| Guilty plea ends Wall's 'difficult journey' | |
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By Tiffany De Masters tdemasters@thespectrum.com The Spectrum | |
ST. GEORGE – Elissa Wall stood confident today outside 5th District Court in St. George. After 10 years of waiting, a resolution has finally ended her nightmare. A victim of marriage as a minor in the FLDS faith, Wall watched her ex-husband and cousin, Allen Steed, plea guilty to solemnizing of a prohibited marriage and unlawful sexual activity with a minor, which is a plea in abeyance. Both are third-degree felonies. "Today marks the end of a long and difficult journey for me," she said. "It (Steed case) was the final piece to this chapter and I can close it." Wall was married to Steed, 29, when she was 14 years old. Former polygamist leader Warren Jeffs reportedly married the two and was convicted in 2007 on rape as an accomplice. That conviction since has been overturned. He now is scheduled to stand trial on sexual assault charges and bigamy in Texas. Brock Belnap, Washington County attorney said the case against Jeffs in Utah is still ongoing. Belnap said he thought the resolution was a balance of justice and mercy. "It’s a testament to Elissa’s compassion," he said. "There was a recognition between the control Jeffs had over Steed." Wall agreed. "In many ways Allen (Steed) is a victim as well," she said. "He’s a product of his environment." Wall said the FLDS community would never understand the scars she has on her life. "My story is one of many," she said. "The society condoned and promoted what happened to me." In all of her trials, Wall, has turned her pain into strengths. She said she would continue fight against child abuse. "I want to thank Brock (Belnap) and the Washington County Attorney’s Office for their tenacity and letting our (victims of child abuse) voices be heard." Although Steed has been convicted and sentenced, it has no affect on Jeffs’ case. Overall, Belnap is also happy for Wall that this ordeal is over. James Bradshaw, Steed’s attorney, said the plea agreement was a compromise from all sides. "It came in everyone’s best interest to get it resolved," he said. Steed was sentenced to 30 days at Purgatory Correctional Facility and will then be put on probation for 36 months. Judge Rand Beacham told Steed he had been convicted of the first count of solemnizing of a prohibited marriage and would be carrying out a sentence for that count. The second count, unlawful sexual activity with a minor, is a plea in abeyance. Beacham informed Steed he hadn’t been convicted of the second count. If Steed failed to follow orders on the first count, Beacham said, he would be charged and be punished accordingly for the second count. If Steed complies with the charge, the second charge of unlawful sexual activity with a minor will be dropped. Steed will enter Purgatory Jail on Monday. Because of the case involving Wall and Steed, Jeffs was placed on the FBI's top-10 Most Wanted list in 2007. | |
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TheSpectrum.com Originally published February 18, 2011 | |
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