"It'll be interesting to see if he decides now to be more cooperative or forthcoming," Shurtleff said in an interview earlier this week.

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. weighed in on Jeffs' conviction Thursday, saying it shows the world that something is being done about abuses within closed polygamous societies. Speaking at his monthly news conference on KUED, he praised Utah and Arizona authorities for going after child abuse, welfare fraud and other crimes.

"They're tackling the issue in ways that are more aggressive than before," Huntsman said. "I think that's a good thing."

Jeffs' conviction might encourage others to come forward, Huntsman said, praising the "great people who were willing to come out of the shadows and tell their stories" in the Jeffs case.

"The courage that was on display was remarkable."

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Contributing: Lisa Riley Roche

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com