From Deseret News archives:
Jeffs reaches out to FLDS faithful from Purgatory Jail
Phone calls allow him to hold 'church' sessions
Jeffs has reportedly been making phone calls from Hurricane's Purgatory Jail to his faithful followers, who gather in groups to hear the words of the man they call "prophet."
"He makes a call to a group of people waiting to hear from their prophet," a law enforcement source familiar with the phone calls told the Deseret Morning News. "They sing songs to him, and he goes into dissertations, his prophetic utterances."
The calls are also being heard by officials at the Purgatory Jail, who can monitor phone calls made by all inmates. However, there is reportedly nothing that is alarming or illegal about what Jeffs is saying.
"Nothing that we've heard has been the slightest bit inflammatory or threatening," the source said.
Jeffs is being kept in isolation at the Purgatory Jail. He is allowed out of his cell for one hour a day to receive visitors and make telephone calls. The Washington County Sheriff's Office would not discuss the phone calls and has refused to release jail visitation logs.
It is unknown if any recorded phone calls from jail will make their way into the hands of Washington County prosecutors, who are building a criminal case against Jeffs.
The Washington County Attorney's Office declined to comment about any jailhouse phone calls or their case against the FLDS leader. Prosecutors have told the Deseret Morning News they are reviewing other sermons and tape recordings Jeffs has made in recent years.
"We haven't made any specific decisions about what's going to be introduced or not, but certainly it is possible that (the sermons) will be introduced to support that portion of our case," deputy Washington County Attorney Brian Filter said in an interview last month.
Jeffs, 50, is charged in St. George's 5th District Court with two counts of rape as an accomplice, a first-degree felony. He is accused of forcing a teenage girl into a marriage with an older man. The girl, identified in court papers as "Jane Doe IV," objected to the union, but prosecutors claim Jeffs threatened the girl with her "eternal salvation."
"No matter what happens you cannot fight with the priesthood because if you do you'll lose your salvation," Jeffs is alleged to have told her.
Across the border in Mohave County, Ariz., Jeffs Jeffs is facing felony charges of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor. He is accused of arranging more child bride marriages there. Prosecutors in Mohave County have not decided when they will seek to extradite Jeffs to face charges there.
Jeffs is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 21 for a preliminary hearing on the Utah charges.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
Comments
- Congressional vote on playoffs? 7:51 p.m.
- 2010 World Cup daily schedule 7:24 p.m.
- Notre Dame won't go to a bowl game 7:10 p.m.
- Nebraska could now help TCU 7:09 p.m.
- Cops need help in tool heist 7:08 p.m.
- Source says Flyers fire Stevens 7:07 p.m.
- Murder case starts for juvenile 6:46 p.m.
- Court decision could cost $15M 6:44 p.m.
- West Bountiful fire displaces three 6:25 p.m.
- Ed Smart infuriated with revelations 6:24 p.m.
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch
- Ed Smart infuriated with revelations
- 5A high school football All-State
- Miller predicted Tiger's rough road
- Utah Jazz going green with unis
- 4A high school football: All-State
- Harpring's NBA career is over
- Nutty Putty Cave to be sealed today
- MVPs wrap up stellar prep careers
- Jazz: Miles, Kirilenko to play Friday
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
409 - Max Hall issues apology
393 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
362 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
293 - Utes won't respond to Hall
278 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
247 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
235 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
189 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
183 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179
Trolley Square's annual Holiday Open House will feature visits with...
That does it — I'm having an affair! Thanks to Tiger Woods, David...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
i have no family who can help so regardless if i have a place to stay or not...
"Mormons don't even celebrate advent. What is up with this?" There's...
He just does not have good basketball instincts. I know this is his first...
To the 5:04 comentator, This is a FEDERAL prosecution. It is the entire...
Skousen and Beck? What an utter embarassment! THe fact that we have a panel...
I'm a little surprised by this choice of all-staters. I thought for sure San...
I find it strange when folks suggest that Atheism is a religion of its own....
Would you want to deprive people of all their pet lizards, pet birds, and all...
To: Tim D. | 5:21 a.m. Dec. 3, 2009 You said, "I have one BIG hang up with...
"Light travels faster than sound, which is why someone may appear bright...




You can be the first to comment on this story.