Plea deal in FLDS rape case
 
Ben Winslow
Utah News
Fox13Now.com
KSTU-TV
Allen Steed

ST GEORGE, Utah — A man charged in the aftermath of the criminal prosecution of polygamist leader Warren Jeffs has struck a plea deal.

Allen Glade Steed, 29, pleaded guilty on Friday to a pair of third-degree felonies: solemnizing a prohibited marriage ceremony and unlawful sex with a minor. In exchange, prosecutors dropped a first-degree felony rape charge. Steed was sentenced immediately after pleading guilty to 30 days in the Purgatory Jail and three years probation.

At age 19, Steed married then 14-year-old Elissa Wall in a ceremony presided over by Jeffs, who went on to become the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Wall ultimately left the marriage and later went to authorities, who prosecuted Jeffs for rape as an accomplice.

"Today marks the end of a long, difficult journey for me," Wall told the judge.

Steed looked at her and smiled slightly as she spoke.

"Allen is a victim of Warren Jeffs," she said. "He's a product of his environment."

Fifth District Judge G. Rand Beacham told Steed to report to the jail by Monday. He also ordered him to get into therapy. The terms of his plea deal allow for the unlawful sex with a minor charge to be dismissed in three years if he commits no other violations of the law. That would also keep him off the sex offender registry.

"It's a fair resolution that really works for all parties including the victim," said Steed's attorney, Jim Bradshaw. "It works for Mr. Steed."

Washington County Attorney Brock Belnap called the guilty plea both "mercy and justice."

"Allen wouldn't have been in this relationship if it weren't for Warren Jeffs," Belnap said.

Bradshaw said as another part of the settlement, Steed was dismissing a lawsuit he had filed against his ex-wife. Wall, however, told Fox 13 outside of court she would not dismiss her multi-million dollar lawsuit against Jeffs and the FLDS Church over her marriage.

Jeffs was convicted by a jury in 2007 of rape as an accomplice for performing the marriage. His conviction was ultimately overturned by the Utah Supreme Court. He is currently in Texas, where he is facing child sex assault and bigamy charges stemming from the 2008 raid on the FLDS Church's YFZ Ranch.

Belnap told Fox 13 he has not yet decided if he will retry Jeffs. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for next week. Washington County prosecutors said they would wait to see what happens in Texas and consult with Wall, his star witness, before making a decision.

Wall indicated she would be willing to go through another trial.

"I believe there is justice to be served in that case," she said. "And I will continue my fight against child abuse."
 
Fox13Now.com
Originally broadcast February 18, 2011
 
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