From Deseret News archives:

Warren Jeffs, five others indicted by Texas grand jury

Published: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 5:44 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
ELDORADO, Texas — FLDS leader Warren Jeffs and five other men were indicted late Tuesday by a Texas grand jury that convened all day.

Jeffs is the only one of the six identified by Texas authorities as facing criminal charges because he is in custody in an Arizona jail. He was indicted on first-degree felony sexual assault of child with bail set at $100,000, although Jeffs is currently serving up to life in prison for rape as an accomplice after he was convicted of performing a marriage between an underage girl and her 19-year-old cousin.

Four of the five other men were indicted on a first-degree felony charge of sexually assaulting girls under age 17. One man faces an additional charge of bigamy, also a first-degree felony, while another man has been charged with three counts of failing to report child abuse, according to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.

"The indictments issued today are part of an ongoing and continuing criminal investigation," Abbott said.

The first-degree felonies carry potential sentences of five to 99 years in life in prison or life in prison — while failure to report, a class B misdemeanor, can mean up to six months in jail.

The names of the others indicted will not be publicly disclosed until the indictments are served.

Story continues below
On that note, Abbott stressed that authorities are launching an "aggressive effort to apprehend," the five men and also plan to have Jeffs' extradited as quickly as possible. Texas authorities, he added, are going to push for a speedy trial.

The 12-member grand jury was escorted out of the Schleicher County Memorial Building about 5:30 p.m. local time. They are expected to reconvene again next month.

"It's not surprising," said Rod Parker, a Salt Lake attorney acting as a spokesman for the Fundamentalist LDS Church. "The real question is, what evidence would they have to support a conviction?"

It was a long day as members of the FLDS Church were brought in and out of the building to testify. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott was also present. In the afternoon, trouble appeared to develop that led to Judge Barbara Walther appearing at the courthouse. No reason for her presence was disclosed.

FLDS member and spokesman Willie Jessop was en route to the grand jury this morning when he was pulled over in a traffic stop. Asked why he was stopped, Jessop chuckled to reporters.

"I think it's obvious," he said.

Soon, Jessop was led into the building to testify.

Recent comments


The liberation the FLDS need is found in Jesus Christ, who gives...

The Truth of the Matter | July 23, 2008 at 10:16 p.m.

I have to laugh at FromTheCreek. You did away with television since...

realitycheck | July 23, 2008 at 11:14 a.m.

1. No one has the right to abuse children under the 1st Amendment.
...

Peach | July 23, 2008 at 10:23 a.m.

Image
Pat Reavy, Deseret News

Willie Jessop talks to the media outside the Schleicher County Memorial Building in El Dorado, Texas, Tuesday.

previousnext

Latest comments

Was Kanye invited to this event?

Long days for BYU interns

It's a lot of hard work but worth it, like anything else, if you're willing...

Tavernari has matured

I have watched the exhibition games and I have noticed a slimmer JT. He looks...

I am a life long BYU fan and I must say ya it's hurt pretty bad this season,...

Upset of the Year! Wasps 42 JD 35

Some of you are crazy - what's this crush with the Mountain West Conference?...

I have been anticipating this game for weeks. This is as good as it...

I have enjoyed these stars in other films and was looking forward to an...

The pressure isn't on Utah, it's on TCU. Tcu has nothing to gain by beating...

5A teams best of decade

Where are you getting your information about the 23 players that played...

Advertisements
Advertisement