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A deal was initially struck between the government and Jeffs' lawyers to have a "taint team" review the documents. Federal officials would also provide copies of the seized documents so defense lawyers could decide if they were "protected" religious documents.

However, Bugden claims that the next day, the FBI got a warrant for electronic and paper records seized from the Cadillac, saying it may contain evidence of Jeffs' alleged flight to avoid prosecution.

"Mr. Jeffs now seeks the protection of this court in the form of an order that confidential religious documents that are protected by the First Amendment ... be sealed and not released to any third parties," Bugden wrote.

He also asked for the government to abide by the original deal. Any disputes will be settled by a judge.

In St. George's 5th District Court, Jeffs is facing an April trial on charges of rape as an accomplice. He is accused of performing a child-bride marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. In Arizona, Jeffs is accused of sexual conduct with a minor related to child-bride marriages there.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com