Alleged victim testifies

ST. GEORGE — In tearful testimony today, a woman described her forced marriage at age 14 to a cousin in a Nevada motel room under the direction of polygamous leader Warren Jeffs.

The woman said during the wedding ceremony she struggled to hold her husband's hand and could not bring herself to speak during the ceremony.

"The silence became unbearable," she testified. "I finally said, 'OK I do.'"

Fifth District Judge James L. Shumate continued the preliminary hearing to Dec. 14 after the prosecution's star witness wrapped up her testimony against Jeffs, 50, who is charged with two counts of rape as an accomplice, a first-degree felony.

Shumate must decide at the conclusion of the hearing whether there is adequate evidence to bind Jeffs over for trial. If convicted, Jeffs could get up to life in prison.

The now 20-year-old and pregnant blonde-haired woman testified in that she was in ninth grade when she was told to prepare herself for marriage.

"I was shocked, I was so young," the woman said. She is now pregnant but her current marital status was not discussed.

The woman said she did not like her 19-year-old husband, who she said bullied her while growing up and called her names like "tubby tubba."

The woman sobbed as she described going to Jeffs and his father, the late FLDS leader Rulon Jeffs, asking them that she not marry her cousin.

She said Rulon Jeffs counseled her to "follow your heart, sweetheart, follow your heart," which she took to mean do what was best for her.

However, the woman testified that Warren Jeffs told her, "Your heart is in the wrong place. The prophet has revealed that it is your mission and duty and what you need to do."

Washington County Attorney Brock Belnap said Jeffs presided over the quickie wedding ceremony at a Caliente, Nev., motel in 2001.

After the ceremony, the woman went into a motel bathroom and cried, she said.

The woman testified she did not have sex with her husband on her wedding night and said she was very offish toward her husband for weeks afterward until he came to her and said, "This is what men and wives do," and forced himself upon her.