Colorado City polygamist convicted of felonies
 
By Jim Seckler
Mohave Daily News
 
KINGMAN - A Mohave County jury convicted a Colorado City polygamist Wednesday afternoon of having sex with an underage girl five years ago.

David Romaine Bateman, 49, was found guilty of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor.

Bateman, a member of a controversial polygamist sect in Colorado City, was convicted of having sexual relations with a 17-year-old girl in late 2001 or early 2002. The girl then gave birth to his child.

Superior Court Judge James Chavez will sentence Bateman Nov. 29 following an aggravation/mitigation hearing. Bateman continues to be released from custody on a $2,500 bond.

Bateman faces up to two years in prison for each charge or Chavez could sentence him to probation only.

Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said the difference between Bateman's guilty verdict and his codefendant, Donald Barlow's acquittal last month was Smith was able to present convincing evidence such as documents and family photographs that show Bateman resides at his Colorado City home.

Bullhead City Councilman Sam Medrano, who served as the foreman on the jury, said there was no other place other than Bateman's Colorado City home where the sexual relations could have taken place.

Medrano also said the jury did not take into account the polygamist lifestyle in Colorado City.

In Barlow's trial, his attorney Bruce Griffen was able to show that Barlow was living and working in Salt Lake City in 1999 and 2000 and not living at the home in question in Colorado City at the time of his alleged crime. Barlow, 50, was acquitted of one count of sexual conduct with a minor.

During Bateman's trial, Smith argued the girl was 17 years old when Bateman, who was 44 at the time, had sexual relations with her. She gave birth to a boy on Aug. 22, 2002 when she was barely 18.

Smith main evidence was the birth certificate that showed the infant's birth date, the victim's age and Colorado City address and that the father is Bateman.

The baby was born at a birthing center in Hildale, Utah a sister city to Colorado City but the sexual relations reportedly took place at the Arizona residence. Bateman's legal wife or the victim did not testify in court.

Griffen, who also represents Bateman along with six other codefendants, had argued that there was no evidence where the sexual relations took place. He also told the jurors in his opening remarks not to be prejudiced by the polygamist lifestyle of Colorado City.

Bateman's other codefendants also have upcoming trials in Superior Court. Dale Evans Barlow's trial is set to begin Tuesday. Barlow, 48, is charged with one count of sexual conduct with a minor and one count of conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor.

Vergel Bryce Jessop, 46, is charged with one count of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor. Jessop's trial is expected to begin Nov. 7.

Terry Darger Barlow's trial is set to begin Nov. 14. Barlow, 25, is charged with one count of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor.

Randolph Barlow's trial was recently postponed when the victim refused to testify. Barlow, 33, is charged with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor.

Rodney Holm, 40, a former Colorado City police officer, is charged with three counts of sexual conduct with a minor. His trial was also postponed. No dates have been set for Holm or Randy Barlow's trials.

Kelly Fischer, 39, was the first codefendant to be tried and convicted of one count of sexual conduct with a minor and one count of conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor.

Fischer was sentenced two months ago to 45 days in county jail and probation.

The sect's leader, Warren Jeffs currently faces rape charges in Utah. He is also charged in Mohave County with five counts of sexual conduct with a minor and two counts of conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor.
 
MohaveDailyNews.com
Originally published Wednesday, October 25, 2006
 
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