FLDS Member Trial Could Go to Jury
 
Reported by: Laura Kellerman/CBS News
KRBC Abilene
Raymond Jessop

Testimony is coming to a close in the child sexual assault trial of FLDS member Raymond Merrill Jessop.

Judge Barbara Walther said Wednesday evening that jury members in Eldorado could begin hearing closing arguments as soon as today. Before she dismissed them, Walther told jury members to pack a suitcase, because when they do go into deliberation they will have to remain together.

Jessop is charged with sexual assault of a child. Texas' deputy attorney general Eric Nichols claims Jessop married a 16-year-old girl five years ago, who then gave birth to a child. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

Testimony continued late into the evening Wednesday.

A former "celestial" or "spiritual" wife of FLDS prophet Roulon P. Jeffs also testified. Rebecca Musser, who is now in her mid 30s, testified that she grew up in an FLDS home in Salt Lake City, Utah. She graduated from the Alta Academy, which is a private school for FLDS students only, where in addition to English and math lessons, she also learned about FLDS church doctrine.

Musser testified that in 1995 she was "placed in a celestial marriage" at age 19 with then-prophet Roulon Jeffs, who died seven years later. Jeffs was the father of current FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. Musser said she was taught that members' lives were dictated by the prophet, including what clothing they wore, how they wore their hairstyles, even some of the food they eat. They also learned that celestial marriage was the most important step in a woman's life.

Musser also testified about the meticulous record keeping practices in the FLDS. Much of that type of evidence was seized at the Yearning For Zion Ranch in Eldorado. "Books of remembrance," are kept by members, which include documents like birth and marriage records, and other blessings.

Members believe that if something is not recorded on earth, then it's not recorded in heaven, Musser said.

Those records were presented Wednesday in court. On Tuesday, Texas Ranger Jesse Valdez testified being on the Yearning for Zion Ranch ranch during the raid in April 2008 and described the inside of the temple annex vault where evidence was seized.

Pictures presented by the state show that the walls of the interior were reinforced with concrete and the door resembled a fixed bank vault door.

The case is being tried in Eldorado, Schleicher County. The county's courthouse is too small for such a trial, so it will take place in a next-door municipal building.
 
bigcountryhomepage.com
Originally published Thursday, Nov 5, 2009
 
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