Polygamist sect leader returns to Texas to stand trial
 
By Chance Welch
cwelch@star-telegram.com
Crime and Safety
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Warren Jeffs

Warren Jeffs

Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs is scheduled to be arraigned today in a San Angelo courtroom on charges that he sexually assaulted a child.

Jeffs, leader of the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), was extradited from Utah Tuesday night to a west Texas jail, according to a statement by the Texas Attorney General's Office.

He is being held without bail and faces two charges of sexual assault of a child and a bigamy charge, according to the release. He is set to appear today in the Tom Green County Court in San Angelo for his arraignment, according to court administrators.

The two sexual assault charges stem from a January 2005 incident with a child who was younger than 17 years old and an August 2006 incident with a child younger than 14 years old, according to the indictment. The bigamy charge is from a July 2006 incident for marrying a child younger than 16 years of age while still married to another woman.

In Utah, Jeffs was convicted in September 2007 of two counts of rape in connection with conducting the marriage of a 14-year old girl, but the conviction was overturned in July by the Utah Supreme Court.

Utah governor Gary Herbert signed an extradition order to Texas in August. Jeffs appealed the order and the Utah Court of Appeals halted the extradition and it to the Utah Supreme Court, which ruled on Nov. 23 that it would not block the transfer to Texas.
 
Star-Telegram.com
Originally published Wednesday, Dec. 01, 2010
 
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