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Ex-husband in Jeffs trial charged with rape
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tsm | 1:41 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
A number of comments over the course of the trial was related to why the former
husband was never charged...well here we are. Justice will be served. Regardless
if sex was "consensual" or otherwise, at the age of 14, a girl cannot
give consent.
Provo | 1:52 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
Hooray!! Now go after her parents for allowing it..
Ignorance... | 2:11 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
Wow. I am surprised that there are still people so ignorant about rape that
they believe a husband can't rape his wife. Rape can happen, regardless of
victim's sex, perpetrator's sex, relationship between victim and
perpetrator, or orientation of victim and/or perpetrator. When a person says
no, it means no!
Comments continue below
How can you rape your wife??? | 2:11 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
You must be very naive if you think a husband cannot rape his wife. Being
married isn't a liscense to have sex whenever you desire. Even in marriage
if the wife says no and the husband doesn't stop it is rape! I do agree
that the parents should have never given consent, but just because they did that
doesn't make it right.
T | 2:13 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
Actually, when the marriage was performed with Walls and her ex-husband, the
Utah law was 14 for age of consent. It has since been changed to 16, with the
parents consent. The issue in this case, legally, was not the age of Walls, but
being forced into sexual relations without consent.
Mona | 2:17 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
Anytime someone forces sex on someone else, single or married, it is considered
rape. There was a 1979 case in Oregon where a woman accused her husband of rape
and he was convicted.
Kia | 2:25 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
Do you assume that marriage takes away a woman's right to say no? The
spousal rape law has been on the books since the early 90's. If a woman
says "no," it means "NO," regardless of whether she's
married or not. And in this case:
#1. I haven't seen anything that says this was actually a legal marriage. Everything I've seen refers to it as a "spiritual marriage".
#2. Sex with a person 14 years or younger by anyone more than 3 years older than the child is statutory rape, regardless of consent, marriage, or any other factors. That's why Tom Greene (another polygamist) was found guilty, because his wife Linda was underaged when he married and had sex with her.
The parents should also be charged as accomplices, and anyone else who encouraged this arrangement.
#1. I haven't seen anything that says this was actually a legal marriage. Everything I've seen refers to it as a "spiritual marriage".
#2. Sex with a person 14 years or younger by anyone more than 3 years older than the child is statutory rape, regardless of consent, marriage, or any other factors. That's why Tom Greene (another polygamist) was found guilty, because his wife Linda was underaged when he married and had sex with her.
The parents should also be charged as accomplices, and anyone else who encouraged this arrangement.
Momma | 2:36 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
HOW CAN A HUSBAND RAPE HIS WIFE?!!!! I can't believe in the year 2007
someone could even ask that question!!
Anonymous | 2:44 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
It Does Not Matter if you are married or not. No means No, if a husband takes
her against her wishes it is RAPE any way you want to look at it. Allthough Not
knowing all the details of their lifes it is hard to say if the husband
realized what he was doing was rape. He was probably trying to be a loyall
memeber of the group and thought this was what he was suppose to do. These
groups are neglegent in teaching the children about matters such as this. He
may be somewhat of a victim himself. I do believe he should have stood up for
the girls feeling regarding not wanting to be married. She in no way was ready
for that. The parents are the ones who should be prosecuted for failure to
protect her.
CB | 2:51 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
Good for Washington County. If Jeffs is guilty, so is Steed. We will see if a
jury agrees, but perhaps if others will also be prosecuted for the same thing,
maybe these gutless men can make their own decisions instead of relying on their
'prophet.' Obedience is not the first law of heaven, at least not
obedience to any man, whether he be a true or false prophet.
My hope... | 2:50 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
...is that they carry this all the way through...Jeffs, then the husband, then
the parents, and then anyone else who did not protect this child!!! Religious
beliefs are no excuse for blatant ignorance!!!
AZ | 2:53 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
The girl may have been 14, but the boy was 19 and he should have known better.
Shame on him!
wrz | 3:11 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
"You must be very naive if you think a husband cannot rape his wife. Being
married isn't a license to have sex whenever you desire."
Reminds me of an old joke in the Esquire Magazine:
"I have five children, all by rape."
Reminds me of an old joke in the Esquire Magazine:
"I have five children, all by rape."
wrz | 3:30 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
"It Does Not Matter if you are married or not. No means No, if a husband
takes her against her wishes it is RAPE any way you want to look at it."
Steed said that she initiated the sex. All she said was that she didn't like it and took a two bottles of sleeping pills to kill herself after. Should he have gotten a signed commitment to have sex? And she should be brought up on charges of trying to commit suicide.
Steed said that she initiated the sex. All she said was that she didn't like it and took a two bottles of sleeping pills to kill herself after. Should he have gotten a signed commitment to have sex? And she should be brought up on charges of trying to commit suicide.
Idahoan | 3:39 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
The "so-called" marriage was performed in Nevada not Utah or Arizona.
Was it filed as a legal ceremony? Probably not as it has been reported that
none of the polygamous marriages are recorded on State records and they are
simply cohabiting. That should reclude any defense claim of innocence under the
guise of marriage. The fact is that state law in most states does not allow
consensual sex at age 14.
Free Agency should not be limited to a "Do as I say or else" choice.
Free Agency should not be limited to a "Do as I say or else" choice.
Stewbad | 3:58 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
Prosecutors must be more responsibile. The Steed charge shows that
Jeffs� prosecution was political. Steed was prosecuted
second because a not guilty verdict would preclude an accomplice to rape charge.
Morals are not shocked (although they should be) when teenagers have sex,
especially when done under a marriage banner. However, an old
man�s child bride evolvement shocks the conscious
sufficiently to warrant a guilty verdict despite the he said she said
allegations of Steed and Wall and no actual rape conviction. The
prosecution�s strategy was harmful to justice and the legal
process. The Jeffs guilty verdict will be challenged and perhaps overturned
with an innocent Steed verdict. A guilty Steed verdict will be unjust if based
upon the Jeffs� prosecution (good luck finding an open
minded person unaware of the Jeffs verdict). A good reasonable doubt argument
exists. The appropriate charge for Jeffs was child endangerment, but the sex
act carrot was an easier prove than child endangerment.
Jeffs� conduct with children is horrific. His control over
the FLDS is repugnant. Political prosecutions are dangerous however. Any person
who�s value system differs from the
�moral� majority could be prosecuted.
A prosecution won�t deter the fanatical.
Salt Laker | 4:05 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
The marriage was a sham. You have to obtain a marriage license to be legally
married in the State of Utah. There was no marriage license issued in this
case. They were never legally husband and wife. He was 19 she was 14. She was
raped.
Anonymous | 5:12 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
Taking age out of the equation, were Joseph Smith's and Brigham
Young's plural marriages a sham too? They were "spiritual
marriages" against the laws of cohabitation.
Advocate or not... | 5:19 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
I agree with many of the foregoing comments. To charge and convict Mr. Jeffs
and NOT the parents would be a travesty. One of the prior articles said that
her mother stood there at the 'marriage' ceremony and urged her
daughter to say 'yes' to the marital vows spoken. That would make her
and any other adult present or supportive an accomplice in every sense of the
word!
Did Steed really force himself upon her? He waited a month for her to decide if and when she wanted to consumate the marriage. Could she not have run away many times while he was at work or otherwise? Just what is the age of accountability anyway? In many cultures and societies a 14 year old is no longer a mere child as many posters want to suggest.
Obviously, much is he-said versus she-said. Were any untruths spoken in court to further or augment one's case? Probably.
Did Steed really force himself upon her? He waited a month for her to decide if and when she wanted to consumate the marriage. Could she not have run away many times while he was at work or otherwise? Just what is the age of accountability anyway? In many cultures and societies a 14 year old is no longer a mere child as many posters want to suggest.
Obviously, much is he-said versus she-said. Were any untruths spoken in court to further or augment one's case? Probably.
The Profit | 5:31 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
Yes, JS and BY's plural marriages were a sham too. Polygamy is and always
has been false revelation by false prophets.
Provo | 5:54 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
Hooray! Now how about her parents who let it happen...
Interesting | 6:22 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
If polygamy was a false revelation by false prophets then you would have to
discount every prophet from adam to today.
Also polygamy like all regular marriages was to be a benefit to both parties. that was certainly not the case here. Nor should any marriage to a minor be condoned.
One question though:
Its a fact that there are more women in almost every era, what should be the solution to all those women who would like to be married?
Also polygamy like all regular marriages was to be a benefit to both parties. that was certainly not the case here. Nor should any marriage to a minor be condoned.
One question though:
Its a fact that there are more women in almost every era, what should be the solution to all those women who would like to be married?
GEORGIA | 6:42 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
The Prosecution of this Case was Brilliant. They have opened a huge inroad into
the Secret Community of these People. I hope the States will continue to bring
Charges against those who bully and brainwash Children into "Marrying"
Adults. I don't care what your beliefs are, no one, including Clergy, or
any Parents have the right to abuse children. This was clearly a case of gross
abuse. To tie this Girls Salvation to their twisted beliefs is heartbreaking.
The Profit | 6:53 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
...is speaking his or her own opinion, especially the idea of false prophets in
referring to our religious leaders whom we revere as prophets.
Warren Jeffs admitted ---during his jail time--- that he was a false prophet. He became the leader of the FLDS Church because of his father who was the previous "prophet".
When J. S. and B. Y. practiced plural marriage, it was NOT illegal. Yet it is always portrayed in a negative way by those who have little knowlege of how things really were.
Nor was plural marriage illegal in ancient times (recorded in The Old Testament) with some of the well-known prophets, including Jacob, whose 12 sons had various mothers. Those 12 sons became the Tribes of Israel...and there will some day be literal gathering of those tribes.
Warren Jeffs admitted ---during his jail time--- that he was a false prophet. He became the leader of the FLDS Church because of his father who was the previous "prophet".
When J. S. and B. Y. practiced plural marriage, it was NOT illegal. Yet it is always portrayed in a negative way by those who have little knowlege of how things really were.
Nor was plural marriage illegal in ancient times (recorded in The Old Testament) with some of the well-known prophets, including Jacob, whose 12 sons had various mothers. Those 12 sons became the Tribes of Israel...and there will some day be literal gathering of those tribes.
molly | 6:54 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
to AZ:
not if he was brain washed into this whole way of life! Maybe she raped him!
Polygamists always marry young teenage girls. How is this case any different than any other arranged plural marriage that the sister wives all seem to condone? And about the two being 1st cousins...Aren't most of the polygamists all inbread anyway?
not if he was brain washed into this whole way of life! Maybe she raped him!
Polygamists always marry young teenage girls. How is this case any different than any other arranged plural marriage that the sister wives all seem to condone? And about the two being 1st cousins...Aren't most of the polygamists all inbread anyway?
Anti-Profit | 6:55 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
Please...let's keep the religious rhetoric in check for a moment...you
can't just "go off" on JS and BY without doing the same with the
OT "prophets". If you�re going to have to slam
religion (in this case 19th century Mormonism), and you actually believe in God,
take it up with Him. But first you better read the OT�He
sanctioned polygamy�and he even BLESSED the generations of
the resulting offspring.
This case (BTW�a monogamous forced marriage) is about cruel power. It�s about control and fear. It�s about unconscionable rape. True religion has no place here. This is misguided culture�played over time and time again throughout the world today. I�m glad to see we won�t allow it here in America!
This case (BTW�a monogamous forced marriage) is about cruel power. It�s about control and fear. It�s about unconscionable rape. True religion has no place here. This is misguided culture�played over time and time again throughout the world today. I�m glad to see we won�t allow it here in America!
19 year old, should have.. | 7:39 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
known better? Not if this is how he was raised. He had most likely seen many
in his situation marry young women of this age. It's good I'm not on
the jury because I'd say, "Not Guilty". Did he know better? I
doubt it. It was their way of life!
And as a side note:
Many folks believe that Mary the mother of Jesus was 14 when she conceived Our Savior. Did the Holy Spirit rape Mary?
Good grief! I don't think so.
And as a side note:
Many folks believe that Mary the mother of Jesus was 14 when she conceived Our Savior. Did the Holy Spirit rape Mary?
Good grief! I don't think so.
To the Profit | 9:14 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
You say that Warren Jeffs "admitted--during his jail time---that he was a
false prophet." He never spoke those words, but it is alleged that he
wrote it on a piece of paper. Supposedly, a camera was able to zoom in on the
paper and read a "partial" portion of the note, not the whole of it.
Maybe he did write down that statement in a stressful situation...I find it no
different than when Joseph Smith got nervous and renounced Polygamy and took off
his garments before being arrested and taken to Carthrage Jail.
Brooke | 9:22 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
I do believe that there is no loving way to resolve This harm that has been done
to this young lady can be repaired if she were able to forgive. Where is the
forgiveness that should exist in our society? I believe Mr. Jeffs was doing
what he thought was in the best interest of this young couple. Why put him in
prison for the rest of his life? A person has the right to believe in his own
God. I don't believe this young lady had no power to stop this
relationship. Forgive one another is what the world needs more of.
Patriot | 10:19 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
No matter how you slice it, a fair jury decided on a fair verdict in a court
representing the American Government. A man was condemned for what he did
wrong. Good for the American public for bringing another criminal down,
let's hope we can do the same for the unknown hundreds of such cases that
happen all the time in this country, not just the ones that get national
attention.
Thank you | 10:23 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
Thanks for "The Profit"s comments. Very good! To anybody believing in
polygamy on this website, shame on you! You are backword and you will pay.
jj | 10:47 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
I think the verdict is just. I think that the legal community should keep up the
great work. It's not quiet time for a party. I'm sure that there are
plenty more children in this same situation. As for the spritual spouse, I think
he is probably under the hypnosis of Jeffs as well. Remember, it starts at
birth for the majority of these children & young people. It's ashame.
I hope that at last, the message of NO, will be followed by the word TOLERANCE.
utahkeith | 11:09 p.m. Sept. 26, 2007
Just like the DA to go after someone who testifies for their cause, what a cheap
shot!!! As guilty as the guy may be, the Justice system is dirty handed for
asking him for help to put Jeffs away, and then going after him! You can't
even trust the good guys anymore! Talk about a cheap shot! Why didn't they
charge the guy to begin with? Because then he wouldn't have testified, and
so they played the guy a dirty deal! WORD OF ADVICE: NEVER, EVER Consent to
questioning by the police or DA without the advice of a lawyer, you could get
burned for trying to help! I may sound like a cynic, but I have seen people
convicted of crimes they haven't committed, and I have seen people bullied
by police and Lawyers trying to do nothing more than cooperate. They wonder why
people are not willing to help! The guy deserves it, but not to be shafted like
this after helping the DA! Thanks for the slap in the face DA!!! The guy is
probably a double victim, of Jeffs and his "Cult", and of the
DA's office!!! This deserves a major Boo!!!!!! and Hiss!!!
wrz | 12:03 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007
The girl says she "didn't know at the time about sex or even where
babies came from." And a man (and likely two men if Steed, who is now
charged with rape, is convicted) goes to jail for life because of this?
Heavens!
I hope she is satisfied with herself. Two men in jail for life because she didn't take the time to learn about sex and where babies come from.
Steed should have avoided her like the plague. And her current husband should stay alert. Black widows are prone to eat their mates.
I hope she is satisfied with herself. Two men in jail for life because she didn't take the time to learn about sex and where babies come from.
Steed should have avoided her like the plague. And her current husband should stay alert. Black widows are prone to eat their mates.
GF | 7:36 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007
Utahkeith, did you even read the article? Wall, the guy who was charged with
rape, was testifying for the DEFENSE (Jeffs), not for the prosecution or the
District Attorney (DA). So, you want to try again?
GF | 8:08 a.m. Sept. 27, 2007
Sorry, it was Steed, not Wall. Arguement still stands. The guy was testying for
the defense.
And to "How can you rape your wife?" No means no, even if she is your wife. If she's not in the mood, and you force it on her anyway, that's rape.
And to "How can you rape your wife?" No means no, even if she is your wife. If she's not in the mood, and you force it on her anyway, that's rape.
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