Jeffs prosecutors rest case after playing recorded sermon
 
By Jennifer Dobner
The Associated Press
Houston Chronicle
 
ST. GEORGE, Utah — Prosecutors played a 30-minute sermon Tuesday and then rested their case against a polygamous-sect leader charged with sex crimes in the arranged marriage of a 14-year-old girl and her older cousin.

Speaking to the faithful in 2002, Warren Jeffs said the sect's principles were under attack by Utah and Arizona authorities, a reference to increased scrutiny of ceremonial marriages involving minors.

But the tape was mostly a speech by Sam Barlow, a member of Jeffs' church and former marshal in Colorado City, Ariz., a small community on the Utah-Arizona border dominated by members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which has a large complex in the West Texas town of Eldorado, about 40 miles south of San Angelo.

"We are born to this conflict," said Barlow, who also talked about pressure from authorities. "We cannot shirk it or turn away from it for a moment."

Jeffs, 51, president of the FLDS church, is charged with two felony counts of rape as an accomplice in southern Utah's 5th District Court.

Prosecutors contend Jeffs used his influence to push the 14-year-old girl into a ceremonial marriage with her 19-year-old cousin in 2001 and force her to have sex.

Before playing the tape, prosecutors did not explain to jurors why they were hearing it. And at one point on the recording, Barlow seemed to counter the belief that FLDS girls must obey their elders and enter into marriage.

"There is no woman that is required to be married to a man that she does not want to be married to," Barlow said.

Prosecutors rested their case on the fourth day of trial. They called just three witnesses: the woman, who now is 21, and two sisters.

The defense asked for an acquittal, saying prosecutors failed to show that Jeffs was on notice that the girl felt she was being raped.

Fifth District Judge James Shumate denied the motion, and Jeffs' attorneys planned to begin calling witnesses.

In cross-examination Monday, the defense walked the young woman through a series of yes-or-no questions about many issues, including whether she told her mother, sisters or others about unwanted sex with her cousin.

"I never told anyone," the woman said.

Attorney Tara Isaacson challenged the claim that the woman had sex under duress during a marriage of more than three years.

"Isn't it true you said you had to sugar-up the situation to get things you wanted?" Isaacson asked.

In response, the woman said she began to use sex to extract privileges from her husband, including money, visits to see family and other trips.

Pictures from the couples' wedding and honeymoon show the woman smiling with her arm around her new husband. He has not been charged.

One picture shows the marriage bed decorated by the woman's family with candy placed in the shape of heart to encourage happiness.

Bugden asked a sister, Rebecca Musser, if she believed the family's enthusiasm was also encouraging rape.

"Not in those words, no," said Musser, who is 10 years older.

She said the marriage was arranged by Fred Jessop, the church's third-ranking leader who was also married to the girl's mother.

The girl left her marriage and the FLDS church in 2004 after becoming pregnant with another man's child. The Associated Press generally does not name people alleging sexual abuse.

Jeffs has been president of the church since 2002. Followers see him as a prophet who communicates with God and holds dominion over their salvation. Ex-church members say he reigns with an iron fist, demanding perfect obedience from followers.

If convicted of the charges, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
 
chron.com
Originally published September 18, 2007
 
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