Woman held in contempt released early from Ariz. shelter
 
The Associated Press
KVOA News 4 - Tucson
 
KINGMAN, Ariz. -- A woman ordered to spend 30 days at a Kingman shelter for abused women because she refused to testify in a polygamy trial has been released early.

Candi Shapley, 20, had cooperated with prosecutors as they prepared the case against Randolph Barlow, but she dropped a bombshell when she refused to testify at the start of his trial on Aug. 29.

The trial of Barlow, 33, of Colorado City, was put on hold. He is charged with two counts of sexual assault for his spiritual marriage to Shapley when she was 16.

Shapley also is considered a key witness in the Arizona prosecution of polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs, who is being held in Utah on two counts of rape by accomplice, which carry possible life terms. In Arizona, he faces sexual misconduct charges which carry lesser penalties.

Both states brought the charges in connection with marriages Jeffs allegedly arranged between older men and teenage girls.

Jeffs heads the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, based in Colorado City and nearby Hildale, Utah.

The judge in the Barlow case was ready to send Shapley to jail for contempt after she refused to testify, but Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith convinced him to send her to the shelter instead. She served roughly half the time before she was allowed to leave.

Smith said he's hopeful that Shapley will now fulfill her obligation to testify in legal proceedings, although there is no guarantee.

Smith has said that he must have Shapley's testimony to successfully prosecute Jeffs.

___

Information from: Dave Hawkins/KGMN-FM, http://www.kgmn.net/
 
KVOA.com
Originally published September 14, 2006
 
Back