Feds indict Jeffs
 
By Patrice St. Germain
patrices@thespectrum.com
 
HURRICANE - Warren Steed Jeffs has yet another date in court after a federal grand jury indicted him Wednesday morning for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Jeffs, who has been incarcerated in Purgatory Correctional Facility since his Aug. 28 arrest, faces two counts of rape as an accomplice in Washington County and is scheduled for a two-week jury trial beginning April 23.

The charge stems from his allegedly arranging a marriage of a woman identified as Jane Doe IV when she was 14 to her then 19-year-old cousin in 2001.

Jeffs has also been charged in Mohave County, Ariz., on charges of sexual conduct with a minor and one charge of conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor. The charges are based on his allegedly arranging a marriage between a 28-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl. The alleged crime occurred in 2002 in the vicinity of Colorado City.

Following both of his state court cases, Jeffs will be tried in federal court on the unlawful flight charge, which was filed on April 25, a few weeks after charges were filed against him in Washington County and a few weeks before he made the FBI's top 10 most wanted list

If found guilty on the charges in Washington County, Jeffs could be sentenced to five years to life for each charge while the unlawful flight charge could result in up to five years in prison.

Melodie Rydalch, spokeswoman for the U.S. District Court office in Salt Lake City, said the court doesn't always file charges once someone is arrested. But, she said the extra charge was justified because of the time and effort put into finding him.

"He had been in custody so there was no rush," Rydalch said.

Rydalch said the federal charge will wait until the state trials are completed.

Gary Engels, an investigator for the Mohave County Attorney's Office, said filing the unlawful flight to avoid prosecution charge was a good thing.

"It adds that much more teeth to the prosecution of Warren," Engels said. "Once he finishes in Washington County, he comes to us and then goes to the feds."

Engels also said there is a possibility that more charges will be filed against Jeffs.

Despite his claims that he would never be taken alive, Jeffs'run from the law ended peacefully on Interstate 15 just north of Las Vegas on Aug. 28 after the vehicle he was traveling in was pulled over for a traffic offense.

The number of Jeffs' followers ranges from 6,000 to 10,000 with most of them residents of the twin cities of Hildale and Colorado City, which was previously called Short Creek.

The area has been home to polygamists since the early 1900s. However, the church expanded its property holdings and has compounds in Eldorado, Texas; Mancos, Colo.; Pringle, S.D. and British Columbia, Canada.
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published March 8, 2007
 
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