Judge delay keeps Jeffs in prison
 
By Jennifer Dobner
The Associated Press
KUTV Channel 2
 
ST. GEORGE, Utah - Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs, a fugitive for almost two years, appeared in a Utah courtroom Wednesday and said he was willing to wait several weeks for a judge to decide whether to send him to trial on charges of arranging an underage marriage.

"Yes, sir. Yes, your honor," Jeffs replied when Judge James Shumate asked if the delay was acceptable.

The judge set a Nov. 21 probable-cause hearing and said he would address Jeffs' bond status at that time. He remains in jail.

The hearing lasted less than 10 minutes for the self-proclaimed prophet who heads the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Jeffs is charged with two counts of rape as an accomplice, a first-degree felony that carries life in prison.

Under his suit, tie and white shirt, Jeffs was wearing a bulletproof vest. There was tight security inside and outside the Washington County courthouse, including SWAT teams.

Prosecutors claim Jeffs, 50, forced a teenage girl to enter a spiritual marriage with an older man and submit to sex to produce children.

The girl twice told Jeffs that she didn't want to marry or have sex, but was told it was her "spiritual duty" to submit because the marriage had been arranged by God, according to court filings.

Defense attorney Walter Bugden said "absolutely" when reporters asked if this was religious persecution.

"Let's wait until we can have a trial in this matter before we jump to the conclusion that Mr. Jeffs is guilty of anything," Bugden said.

Named to the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list in May, Jeffs was arrested last month during a traffic stop near Las Vegas. He had been a fugitive for almost two years.

Jeffs, who took over the leadership of the church from his father in 2002, is also facing two felony charges in Arizona for a similarly arranged marriage. He'll face those charges after the Utah case.

For almost 100 years, members of the sect, which numbers about 10,000, have lived a quiet life in the border towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz. It is also believed that another site has been established outside of Pringle, S.D.

The sect broke away from the Mormon church more than a century ago and has been disavowed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
 
KUTV.com
Originally published September 27, 2006
 
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