"I don't think it's going to make any difference to his loyal followers," Richard Holm said. He was ousted by Jeffs, and his wives and children were given to another man. "I suspect it will make him more of a hero in their mind."

Holm said Jeffs talked about martyrdom in a 2003 sermon and compared himself to Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The FLDS Church is a breakaway religion.

"He made statements that if he goes to jail, he knows he'll never come out alive," Holm told the Deseret Morning News.

Pro and anti-polygamy groups weighed in on the FBI's announcement Saturday.

"This is an achievement when we see a polygamous leader on America's Top Ten Most Wanted list," said Vicky Prunty of Tapestry Against Polygamy. "There are other polygamous leaders hiding under the radar screen just as ruthless and dangerous as Warren Jeffs and we hope the FBI will take the same interest in protecting women and children from these men."

Pro-polygamy activists questioned why Jeffs was being elevated to Top Ten status, given the conspiracy and unlawful flight charges.

"It seems reserved for the most egregious offenders," said Principle Voices' Mary Batchelor. "I do not mean to trivialize the charges against Jeffs, but I'm not sure the escalation of his wanted status is commensurate with the alleged offenses."

Law enforcement said Jeffs deserves the ranking.

"Warren Jeffs is a child predator," Wallentine said.

On Saturday, the FBI raised the reward for information leading to Jeffs' arrest to $100,000.

Jeffs was charged in St. George last month with rape as an accomplice, a first-degree felony. He is accused of forcing a teenage girl into a polygamous marriage with an older man. When she asked to leave the marriage, prosecutors say Jeffs threatened her with religious damnation.

In Mohave County, Ariz., Jeffs is facing sexual misconduct charges stemming from a child bride marriage. Federal prosecutors in Utah and Arizona have filed charges of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution against Jeffs.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com