Arizona AG Watches Jeff's Utah Trial Closely
 
By Doug Ramsey
KTAR News 92.3 - Phoenix
Warren Jeffs

The Warren Jeffs trial in Utah is being watched very carefully by the Arizona attorney general.

Terry Goddard said the trial's start is almost anti-climactic because it took so long to catch Jeffs, and then a year of pre-trial preparations.

But Goddard says it's an important moment for both Arizona and Utah.

"This is someone who has, in my opinion, systematically flaunted the law and abused many of his followers and is being held accountable to the laws that prohibit that abuse," Goddard said.

Jeffs also faces charges in Arizona.

Goddard will have observers at the trial in preparation for Arizona's prosecution.

"I'm not ready to predict what's going to happen, but I do know that regardless of the outcome in Utah there will be another trial on similar charges in Mohave County, Arizona, in Kingman," Goddard said.

Goddard said his office is working with the Mohave County Attorney.

"We're going to do everything we can to provide him backup when it comes to trial in Arizona," Goddard said.

Goddard denies any effort to destroy the Fundamentalist LDS Church. He says it's not their beliefs being targeted, but violations of the law.

"The attack is not on their beliefs," Goddard said. "The attack based on my part and the attorney general from Utah's part is based on violations of the law, and specifically the abuse of children."

Goddard expects the defense in the Warren Jeffs trial to claim the alleged abuse of children is part of a religious practice.

"I don't believe that's a tenable position," Goddard said. "I believe that you can be a devout follower of the FLDS and not abuse children."
 
KTAR.com
Originally broadcast September 12, 2007
 
Back