| EXCLUSIVE: Extradition hearing set for Warren Jeffs | |
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Reported by: Brent Hunsaker ABC 4 News | |
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Warren Jeffs is a step closer to Texas. ABC 4 News has learned a court hearing on extradition to Texas will be held on Thursday, August 26 at 1:00pm in the West Jordan courtroom of Judge Terry Christiansen. Jeffs is indicted in Texas on three counts: Sexual assault of a child, aggravated sexual assault of a child and bigamy. Attorneys for Jeffs will argue against extradition. But legal experts tell ABC 4 that really the only way they can succeed in getting the Texas warrant quashed is by proving the Warren Jeffs now being held in the Utah State Prison is not the same Warren Jeffs named in the warrant. Meanwhile in Texas, sources tell ABC 4 the decks are being cleared in anticipation of Jeffs' arrival. Judge Barbara Walther will delay the scheduled trial of another FLDS leader, Wendell Nielsen, so the Jeffs case can be moved "to the front of the class." Nielsen was scheduled for a pretrial hearing next week. Word is Judge Walther wants to have the Jeffs trial wrapped up in 120 days. Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran told the San Angelo Standard-Times his office hasn’t heard whether Jeffs will be coming to his jail, but he is ready nonetheless. Much of the evidence against Jeffs was obtained in the controversial 2008 raid on the FLDS Yearning for Zion ranch outside of Eldorado, Texas. So far the Texas Attorney General is six for six in cases against FLDS leaders. | |
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ABC4.com Originally broadcast August 21, 2010 | |
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