2008 raid on the Fundamentalist LDS Church compound in Eldorado, Texas, will be used directly or indirectly in the Arizona case. Conn says he believed the issue had been a major obstacle in resolving the case. Jeffs is awaiting trial in Arizona on four counts of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor, charges filed in 2007. | |
| Hearing on the use of Texas evidence at Jeffs' trial vacated | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Monday, February 8, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN - A Mohave County judge vacated a hearing next week to hear arguments whether evidence seized during a 2008 raid of a polygamist church's Texas compound can be heard at Warren Jeffs' upcoming trial. The attorneys in the two cases against Jeffs, the jailed leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, agreed not to use any evidence seized in the raid by Texas officers at the FLDS compound in Eldorado, Texas, in April 2008. Jeffs' attorneys, Mike Piccarreta, of Tucson, and Richard Wright, of Las Vegas, along with Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith, agreed that the evidence seized, including Jeffs' personal property, will not be used at Jeffs' trial. Despite Smith's earlier stipulation not to use the evidence, Piccarreta still argued that Arizona police officers and prosecution witnesses who testify at Jeffs' trial would still be tainted by the evidence. State witnesses include former church members Carolyn Jessop, Rebecca Musser and Richard Holm. With the agreement, Superior Court Judge Steven Conn granted a defense motion to suppress the evidence from the search and vacated the Feb. 17 hearing. The judge also said that the hearing was seen as a "major obstacle" to setting a trial and that maybe a trial can now be set, especially after Jeffs has been in custody for almost two years, which is the maximum sentence he faced if convicted of either of his two cases. Jeffs, 54, is charged with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor in two 2007 cases. He is charged with being an accomplice of two men who had sex with two underage girls, which allegedly took place in 2002 and 2003. Jeffs is serving a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted in Utah in 2007 of two counts of rape as an accomplice. He also is charged with felony sexual assault of a child under 17 and aggravated sexual assault in Schleicher County, Texas, after the raid by officers at the YFZ compound in Texas. | |
| Bus needed to transport county inmates | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Friday, February 19, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN — Inmates going to court may have to be bused from the new Mohave County Jail once it is completed this summer. The county is going out for bids for a passenger bus to hold at least 30 inmates. The bus will be used to take jail inmates the mile-long drive from the new jail to Superior Court in Kingman. Currently, the jail is across the street from the courthouse and guards walk inmates the hundred yards to court. Only high-profile inmates such as Warren Jeffs are driven in a sheriff’s office vehicle to the courthouse’s back entrance. The bus is expected to average about 30 to 35 inmates a day, taking about four trips each day to the courthouse. The cost of gas will depend on the type of bus purchased. The county could buy a diesel-powered bus, Mohave County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Trish Carter said. Superior Court Judge Steven Conn sees most of his criminal cases, about 40 or 50 defendants, on Mondays. Judge Rick Williams has most of his criminal cases on Fridays. Judge Lee Jantzen, who now handles mostly civil cases, has a few remaining criminal cases. Court Commissioner Derek Carlisle handles about 20 percent of the criminal cases, usually on Thursdays and Fridays. Judge Richard Weiss also handles a handful of criminal cases. Read more | |
| Sheriff probes false testimony claim in FLDS Warren Jeffs case | |
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By Jennifer Dobner Associated Press Deseret News Originally published Tuesday, March 2, 2010 | |
| ST. GEORGE — Court papers filed in an Arizona criminal case say a Utah sheriff's office is investigating allegations that false testimony was provided during the 2007 criminal trial of polygamous church leader Warren Jeffs. The investigation began last month after Washington County Attorney Brock Belnap was told that Elissa Wall may have "lied" about her medical records, according to court records. Wall's 2001 spiritual marriage — when she was 14 — to her 19-year-old cousin was the basis for the case. It is also the basis for one of two pending cases filed against Jeffs in Arizona. Jeffs, the 53-year-old prophet of the Fundamentalist LDS Church, was convicted on two counts of rape as an accomplice. He is serving two prison terms of five years to life. In Mohave County Superior Court papers filed last week, Jeffs' Arizona defense attorney Michael Piccarreta asked a judge to order Wall's current husband, Lamont Barlow, deposed. Piccarreta argues that Barlow told someone else about "false testimony given by his wife" and that information was given to Belnap. Wall's name is redacted from court papers and in a Washington County sheriff's office investigation report also filed with the court. However, there are several references to Barlow as "husband" and to "his wife" in the documents. Wall has spoken publicly about her experiences and recounted them in a book, "Stolen Innocence." According to court papers, Belnap was made aware of a possible problem with Wall's testimony by Shannon Price, executive director of the Diversity Foundation, a Utah nonprofit founded by former FLDS members. Read more | |
| Trial date for Jeffs could be set soon | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Tuesday, March 2, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN — A trial date may finally be set soon in the two-year-old case against Warren Jeffs, the jailed former leader of a polygamist church in Colorado City, Ariz. Jeffs’ attorneys, Michael Piccarreta of Tucson and Richard Wright of Las Vegas, have asked Superior Court Judge Steven Conn to set a date toward the end of March for an omnibus hearing, which usually sets trial dates. Conn scheduled that hearing for March 26. Jeffs, 54, is charged with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor in two 2007 cases. He is charged with being an accomplice of two men who had sex with two underage girls, which allegedly took place in 2002 and 2003 in the polygamist communities of Colorado City and Hildale, Utah. Jeffs, the former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been sitting in a Mohave County jail since February 2008 awaiting a resolution to his Arizona charges while his attorneys filed numerous motions. The latest motion is a request to officially interview Lamont Barlow, the current husband of one of the two victims in the Arizona case. Piccarreta argues that Barlow allegedly told another woman that his wife gave false testimony dealing with falsified medical records against Jeffs in his Utah case. She was also the victim in the Utah case. Jeffs is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted in Utah in 2007 of two counts of rape as an accomplice. Read more | |
| Judge sets hearing on motion in Warren Jeffs case | |
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KTVK 3TV - Phoenix Originally published March 4, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. (AP) — An Arizona judge says he's inclined to order the husband of a woman who testified in the 2007 Utah trial of polygamist leader Warren Jeffs to submit to a deposition if he refuses an interview. Jeffs' Arizona defense attorney, Michael Piccarreta, has asked that Lamont Barlow be deposed, saying Barlow told someone else about "false testimony given by his wife," Elissa Wall. Wall's 2001 spiritual marriage to her 19-year-old cousin was the basis for the Utah case in which Jeffs, the 53-year-old prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was convicted of two counts of rape as an accomplice. It also is the basis for one of two pending cases filed against Jeffs in Arizona. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steven Conn has set a Friday hearing on Piccarreta's request. | |
| Trial date set for FLDS leader | |
| Jeffs faces 2 charges of sexual conduct with a minor | |
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Dave Hawkins Special to the Standard-Times San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published March 27, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — A Nov. 2 trial date has been set for Warren Jeffs in Kingman, Ariz., more than 2½ years after the polygamous church sect prophet was booked into the Mohave County Jail in February 2008. That the leader of the Arizona-Utah border-based Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) arranged spiritual unions that allowed male adults to have illegal sexual relations with underage girls is the central premise of the prosecution of Jeffs in three states. Jeffs, 54, awaits trial for crimes allegedly arising from the FLDS owned and operated Yearning for Zion Ranch outside Eldorado, and he’s already serving two consecutive five-year-to-life prison terms for convictions in Utah. In Arizona, Jeffs is charged with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor for alleged sexual relations arising from the union of a 16-year-old girl and her 51-year-old cousin. That trial will start in November. The second trial won’t be scheduled until after the first is completed. Jeffs is charged with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor for alleged sexual relations arising from the union of a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. Read more | |
| Trial for Warren Jeffs starts Nov. 2 | |
| Former FLDS leader linked to marriages of underage girls | |
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By Erin Taylor Kingman Daily Miner Originally published March 28, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN - A trial date has been set in Mohave County Superior Court for the first of two cases against polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs. Jeffs, 54, is being tried in Mohave County on sexual conduct with a minor charges stemming from marriages allegedly involving underage girls that occurred in Colorado City, where the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints church is based. Jeffs has been in the Mohave County Jail since February 2008. He is already serving two consecutive sentences of five years to life after being convicted in Utah on two counts of rape as an accomplice for his involvement in the marriage of an underage girl to an older man. Jeffs also faces similar charges in Texas for offenses that allegedly occurred at the Yearning For Zion ranch outside Eldorado. During a hearing Friday before Mohave Superior Court Judge Steven Conn, lawyers for Jeffs and the state set dates in August and September for a number of motions both sides intend to file. Several of those motions involve what evidence may or may not be used during the trial, or what is legally referred to as motions in limine. Deputy County Attorney Matt Smith described the issues involving many of the motions "unbelievably complex." Read more | |
| Trial set for Jeffs | |
| Mohave County Superior Court expected to hear case in November | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Sunday, March 28, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN — After more than two years, a Mohave County Superior Court judge finally set a trial date in one of two criminal cases filed against Warren Jeffs. Jeffs, 54, the former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is charged with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor in two 2007 Arizona cases. He is charged with being an accomplice of two men who had sex with two underage girls, which allegedly took place in 2002 and 2003 in the polygamist communities of Colorado City and Hildale, Utah. Jeffs’ attorneys, Mike Piccarreta of Tucson and Richard Wright of Las Vegas, along with Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith agreed that most of the interviews have been conducted and a few remaining motions would be filed by August or September. Piccarreta said the cases could go to trial by November. Judge Steven Conn set the trial to begin in one of the cases on Nov. 2 with a pre-trial hearing set for Oct. 8. At the Oct. 8 pre-trial hearing, a number of remaining motions may be argued. The trial in the second case, involving one victim, may be set after the completion of the first trial. Piccarreta also suggested a series of dates in August and September as deadlines to file several remaining motions. Motions that may be filed are motions to dismiss the indictment, motions seeking the suppression of evidence found during Jeffs’ arrest, a change of venue or possible enhancements filed by the state. Read more | |
| Trial date set in Arizona for Warren Jeffs | |
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ABC 4 News Originally broadcast March 29, 2010 | |
| SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - A date has now been set for Warren Jeffs' second trial, this one in Arizona. The former polygamist leader is already serving two consecutive sentences of five years to life. He was convicted here in Utah on "rape as an accomplice" charges. Now, he's facing a "sexual conduct with a minor" charge in Arizona, stemming from the alleged marriage of an underage girl in Colorado City. The trial will start November 2, 2010 in Mohave County. | |
| Trial Dates Set for Utah 'Prophets' Warren Jeffs, Brian David Mitchell | |
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Nicole Neroulias Belief Beat Beliefnet.com Originally published Friday April 2, 2010 | |
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It's going to be a sour November for Mormons, with long-awaited trial dates now set for Warren Jeffs, the former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Brian David Mitchell, the self-proclaimed prophet accused of abducting Elizabeth Smart seven years ago.
The official Church of Latter-day Saints abandoned plural marriage more than 100 years ago, prompting FLDS to form their own compounds; Mitchell was excommunicated for his extreme views before the kidnapping. Nevertheless, frustrated church officials and disgusted Mormons will surely have their hands full raising these points repeatedly, as both high-profile proceedings get underway this fall. Some background information, courtesy of The Salt Lake Tribune and the Mohave Daily News: --Warren Jeffs, 54, is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in Arizona for serving as an accomplice to rape in his polygamist communities. The next trial, for charges related to men having sex with underage girls, is set to begin Nov. 2. --Brian David Mitchell, 56, charged with kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor, allegedly wanted to make the then-14-year-old Smart his plural wife. He and wife Wanda Barzee were arrested in March 2003, and were repeatedly declared mentally incompetent to stand trial. (Barzee pleaded guilty last fall and agreed to testify against Mitchell in exchange for a 15-year prison term.) Mitchell's trial is set for Nov. 1 in Salt Lake City, but his attorneys plan to file for a change of venue, perhaps to another state. | |
| Warren Jeffs still in jail awaiting trial as turmoil continues | |
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By Dennis Wagner The Arizona Republic Originally published April 8, 2010 | |
| Inside the Mohave County Jail, embattled polygamist leader Warren Jeffs prays and fasts while awaiting a scheduled trial on charges of rape as an accomplice. Outside, his sect known as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints remains in turmoil - the national focal point in a controversy over plural marriage and religious freedom. Jeffs, known to followers as "the prophet," is accused of orchestrating "celestial" weddings between adult men and underage girls. His trial, tentatively set for Nov. 2, likely will mirror a 2007 trial in St. George, Utah, where he was convicted on similar charges. Allegations, witnesses and victims are pretty much the same. Defense attorney Michael Piccarreta is expected to argue that Jeffs, 54, was targeted in a governmental assault on religious freedom. He contends that Jeffs presided at a marriage ceremony, which is not a criminal act, and points out that the husbands were not charged. "It's about polygamy," Piccarreta said. "It's about a disfavored religious group." Piccarreta also says in court motions that the state's accusers are biased against the FLDS Church and that the prosecution has been tainted by financial and legal conflicts. Roger Hoole, an attorney who represents victims and witnesses, said the case is about adult males having sex with girls as young as age 12. "There is nothing constitutionally protected about having sex with little girls," he said. "It's just pedophilia." Read more | |
| Jeffs’ attorney seeks disclosure from law firm | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Thursday, May 20, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN — Warren Jeffs’ attorney has filed another motion Monday to follow the money trail from a Utah law firm. Jeffs, 54, a convicted leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is charged with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor in two 2007 Arizona cases. He is charged with being an accomplice of two men who had sex with two underage girls, which allegedly took place in 2002 and 2003 in the polygamist communities of Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah. Jeffs’ attorney, Mike Piccarreta of Tucson, filed a motion for Hoole and King LLC, a Salt Lake City law firm, to disclose information about payments the law firm allegedly made to prosecution witnesses. Roger Hoole is the attorney for the husband of one of the two victims in Jeffs’ Arizona criminal cases. Defense attorneys are asking Superior Court Judge Steven Conn to direct Hoole to disclose the information. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith may be calling a number of witnesses to testify at Jeffs’ upcoming trial on the lifestyle of the polygamist community of Colorado City. Conn set a hearing for June 10 to hear arguments on the motion. The judge previously ordered all pre-trial motions to be filed by Aug. 27. Jeffs’ trial in one of the cases involving one victim is set to begin Nov. 2 with a pre-trial hearing set for Oct. 8. The trial in the second case, involving the other victim, will be set after the end of the first trial. Jeffs is serving a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted in Utah in 2007 of two counts of rape as an accomplice. He also is charged with felony sexual assault of a child under 17 and aggravated sexual assault in Schleicher County, Texas, after a raid by Texas law enforcement officers at the Yearning For Zion compound in Eldorado, Texas, in April 2008. He has been held in custody at the Mohave County Jail since February 2008. | |
| Arizona seeks dismissal of charges against FLDS leader Warren Jeffs | |
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By Aaron Falk Deseret News Originally published Wednesday, June 9, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — The Mohave County attorney has filed a motion to dismiss the charges against FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. In the motion filed Wednesday, Mohave County Attorney Matthew Smith outlines a number of reasons for asking the court to dismiss two felony counts of sexual conduct with a minor. Jeffs has "already served more jail time in Arizona that he would receive even if he was convicted of all crimes charged," the document states. Mohave County's decision would also speed up matters in Texas, where Jeffs faces more serious charges. Among the other reasons cited in the document: Jeffs has had significant medical problems while in the Mohave County Jail and officials believe he should be transferred to another facility; some of the state's witnesses no longer desire to testify in the Arizona case; it would be "impractical and unnecessary to spend taxpayer money" on the case. | |
| Arizona drops charges against FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs to facilitate Texas prosecution | |
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Dave Hawkins Special to the Standard-Times San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 9, 2010 | |
| SAN ANGELO, Texas — Polygamous church sect prophet Warren Jeffs could arrive in Texas for prosecution much sooner than expected. Jeffs, 54, will no longer be prosecuted in Arizona where he has been awaiting trial since February 2008. Mohave County, Ariz., Attorney Matt Smyth filed a motion Wednesday to dismiss sexual misconduct with a minor charges against the former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). Arizona poured well more than 1,000 man hours into the investigation and prosecution of Jeffs and case dismissal comes with disappointment. "I would say it is with a lot of regrets," Smith said. "We certainly wanted to have our day in court here in Mohave County, but I have to give a lot of respect to what the victim’s wishes are." Smith explained that the victims understand that Jeffs has already spent more time in jail in Mohave County than he could be ordered to serve if convicted on both counts and given the maximum sentence. He said neither of the victims, Elyssa Wall nor Susie Barlow, wants to go through the pressure of additional trials under those circumstances. "They know that Mr. Jeffs is wanted very badly in Texas and is facing more serious charges there, which are cases directly linking him to births by underage kids with DNA evidence," Smith said. "Those are some of the considerations that have gone into this." Read more | |
| Judge dismisses Ariz. charges against Warren Jeffs | |
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By FELICIA FONSECA (AP) Google News Originally published June 9, 2010 | |
| FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — A Mohave County judge on Wednesday dismissed all Arizona charges against polygamist leader Warren Jeffs. Judge Steven Conn granted a prosecutor's motion to dismiss the four charges of sexual misconduct with a minor with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled on the same set of facts. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said the two alleged victims in the cases no longer want to proceed with prosecution in Arizona. In his motion filed earlier Wednesday, Smith said Jeffs has already served more time in Arizona than he would receive upon conviction, more serious charges are pending against Jeffs in Texas, and Jeffs has had significant medical problems while jailed in Kingman. "It would be impractical and unnecessary to spend taxpayer money on this defendant under all the above mentioned circumstances," Smith wrote. Jeffs' attorney, Mike Picarretta, said he appreciates Smith "fulfilling his ethical duties and dismissing all remaining prosecutions" against Jeffs. The court ordered the sheriff's office to transport Jeffs back to Utah, where his 2007 convictions on two counts of rape as an accomplice are on appeal. He was sentenced to two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison for the charges, which involved Jeffs' role in the marriage of an underage follower to her husband. Smith noted that Texas has started extradition proceedings, but Conn said Arizona had only temporary custody of Jeffs until the charges against him were resolved. Any such proceeding must be initiated with Utah, not Arizona, Conn said. Read more | |
Video Courtesy of KSL.com | |
| Watch the June 9, 2010 KSAZ interview of Terry Goddard on Arizona dropping the charges against Warren Steed Jeffs | |
| Warren Jeffs sees Arizona rape charges dropped | |
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By Dennis Wagner The Arizona Republic Originally published June 9, 2010 | |
| Arizona criminal charges against Warren Jeffs were dismissed Wednesday by Yavapai County prosecutors, and a defense attorney said the polygamist sect leader's Utah rape conviction is under review because of possible false statements by the government's key witness. In a superior court filing, Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith moved to drop two indictments for rape as an accomplice because victims no longer wish to pursue the case, in part because Jeffs has served more time in jail pending trial than he would get if he is convicted. Smith also noted that the state of Texas, which has filed more serious rape charges against Jeffs, is seeking to extradite him for trial. Jeffs is considered the leader and prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a sect with outposts on the Colorado-Utah border and Texas. He was accused in Arizona of overseeing the arranged marriage of a minor girl to an adult male, resulting in statutory rape. He previously was convicted of similar charges in Utah, and received sentences of five years-to-life in prison. Michael Piccarreta, Jeffs' defense lawyer, said he believes Arizona prosecutors dismissed charges because Elissa Wall of Colorado City, the chief accuser against Jeffs, allegedly made false statements. Read more | |
| Judge dismisses all Arizona charges against FLDS leader Warren Jeffs | |
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By Aaron Falk Deseret News Originally published Wednesday, June 9, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — A Mohave County judge has dismissed all Arizona charges against FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. Judge Steven Conn dismissed the four charges of sexual misconduct with a minor after prosecutors filed a motion Wednesday requesting the dismissal. The charges were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled. The court ordered the sheriff's office to transport Jeffs back to Utah, where his 2007 convictions on two counts of rape as an accomplice are on appeal. He was sentenced to two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison for the charges, which involved Jeffs' role in the marriage of an underage follower to her then-19-year-old cousin. Mohave County Attorney Matthew Smith noted that Texas has started extradition proceedings, but Conn said Arizona had only temporary custody of Jeffs until the charges against him were resolved. Any such proceeding must be initiated with Utah, not Arizona, Conn said. In Wednesday's motion, Smith outlined a number of reasons for asking the court to dismiss two felony counts of sexual conduct with a minor. Jeffs has "already served more jail time in Arizona than he would receive even if he was convicted of all crimes charged," the document states. Read more | |
| Mohave County dismisses charges against polygamy leader | |
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By DAVID BELL Today's News-Herald - Lake Havasu City, Arizona Originally published Wednesday, June 9, 2010 | |
| The Mohave County Attorney’s Office has dropped all charges against Warren Jeffs, the leader of a polygamous religious sect who spent more than two years in a Mohave County jail awaiting trial. Superior Court Judge Steven Conn granted the motion requested by Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith to dismiss the charges against Jeffs Wednesday. In the filing, Smith said, "Some of the state’s witnesses no longer desire to testify in the State of Arizona" and that Texas has a stronger case against Jeffs. In Texas, Jeffs is facing charges of sexual assault on a minor and bigamy. In his filing, Smith says that Texas has initiated extradition. The charges are the result of a 2008 raid on a Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints compound in Eldorado, Texas. Smith’s filing also stated that Jeffs "has already served more jail time in Arizona than he would receive even if he was convicted of all crimes charged." In February, 2008, Jeffs was booked into Mohave County Jail on six counts of sexual conduct with a minor, a class-6 felony, four counts of incest, a class-4 felony, and one count of conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor, a class-6 felony. Previously, the County Attorney’s Office dropped all charges except for the remaining two counts of sexual conduct of a minor that were dropped Wednesday. Jeffs was previously convicted in Washington County, Utah, in 2007 on charges of rape as an accomplice in the arranged marriage of a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. He was sentenced in Utah to serve two consecutive terms of five years to life. Today’s News-Herald’s attempts to contact Smith via telephone and e-mail Wednesday were not successful. Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson, R-Dist. 3, who has campaigned for more than a decade for reform in the polygamous FLDS communities of Colorado City, Ariz. and Hildale, Utah, said the dropping of charges in Arizona is likely to put the county in a bad light. Read more | |
| Charges against polygamist leader Warren Jeffs dismissed | |
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By: Christopher Sign By: Associated Press KNXV-TV ABC 15 - Phoenix Originally published Wednesday, June 9, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN, AZ - A Mohave County judge on Wednesday dismissed all Arizona charges against polygamist leader Warren Jeffs after a prosecutor said continuing with the charges would be "impractical." Judge Steven Conn granted Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith's motion to dismiss the four charges of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor. "It doesn't surprise me at all," said Flora Jessop who escaped the polygamist lifestyle two decades ago. "Arizona has taken a back seat to anything having to do with the prosecution of these people." The charges stemmed from two arranged marriages between teenage girls and their older male relatives. They were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled on the same set of facts. Smith said the two alleged victims in the cases no longer want to proceed with prosecution in Arizona. "I guarantee you these victims, both of whom I've spoken with, would like to see him tried," said Jessop during a phone interview shortly after the charges were dropped. In his motion filed earlier Wednesday, Smith said Jeffs has already served more time in Arizona than he would receive upon conviction, more serious charges are pending against Jeffs in Texas, and Jeffs has had significant medical problems while jailed in Kingman. "It would be impractical and unnecessary to spend taxpayer money on this defendant under all the above mentioned circumstances," Smith wrote. Jeffs' attorney, Mike Picarretta, said he appreciates Smith "fulfilling his ethical duties and dismissing all remaining prosecutions" against Jeffs. Read more | |
| Jeffs charges dismissed | |
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Local News FOX 11 Tucson Originally broadcast June 9, 2010 | |
| Polygamous sect leader warren Jeffs will be released from jail in a matter of days. Jeffs had been held in Arizona since February 2008. He's accused of arranging "spiritual marriages" between teenage girls and older men. Wednesday afternoon a Mohave county judge granted prosecutors' motion to dismiss all charges against Jeffs *with prejudice.* That means he can never be tried for the same charges again. Jeffs still must serve two consecutive sentences out of Utah for rape as an accomplice, and could face charges in Texas. | |
| Warren Jeffs factbox | |
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USA Daily Telegraph - London, England Originally published June 9, 2010 | |
A judge in Arizona has dismissed several charges of sexual misconduct with a minor against Warren Jeffs, convicted former leader of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints cult. Here is are some facts about Jeffs:
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| County drops charges against Jeffs | |
| Utah to take custody; Texas seeks extradition | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Thursday, June 10, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN — After more than two years, the Mohave County prosecutor dismissed the two remaining criminal cases filed against Warren Jeffs. Jeffs, 54, the self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colorado City, had been charged with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor in two 2007 Arizona cases. He had been charged with being an accomplice of two men who had sex with two underage girls, which allegedly took place in 2002 and 2003 in the polygamist communities of Colorado City and Hildale, Utah. The first case involved an underage girl between May 1 and June 30, 2002, and between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15, 2002. The second case involved another underage girl on Aug. 31, 2003 and in September 2003. Superior Court Judge Steven Conn had set Jeffs’ trial to begin in the first case on Nov. 2. The second trial was to be set after the completion of the first trial. Conn, who granted Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith’s to dismiss the current charges, previously dismissed four counts of incest filed against Jeffs. Smith moved to dismiss the remaining charges, saying that the two victims no longer desired to proceed with prosecution because Jeffs already served more time in Arizona jail than if he had been convicted of all four charges. Smith also said the state of Texas had more serious charges filed against Jeffs that alleges Jeffs is a "direct perpetrator of the crimes" and the victims in Texas want him to face those crimes as soon as possible. Read more | |
| Alleged victims in Jeffs' AZ cases back dismissal | |
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KSL 5 TV Originally broadcast June 10, 2010 | |
| A Mohave County judge granted a prosecutor's motion Wednesday to dismiss the four charges of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor. The charges stemmed from two arranged marriages between the then-teenage girls and their older male relatives. The women's attorney, Roger Hoole, says they agreed with the dismissal so that Jeffs could be brought to trial in Texas on more serious charges. He says the women expressed appreciation to the Mohave County attorney and a county investigator for their work on alleged sex crimes arising from underage spiritual marriages. | |
| Sheriff wants no more of Warren Jeffs | |
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Dave Hawkins Special to the Standard-Times San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 10, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — Sheriff Tom Sheahan said he’s working to return Mohave County jail inmate Warren Jeffs to Utah after Superior Court Judge Steve Conn dismissed charges against the polygamous church prophet Wednesday at the request of the county attorney’s office. Sheahan said he understands the reasons for ending prosecution of the prophet and former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but is disappointed that Jeffs, 54, will not be convicted in Arizona. Sheahan said it’s not clear how swift Jeffs’ return will be, but he hoped he’d be transported back to Utah by the end of this week. The sooner the better, the sheriff said. "He’s been a problem inmate since we had him," Sheahan said. "Mr. Jeffs was a handful from day one with his self-inflicted hunger strikes." Prayer-related fasting rituals resulted in force-feeding Jeffs with use of tubes on several occasions during his 28-month-long confinement in the county jail in Kingman. Isolation of Jeffs within the jail and extra security assigned for transports to court hearings made him more than twice as expensive to incarcerate as other inmates, according to Sheahan. Details of Jeffs’ return to Utah will not be made public for security concerns. Jeffs was convicted of two counts of rape as an accomplice in Utah and was given consecutive five years to life prison terms. Dismissed in Arizona are two counts of sexual conduct with a minor, though Jeffs was not accused of any direct sexual misconduct. He was, however, prosecuted under the theory that he facilitated spiritual unions that allowed men to have illegal sexual relations with underage "celestial brides." Read more | |
| Justice still can be served | |
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Opinions The Arizona Republic Originally published June 11, 2010 | |
| Justice is elusive in Arizona's secretive polygamous community, but those attempting to enforce the law there should not give up. The dismissal of all Arizona charges against Warren Jeffs, the so-called prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is a reminder of how difficult prosecuting these cases can be. The multistate polygamous sect that Jeffs heads has no connection with the mainstream Mormon Church. Jeffs' group preaches that plural marriage is necessary to reach heaven and that so-called "spiritual marriages" of underage girls to older men are common. Recently, laws against sexual conduct with a minor have been used to go after those who participate or arrange these marriages. But, in the 1950s, a raid on the polygamous enclave by Arizona authorities failed miserably as images of children being torn from their mothers' arms won sympathy for the polygamists. For decades after that, the twin polygamous communities of Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah, practiced their perversions in obscurity. But about 10 years ago, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard and Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff decided to try again. Instead of raids, they established a presence in the communities and tried to build trust so that witnesses would be willing to testify. Some prosecutions were won, including a 2007 conviction in Utah against Jeffs. He was sentenced to two consecutive terms of five years to life. The case is being appealed to the Utah Supreme Court. In Arizona, several cases against Jeffs fell apart because witnesses would not testify. In the two indictments on charges of rape as an accomplice, dismissed Wednesday, victims no longer wanted to cooperate, according to Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith. Prosecutors have long faced difficulties getting court testimony from the child brides, who are taught to follow a doctrine that denies their right of self-determination. Other members of the sect are similarly disinclined to talk. Texas is trying to extradite Jeffs to stand trial there in connection with his marriage to a minor. A 2008 raid on Jeffs' ranch in Texas, like the 1950s raid in Arizona, allowed the sect to play on public sympathies, but it did result in convictions of some men for sexually assaulting children and bigamy. Read more | |
| Jeffs case | |
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Opinion The Spectrum Originally published June 14, 2010 | |
| At first, the news was somewhat shocking when Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith announced that the state had dropped charges against Warren Jeffs, the spiritual leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Jeffs, who was found guilty of charges of rape as an accomplice in Utah, saw the case dropped when Smith said the victim no longer wished to pursue the case and that even if convicted Jeffs already had spent more time in an Arizona jail than what the maximum sentence would be if he were found guilty. In that light, it makes sense. Why put the Arizona taxpayers through any more expense to try a man who had already served enough time in prison to pay for any crimes he might be convicted of? Jeffs will not walk out of the Arizona jail a free man. He will, according to his attorneys, be returned to Utah, where he was sentenced to serve from five years to life in prison. The state of Texas is also working to extradite him to face more serious charges there, stemming from incidents alleged to have taken place at the FLDS compound in Eldorado. Even the most adamant law-and-order advocate would see this as not only a judicious decision, but a wise one as well. Jeffs has served his time in Arizona, and the state has avoided not only the expense of a high-profile criminal trial but spared taxpayers the added expense of the extraordinary security that was sure to accompany Jeffs throughout the trial process. Here in Washington County, each time Jeffs was brought to court it required extensive security measures - from SWAT teams on the ridge overlooking the courthouse to flying Jeffs in on a helicopter to avoid any potential security breaches along the road. The decision by the Arizona prosecutor was the right thing to do in the name of justice as well as protecting taxpayers from undue expense. | |
| Costly room and board for Warren Jeffs | |
| Sheriff Sheahan: Expense to county about $120,000 while FLDS leader was in custody | |
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Monday, June 14, 2010 | |
| KINGMAN — The cost to house Warren Jeffs in Mohave County Jail for more than two years is well more than six figures. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith dismissed the charges Wednesday against Jeffs, 54, the convicted leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colorado City, Ariz. He had been charged with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor in two 2007 Arizona cases. He was charged with being an accomplice of two men who had sex with two underage girls in 2002 and 2003 in the polygamist communities of Colorado City and Hildale, Utah. Smith said the two-year case cost about $10,000 for relocating the victims and travel costs for witness interviews. That does not include the cost for his prosecution and his office’s investigator Gary Engels’ time. Jeffs already served more time in county jail than he would have served if he had been convicted of all four charges. "Our victims did get tired of the defense tactics and suffered much personal loss over these cases," Smith said. Sheriff Tom Sheahan said the cost to the county to house Jeffs at the jail was about $120,000 for 720 days of being in custody. The cost also includes added security when corrections officers took Jeffs across the street to court hearings. Sheahan expects Jeffs to be taken back to the Utah prison within a week. The jail costs also included several medical issues, including Jeffs being taken by air to a Las Vegas hospital. Jeffs was involved in several hunger strikes while in custody, which included being force-fed by more expensive liquid food. Read more | |
| Polygamist leader Jeffs sent to Utah from Arizona | |
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By FELICIA FONSECA The Associated Press Houston Chronicle Originally published June 15, 2010 | |
| FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs has been transported from a Kingman jail to a state prison in Draper, Utah, nearly one week after the charges he faced in Arizona were dismissed. Mohave County sheriff's spokeswoman Trish Carter said Jeffs was flown safely to the prison just outside Salt Lake City on Tuesday morning under high security. He had been jailed in Kingman since February 2008. Utah Department of Corrections spokesman Steve Gehrke said a medical team was assessing Jeffs, who was involved in several hunger strikes and had to be force-fed while in custody. Corrections staff will further assess Jeffs to best determine where he will be housed, Gehrke said. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith dropped the Arizona cases against Jeffs last week, saying the two alleged victims no longer wanted to proceed with prosecution. Jeffs had been facing four counts of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor, stemming from two arranged marriages between teenage girls and their older male relatives. A judge granted Smith's request Wednesday and ordered that Jeffs be moved to Utah, where his 2007 convictions on two counts of rape as an accomplice are on appeal. Jeffs faces more serious charges in Texas, and his attorney has said he would fight any attempt at extradition to that state. Jeffs was indicted on charges of sexual assault of a child and bigamy, months after authorities raided the Yearning for Zion ranch at Eldorado in April 2008. Read more | |
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| Watch the KSL 5 video announcing Warren Jeffs is returned to the Utah State Prison June 15, 2010 Video Courtesy of KSL.com | |
| Watch the KSAZ Fox 10 Phoenix video announcing Arizona dropped the charges against Warren Jeffs June 9, 2010 | |
| Watch the KNXV-TV ABC 15 Phoenix video announcing Arizona dropped the charges against Warren Jeffs June 9, 2010 | |
Video Courtesy of KSL.com | |
| Read the April 14, 2010 Utah Attorney General's Notice of Potential Newly-Discovered Evidence in the 2007 Utah rape as an accomplice trial for Warren Jeffs | |
| Read the Letter from attorney Natalie Malonis to Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith regarding Carolyn Jessop and the Arizona trial of Warren Jeffs, dated November 16, 2009 | |
| Read the Mohave County Sheriff's Office Press Release regarding the bad health of Warren Jeffs dated August 4, 2009 | |
| Read the Mohave County Court document regarding the bad health of Warren Jeffs Court Notice/Order/Ruling dated July 31, 2009 | |
| Follow the trials - read the Court filings associated with the State of Arizona vs. Warren S. Jeffs cases below | |
| Case Number SW-2008-0027 - (the ??? child bride case) | |
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| Read the Search Warrant dated May 29, 2008 | |
| Read the Affidavit for Search Warrant dated May 29, 2008 | |
| Case Number CR-2007-0743 - (the ??? child bride case) | |
| Watch the KSL 5 video announcing Warren Jeffs is returned to the Utah State Prison June 15, 2010 Video Courtesy of KSL.com | |
| Read the Response to Motion to Dismiss filed June 11, 2010 | |
| Read the Non-Waiver of Extradition filed June 10, 2010 | |
| Watch the June 9, 2010 KSL News report on Arizona dropping the charges against Warren Steed Jeffs Video Courtesy of KSL.com | |
| Watch the June 9, 2010 KSAZ interview of Terry Goddard on Arizona dropping the charges against Warren Steed Jeffs | |
| Watch the June 9, 2010 KNXV-TV News report on Arizona dropping the charges against Warren Steed Jeffs | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling filed June 9, 2010 | |
| Read the Order Dismissing Charges filed June 9, 2010 | |
| Read the Motion to Dismiss filed June 9, 2010 | |
| Read the Response to Motion filed May 24, 2010 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling filed May 18, 2010 | |
| Read the Motion For Disclosure filed May 17, 2010 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling filed April 22, 2010 | |
| Read the Omnibus Hearing Correction filed March 26, 2010 | |
| Read the Omnibus Hearing filed March 26, 2010 | |
| Read the Omnibus Hearing Form filed March 26, 2010 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed March 8, 2010 | |
| Read the Hearing on Motion RE: Deposition of Lamont Barlow filed March 8, 2010 | |
| Read the Reply to Response and Opposition to Motion for Deposition of Witness Lamont Barlow filed March 3, 2010 | |
| Read the Corrected Notice of Service filed March 2, 2010 | |
| Read the Supplementation of Record RE: Memorandum in Opposition to Motion for Deposition of Witness Lamont Barlow filed March 2, 2010 | |
| Read the Memorandum in Opposition to Motion for Deposition of Witness Lamont Barlow filed March 2, 2010 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on March 1, 2010 | |
| Read the Affidavit of Lamont Barlow dated February 25, 2010 | |
| Read the Response To Motion for Deposition of Witness Lamont Barlow filed on February 26, 2010 | |
| Read the Request for Omnibus Hearing filed on February 23, 2010 | |
| Read the Motion for Deposition of Witness Lamont Barlow filed on February 23, 2010 | |
| Read the Motion for Accelerated Hearing to Depose Lamont Barlow filed on February 23, 2010 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on February 5, 2010 | |
| Read the Order filed on February 5, 2010 | |
| Read the Stipulation filed on February 4, 2010 | |
| Read the Memorandum and Supporting evidence (Part 1) filed on February 3, 2010 | |
| Read the Memorandum and Supporting evidence (Part 2) filed on February 3, 2010 | |
| Read the Court Notice filed on February 1, 2010 | |
| Read the Response to Stipulation filed on January 28, 2010 | |
| Read the Stipulation Offered By the State filed on January 21, 2010 | |
| Read the Criminal Subpoena filed on January 19, 2010 | |
| Read the Criminal Subpoena filed on January 19, 2010 | |
| Read the Criminal Subpoena filed on January 19, 2010 | |
| Read the Criminal Subpoena filed on January 19, 2010 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on December 21, 2009 | |
| Read the Submission of Supplemental Authority filed on December 17, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion Hearing held December 11, 2009 and filed on December 16, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Response filed on December 10, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Response filed on December 7, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Response filed on December 7, 2009 | |
| Read the Response to Motion filed on December 4, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Response filed on December 3, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion for Deposition of Witness filed on November 25, 2009 | |
| Read the Response to Request For Evidentiary Hearing filed on November 24, 2009 | |
| Read the Response to Motion For Disclosure filed on November 24, 2009 | |
| Read the Response to Motion For Deposition filed on November 24, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion for Extension of Time to File a Reply filed on November 24, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion for Disclosure of Impeachment Material filed on November 23, 2009 | |
| Read the Request for Evidentiary Hearing filed on November 19, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion to Determine Nature, Scope and Extent of Proposed Expert Testimony filed on November 16, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Order filed on November 12, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Order filed on November 12, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on November 12, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion and Consent for Local Counsel filed on November 5, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on October 29, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion and Consent filed on October 9, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion to Exceed Page Limitation filed on October 5, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion to Exceed Page Limitation filed on October 5, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Witness filed on October 5, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Opposition to Motion filed on October 5, 2009 | |
| Read the Request for Extension of Time to Reply to Memorandum filed on September 28, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on September 25, 2009 | |
| Read the Request for Extension of Time to Reply to Memorandum filed on September 18, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on September 17, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on September 17, 2009 | |
| Read the Memorandum in Opposition to Motion for Deposition of Witnesses Sam Brower and Dan Fischer filed on September 8, 2009 | |
| Read the Memorandum of Non-Party Witness filed on September 8, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on September 1, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Response to Renewed Motion for Deposition of State's Witness Rebecca Musser filed on August 28, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion For Extension Of Time To File Reply filed on August 27, 2009 | |
| Read the Response to Renewed Motion for Deposition of State's Witness Rebecca Musser or, in the Alternative, Motion for Sanctions for Disclosure Violations filed on August 25, 2009 | |
| Read the Renewed Motion for Deposition of State's Witness Rebecca Musser or, in the Alternative, Motion for Sanctions for Disclosure Violations filed on August 24, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion for Deposition of Witnesses Sam Brower and Dan Fischer filed on August 20, 2009 | |
| Read the Order To Release Record of Audio Proceedings filed on August 19, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion To Release Record of Audio Proceedings and Order filed on August 19, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on August 19, 2009 | |
| See Mohave County Court document regarding the bad health of Warren Jeffs Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on July 31, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling dated June 4, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion To Withdraw Exhibit dated May 26, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling dated May 4, 2009 | |
| Read the Defendant's Supplemental Authority in Support of Motion to Suppress dated May 4, 2009 | |
| Read the Defendant's Supplemental Authority in Support of Motion to Suppress dated April 20, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling dated April 17, 2009 | |
| Read the Notice of Filing of Agreed Protocol for Attorney's Eyes Only Review of Law Enforcement Recordings dated April 16, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling dated April 3, 2009 | |
| Read the Deposition Order for Rebecca Musser dated April 1, 2009 | |
| Read the Deposition Order for Sam Brower dated April 1, 2009 | |
| Read the Hearing on Motion dated March 30, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice dated March 26, 2009 | |
| Read the Supreme Court Action dated March 20, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion to strike response to motion to suppress evidence (Note: this is a very large file and may take some time loading) dated February 13, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Response to Motion for Deposition dated February 12, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Response to Motion for Disclosure of Audio and Video Recordings dated February 9, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Response to Motion for Deposition of Witness dated February 9, 2009 | |
| Read the Response to Motion for Deposition of Witness dated February 5, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion for Deposition of Witness dated February 5, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion for Deposition of Witness dated February 3, 2009 | |
| Read the Response to Motion for Deposition of Witness dated February 2, 2009 | |
| Read the Response to Motion for Disclosure of Audio and Video Recordings dated February 2, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion for Disclosure of Audio and Video Recordings dated February 2, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice dated January 20, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order dated January 16, 2009 | |
| Read the Opposition to Request for Hearing to Determine Whether Defendant is Entitled to an Evidentiary Hearing on Motion to Suppress dated January 13, 2009 | |
| Read the Flora Jessop Deposition Order dated January 16, 2009 | |
| Read the Notice of Service dated December 12, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice dated December 9, 2008 | |
| Read the Response to Motion for Deposition of Flora Jessop dated December 4, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion for Deposition of Flora Jessop dated November 28, 2008 | |
| Read the Notice of Scheduled Interviews dated November 28, 2008 | |
| Read the Notice of Deposition dated November 21, 2008 | |
| Read the Notice of Deposition dated November 21, 2008 | |
| Read the Notice of Deposition dated November 21, 2008 | |
| Read the Notice of Scheduled Interview dated November 14, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated October 28, 2008 | |
| Read the Oral Arguments dated October 28, 2008 | |
| Read the Reply to Response to Motion dated October 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Court of Appeals Order dated October 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Reply to Response to Motion to Suppress Evidence obtained in Unlawful Searches of FLDS Property dated October 24, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice /Order / Ruling dated October 23, 2008 | |
| Read the Notice of Scheduled Interview dated October 23, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated October 20, 2008 | |
| Read the Response to Motions to Depose Texas Law Enforcement Officials dated October 17, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to Depose Texas Law Enforcement Officials dated October 16, 2008 | |
| Read the Response To Motion For Deposition of Witness dated October 15, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion For Deposition of Witness dated October 14, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to continue due date dated October 9, 2008 | |
| Read the Order dated October 9, 2008 | |
| Read the Addendum to response to defendants motion dated September 30, 2008 | |
| Read the Response to Defendant's Motion dated September 26, 2008 | |
| Read the Response to States Request for Extension dated September 22, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice dated September 19, 2008 | |
| Read the Request for Extension of Time dated September 16, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to Suppress Evidence dated September 3, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to Exceed Page Limitation dated September 3, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice /Order / Ruling dated August 29, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice /Order / Ruling dated August 25, 2008 | |
| Read the Oral Arguments dated August 22, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated July 23 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated June 10, 2008 | |
| Read the Defendant Jeffs' Motion to Quash Subpoena Duces Tecum dated June 9, 2008 | |
| Read the Response To Defendant's Motion To Remand dated June 6, 2008 | |
| Read the Reply To Objection To Defendant's Public Records Request dated June 5, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice dated June 4, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice dated June 3, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion To Extend Time To Respond dated May 28, 2008 | |
| Read the Defendant Jeffs Notice of Rule 15.2 Disclosure dated May 14, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion To Exceed Page Limitation dated May 14, 2008 | |
| Read the Subpoena Duces Tecum dated May 9, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice dated May 5, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to Enlarge Page Limitations dated April 23, 2008 | |
| Read the Reply to Response to Defendants motion to Dismiss counts 2 & 4 dated April 23, 2008 | |
| Read the Defendant's Motion to Extend Rule 12.9 and Rule 15 dated April 21, 2008 | |
| Read the Response to Defendant's Motions to Dismiss dated April 11, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated April 10, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion To Dismiss dated March 24, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion dated March 24, 2008 | |
| Read the Return Warrant dated February 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Release Questionnaire dated February 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Initial Appearance/Arraignment dated February 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Objection to Electronic Coverage dated February 22, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to Permit Defendant to Appear in Civilian Clothing dated February 22, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated February 21, 2008 | |
| Read the Minute Order dated December 7, 2007 | |
| Read the Order: Pro HAC Vice Admission of Richard A. Wright dated December 7, 2007 | |
| Read the Supplement - Notice of Place of Imprisonment dated December 7, 2007 | |
| Read the Motion and Consent of Local Counsel for PRO HAC VICE Admission of Richard Wright dated November 19, 2007 | |
| Read the Notice of Place of Imprisonment dated October 22, 2007 | |
| Read the Notice of Appearance dated October 15, 2007 | |
| Read the Mohave County Superior Court Felony Indictment NO.: CR-2007-743 against Warren Steed Jeffs filed July 11, 2007 | |
| Read the Return of Grand Jury Indictment dated May 10, 2007 | |
| Read the Felony Indictment dated May 10, 2007 | |
| Read the Grand Jury Minutes dated May 10, 2007 | |
| Case Number CR-2007-0953 - (the ??? child bride case) | |
| Read the Response to Motion to Dismiss filed June 11, 2010 | |
| Read the Non-Waiver of Extradition filed June 10, 2010 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling filed June 9, 2010 | |
| Read the Order Dismissing Charges filed June 9, 2010 | |
| Read the Motion to Dismiss filed June 9, 2010 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling filed May 18, 2010 | |
| Read the Motion For Disclosure filed May 17, 2010 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling filed April 22, 2010 | |
| Read the Omnibus Hearing Correction filed March 26, 2010 | |
| Read the Omnibus Hearing filed March 26, 2010 | |
| Read the Omnibus Hearing Form filed March 26, 2010 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on March 1, 2010 | |
| Read the Request for Omnibus Hearing filed on February 23, 2010 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on February 5, 2010 | |
| Read the Order filed on February 5, 2010 | |
| Read the Stipulation filed on February 4, 2010 | |
| Read the Memorandum and Supporting evidence (Part 1) filed on February 3, 2010 | |
| Read the Memorandum and Supporting evidence (Part 2) filed on February 3, 2010 | |
| Read the Court Notice filed on February 1, 2010 | |
| Read the Response to Stipulation filed on January 28, 2010 | |
| Read the Stipulation Offered By the State filed on January 21, 2010 | |
| Read the Criminal Subpoena filed on January 19, 2010 | |
| Read the Criminal Subpoena filed on January 19, 2010 | |
| Read the Criminal Subpoena filed on January 19, 2010 | |
| Read the Criminal Subpoena filed on January 19, 2010 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on December 21, 2009 | |
| Read the Submission of Supplemental Authority filed on December 17, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion Hearing held December 11, 2009 and filed on December 16, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Response filed on December 10, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Response filed on December 7, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Response filed on December 7, 2009 | |
| Read the Response to Motion filed on December 4, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion for Deposition of Witness filed on November 25, 2009 | |
| Read the Response to Request For Evidentiary Hearing filed on November 24, 2009 | |
| Read the Response to Motion For Deposition filed on November 24, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion for Extension of Time to File a Reply filed on November 24, 2009 | |
| Read the Request for Evidentiary Hearing filed on November 19, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion and Consent of Local Counsel filed on November 18, 2009 | |
| Read the Letter from attorney Natalie Malonis to Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith regarding Carolyn Jessop and the Arizona trial of Warren Jeffs, dated November 16, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion to Determine Nature, Scope and Extent of Proposed Expert Testimony filed on November 16, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Order filed on November 12, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on November 12, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on October 29, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion and Consent filed on October 9, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion to Exceed Page Limitation filed on October 5, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion to Exceed Page Limitation filed on October 5, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Witness filed on October 5, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Opposition to Motion filed on October 5, 2009 | |
| Read the Request for Extension of Time to Reply to Memorandum filed on September 28, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on September 25, 2009 | |
| Read the Memorandum in Opposition to Motion filed on September 22, 2009 | |
| Read the Request for Extension of Time to Reply to Memorandum filed on September 18, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on September 17, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on September 17, 2009 | |
| Read the Memorandum of Non-Party Witness filed on September 8, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling filed on September 1, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Response to Renewed Motion for Deposition of State's Witness Rebecca Musser filed on August 28, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion For Extension Of Time To File Reply filed on August 27, 2009 | |
| Read the Response to Renewed Motion for Deposition of State's Witness Rebecca Musser or, in the Alternative, Motion for Sanctions for Disclosure Violations dated August 25, 2009 | |
| Read the Renewed Motion for Deposition of State's Witness Rebecca Musser or, in the Alternative, Motion for Sanctions for Disclosure Violations dated August 24, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion for Deposition of Witnesses Sam Brower and Dan Fischer dated August 20, 2009 | |
| Read the Order To Release Record of Audio Proceedings dated August 19, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion To Release Record of Audio Proceedings and Order dated August 19, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling dated August 19, 2009 | |
| See Mohave County Court document regarding the bad health of Warren Jeffs Court Notice/Order/Ruling dated July 31, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling dated June 4, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion To Withdraw Exhibit dated May 26, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling dated May 4, 2009 | |
| Read the Defendant's Supplemental Authority in Support of Motion to Suppress dated May 4, 2009 | |
| Read the Deposition Order dated May 4, 2009 | |
| Read the Defendant's Supplemental Authority in Support of Motion to Suppress dated April 20, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling dated April 17, 2009 | |
| Read the Notice of Filing of Agreed Protocol for Attorney's Eyes Only Review of Law Enforcement Recordings dated April 16, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice/Order/Ruling dated April 3, 2009 | |
| Read the Hearing on Motion dated March 30, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice dated March 26, 2009 | |
| Read the Supreme Court Action dated March 20, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion to strike response to motion to suppress evidence (Note: this is a very large file and may take some time loading) dated February 13, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Response to Motion for Deposition dated February 12, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Response to Motion for Disclosure of Audio and Video Recordings dated February 9, 2009 | |
| Read the Reply to Response to Motion for Deposition of Witness Rebecca Musser dated February 9, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion for Deposition of Witness dated February 5, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion for Deposition of Witness dated February 3, 2009 | |
| Read the Response to Motion for Disclosure of Audio and Video Recordings dated February 2, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion for Disclosure of Audio and Video Recordings dated February 2, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Notice dated January 20, 2009 | |
| Read the Opposition to Request for Hearing to Determine Whether Defendant is Entitled to an Evidentiary Hearing on Motion to Suppress dated January 13, 2009 | |
| Read the Flora Jessop Deposition Order dated January 13, 2009 | |
| Read the Notice of Service dated December 12, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice dated December 9, 2008 | |
| Read the Response to Motion for Deposition of Flora Jessop dated December 4, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion for Deposition of Flora Jessop dated November 28, 2008 | |
| Read the Notice of Scheduled Interviews dated November 28, 2008 | |
| Read the Notice of Deposition dated November 21, 2008 | |
| Read the Notice of Deposition dated November 21, 2008 | |
| Read the Notice of Deposition dated November 21, 2008 | |
| Read the Notice of Scheduled Interview dated November 14, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated October 28, 2008 | |
| Read the Oral Arguments dated October 28, 2008 | |
| Read the Reply to Response to Motion dated October 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Court of Appeals Order dated October 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Reply to Response to Motion to Suppress Evidence obtained in Unlawful Searches of FLDS Property dated October 24, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice /Order / Ruling dated October 23, 2008 | |
| Read the Notice of Scheduled Interview dated October 23, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated October 20, 2008 | |
| Read the Response to Motions to Depose Texas Law Enforcement Officials dated October 17, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to Depose Texas Law Enforcement Officials dated October 16, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to continue due date dated October 9, 2008 | |
| Read the Order dated October 9, 2008 | |
| Read the Addendum to response to defendants motion dated September 30, 2008 | |
| Read the Response to Defendant's Motion dated September 26, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice September 19, 2008 | |
| Read the Request for extension of Time September 16, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to Suppress Evidence September 3, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to exceed Page Limitation September 3, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated August 29, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated August 25, 2008 | |
| Read the Oral Arguments dated August 22, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated July 23 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated June 10, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated June 9, 2008 | |
| Read the Defendant Jeffs' Motion to Quash Subpoena Duces Tecum dated June 9, 2008 | |
| Read the Response To Defendant's Motion To Remand dated June 6, 2008 | |
| Read the Reply To Objection To Defendant's Public Records Request dated June 5, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice dated June 4, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice dated June 3, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion To Extend Time To Respond dated May 28, 2008 | |
| Read the Defendant Jeffs Motion To Remand dated May 14, 2008 | |
| Read the Defendant Jeffs Notice of Rule 15.2 Disclosure dated May 14, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion To Exceed Page Limitation dated May 14, 2008 | |
| Read the Response to Defendant's motion for Subpoena Duces Tecum dated May 9, 2008 | |
| Read the Subpoena Duces Tecum dated May 9, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice dated May 5, 2008 | |
| Read the Defendants Jeffs' Motion for Subpoena Duces Tecum dated April 28, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to Enlarge Page Limitation dated April 23, 2008 | |
| Read the Reply to Response to Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Counts 2 & 4 dated April 23, 2008 | |
| Read the Defendant's Motion to Extend Rule 12.9 and Rule 15 dated April 21, 2008 | |
| Read the Response to Defendant's Motions to Dismiss dated April 11, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated April 10, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion To Dismiss dated March 24, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion dated March 24, 2008 | |
| Read the Return Warrant dated February 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Release Questionnaire dated February 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Initial Appearance/Arraignment dated February 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Objection to Electronic Coverage dated February 22, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to Permit Defendant to Appear in Civilian Clothing dated February 22, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated February 21, 2008 | |
| Read the Minute Order dated December 7, 2007 | |
| Read the Supplement - Notice of Place of Imprisonment dated December 6, 2007 | |
| Read the Motion and Consent of Local Counsel for PRO HAC VICE Admission of Richard Wright dated November 19, 2007 | |
| Read the Notice of Place of Imprisonment dated October 22, 2007 | |
| Read the Notice of Appearance dated October 15, 2007 | |
| Read the Mohave County Superior Court Felony Indictment NO.: CR-2007-953 against Warren Steed Jeffs filed July 11, 2007 | |
| Read the Minute Order dated June 27, 2007 | |
| Read the Return of Grand Jury Indictment dated June 21, 2007 | |
| Read the Felony Indictment dated June 21, 2007 | |
| Read the Grand Jury Minutes dated June 21, 2007 | |
| Case Number CR-2005-0718 (the Randy Barlow child bride case) | |
| Read the Order Dismissing Charge(s) dated March 17, 2008 | |
| Read the Response to Motion to Dismiss dated March 17, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to Dismiss dated March 10, 2008 | |
| Read the Return Warrant dated February 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Release Questionnaire dated February 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Initial Appearance/Arraignment dated February 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Oral Arguments / Order of Dismissal dated February 26, 2008 | |
| Read the Objection to Electronic Coverage dated February 22, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to Permit Defendant to Appear in Civilian Clothing dated February 22, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice/ Order / Ruling on Electronic and Photographic Coverage dated February 21, 2008 | |
| Read the Minute Order dated December 7, 2007 | |
| Read the Order: Pro HAC Vice Admission of Richard A. Wright dated December 7, 2007 | |
| Read the Supplement - Notice of Place of Imprisonment dated December 6, 2007 | |
| Read the Motion and Consent of Local Counsel for PRO HAC VICE Admission of Richard Wright dated November 19, 2007 | |
| Read the Notice of Place of Imprisonment dated October 22, 2007 | |
| Read the Notice of Appearance dated October 15, 2007 | |
| Read the Minute Order dated August 31, 2006 | |
| Read the Court Order dated August 30, 2006 | |
| Read the Notice of Change of Judge dated August 30, 2006 | |
| Read the Order dated June 13, 2005 | |
| Read the Court Order dated June 10, 2005 | |
| Read the Motion to conceal the victim's identity in the indictments and arrest warrants and order dated June 10, 2005 | |
| Read the Order allowing disclosure of grand Jury Indictment and warrant dated June 10, 2005 | |
| Read the Motion for order allowing disclosure of Grand Jury indictment and warrant and order dated June 9, 2005 | |
| Read the Return of Grand Jury Indictment dated June 9, 2005 | |
| Read the Felony Indictment dated June 9, 2005 | |
| Read the Grand Jury Minutes dated June 9, 2005 | |
| Case Number CR-2005-0842 - (the Rodney Holm child bride case) | |
| Read the Return Warrant dated February 28, 2008 | |
| Read the Release Questionnaire dated February 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Initial Appearance/Arraignment dated February 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Oral Arguments / Order of Dismissal dated February 26, 2008 | |
| Read the Objection to Electronic Coverage dated February 22, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to Permit Defendant to Appear in Civilian Clothing dated February 22, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated February 21, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to Dismiss dated February 21, 2008 | |
| Read the Minute Order dated December 7, 2007 | |
| Read the Order: Pro HAC Vice Admission of Richard A. Wright dated December 7, 2007 | |
| Read the Supplement - Notice of Place of Imprisonment dated December 6, 2007 | |
| Read the Motion and Consent of Local Counsel for PRO HAC VICE Admission of Richard Wright dated November 19, 2007 | |
| Read the Notice of Place of Imprisonment dated October 22, 2007 | |
| Read the Notice of Appearance dated October 15, 2007 | |
| Read the Minute Order dated August 31, 2006 | |
| Read the Court Order dated August 30, 2006 | |
| Read the Notice of Change of Judge dated August 30, 2006 | |
| Read the Return of Grand Jury Indictment dated July 7, 2005 | |
| Read the Felony Indictment dated July 7, 2005 | |
| Read the Grand Jury Minutes dated July 7, 2005 | |
| Case Number CR-2005-0847 - (the Terry Darger Barlow child bride case) | |
| Read the Return Warrant dated February 28, 2008 | |
| Read the Release Questionnaire dated February 27, 2008 | |
| Read the Order of Dismissal dated February 22, 2008 | |
| Read the Objection to Electronic Coverage dated February 22, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to Permit Defendant to Appear in Civilian Clothing dated February 22, 2008 | |
| Read the Court Notice / Order / Ruling dated February 21, 2008 | |
| Read the Motion to Dismiss dated February 21, 2008 | |
| Read the Minute Order dated December 7, 2007 | |
| Read the Order: Pro HAC Vice Admission of Richard A. Wright dated December 7, 2007 | |
| Read the Supplement - Notice of Place of Imprisonment dated December 6, 2007 | |
| Read the Motion and Consent of Local Counsel for PRO HAC VICE Admission of Richard Wright dated November 19, 2007 | |
| Read the Notice of Place of Imprisonment dated October 22, 2007 | |
| Read the Notice of Appearance dated October 15, 2007 | |
| Read the Minute Order dated August 31, 2006 | |
| Read the Court Order dated August 30, 2006 | |
| Read the Notice of Change of Judge dated August 30, 2006 | |
| Read the Return of Grand Jury Indictment dated July 7, 2005 | |
| Read the Felony Indictment dated July 7, 2005 | |
| Read the Grand Jury Minutes dated July 7, 2005 | |
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