Deseret News | Jessop convicted of sexual assault

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Jessop convicted of sexual assault

Do the dirt-- do the time | 10:08 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009

And It's about time!

Standing ovation | 10:43 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009

*APPLAUSE*

who were the jurors? | 4:34 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

I would like to know if any of the FLDS women ended up being jurors or not. They had an article here a couple days ago saying that they would be considered and would most likely be on the jury because its a smal community.

Comments continue below

Only If 375 | 5:51 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Thank goodness for the smart people on the jury who were able to see through the garbage that the defense attorney was feeding them and thank goodness for a great prosecutor who was able to make the truth known even with the restrictions placed on him by the court.
Y'all are awesome!

Don't mess with Texas!

Dave | 8:01 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

I've always believed that ones religion is his/her own choice. All religions offer up "something" that fills a need in the life of those that choose that particular religion. There are few, if any, FLDS that have choosen that religion...but rather were born into it...grew up in it. The only choice they have is if they "choose" to leave it. In...or out...of any religion, we are all subject to the laws of the land. Here in America, it is American laws that connot be broken without some form of punishment. The laws may be different in other countries but nevertheless, still must be abided by. In either case...here or somewhere else in the world...religions cannot cry "religious pursecution" when their doctrine is contrary to the law. They can cry anything else...but not pursecution...and in this case, the FLDS doctrine cries "damn the law". So... just like anyone else who has broken the law, there is a price to pay.

Only If 375 | 8:17 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

From what the news reports have said, there were no flds on the jury. There were 17 prospective flds, 7 of them stated that they were blood related to Jessop.
The jury consisted of 7 men and 5 women, with 2 women as alternates.
If the defense didn't think that they were going to get a fair trial, they could have asked for a change of venue, which it appears they didn't.

Cosmo | 9:13 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Now that the facts have spoken, It is my hope that the FLDS, will cease the game playing, and the playing with the hearts of people, especially, young ladies. Marriage and family are serious stuff, not to be taken lightly, and women are not a box of cracker jacks, to be passed around! It is time to crawl out of the 19th century folks, and get with life as it is. You have to be in the world, not of the world! Big difference.

do it the right way | 9:21 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Don't know if it will stick.
The whole prosecution is based upon a false/fake report.
They should have done it the right way, and gotten a valid search warrant.
The whole case, and future cases are corupted.
Although it makes me sick what is going on, I certainly am concerned about the legality of the raid.
If the police can do it to them, they can do it to me.
There are bigger constitutional issues, which the US supreme court will end up dealing with.
My guess is that all the convictions will be overturned due to violation of their constitutional rights.
As it should be.

G | 9:25 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

I'm not condoning Texas CPS--but how could he have had a real trial if FLDS members were on the jury? Impartiality would have been impossible.

JT | 9:41 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

I'm happy they used DNA evidence. The poor girl was too young. The infamous FLDS attorney and his rediculous stance didn't win in Texas. I hope this brings major change in the FLDS religous ways.

St. George area | 9:44 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Let's continue with this is Southern Utah. These abusive men need to be brought to justice. The teenage boys can give the authorities information now that they have been kicked out of the compound. The things that they are saying show the same abuse is just as prevalent here.

to do it @ 9:21 | 10:08 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

You're not an attorney, are you. You are just someone ranting without knowing the facts supporting the prosecutors' decision to bring the case to trial. There were motions by the defense to exclude the evidence, but that part of the case was ruled on and we all moved forward. Except you.

oh come on | 10:14 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

this makes the state of utah look like we are all a bunch of misfits...these guys and others break the law on a continual basis! enough!

Charles | 10:18 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

FLDS members have demonstrated that they have clear limits in accepting the authority of the government --see their practice of "bleeding the beast" as an example, as well as the "spiritual marriages" obviously so-called to dodge the bigamy laws. It would be easy for a lawyer to argue to a judge that an FLDS member would never be willing and able to render a fair and impartial verdict based solely on the evidence in a case against their own. The FLDS have, by their own practices, effectively excluded themselves from any jury, if a prosecutor makes half an effort to challenge them for cause.

945 | 10:50 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

This is GOOD news! I'm glad the state of Texas is holding these men responsible for their horrendous acts. These girls have no choice but to submit to rape, are assigned and reassigned to different men, and are made dependent on this sick group for their survival as they are impregnated at a young age and have no education or means for providing for themselves and their children in a world that they are taught to fear. Perhaps holding these men responsible will be a first step in breaking apart this organization that is so harmful to women and children.

Utah should have done this a long time ago! They SUPPORT the men in the group, allowing them to continue to abuse children, by buying all the food and paying all the medical expenses of the FLDS in their state. This group could not continue to thrive if they had to support all these children with their own money.

I hope this is a first step to freedom for the women and children of the FLDS

Yeah | 11:00 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

May the trials and guilty verdicts continue. After Texas, I hope that the State of Utah has the guts to prosecute for similiar crimes that are occurring in Utah.

re:10:08 | 11:33 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Texas rulings hold up about as well as those from San Francisco.
The inital warrant was based upon a lie.
That is why the state was ordered to return 500 children back to the compound.
All evidence obtained from the poisonous warrant is going to be excluded.
I think these men(use the word losely) are criminals who need to be put away for life.
However, the police messed the whole case up.
If this raid is held up then the government can raid religous compounds(temples) all over the country if they feel like it.
As I said it is my non-attorney opinion, that the case will be appealed the the US supreme court and the whole thing will be thrown out.
As it should be.
We can not break the law and allow the police to violate basic constitutional rights because we really want to get someone.
You have to DO IT THE RIGHT WAY

Anonymous | 12:08 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Lock him up long time. Now he will get to see what it is like to be victimized in jail.

From Georgia | 12:18 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!

Chris | 2:16 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

I hope this ruling will wake up the FLDS and help them understanding it is not for young girls to be forced into marriages--even though they claim they are divinely inspired.

Why???? | 3:14 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Why was Keifer Sutherland dressed in a cop's uniform leading the guy away? Was this a movie mock-up?

Utah Tea Party... | 4:40 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

First step in getting rid of a society of sex perverts, that have used religion to justify evil acts to children and naive women.

Way to go TEXAS. You had the courage to do what Utah (Utah Constitution which bans polygamy) couldn't or wouldn't do.

Lets have a TEA Party against polygamy all of you Constitutionalists. Show your true colors in adhering to the Utah State Constitution.

Mark Shurtlef we need you to go after these people, now that you have some extra time. PLEASE

Anonymous | 5:55 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

I hope this is the beginning of the end of these religious prisons; it would be nice to see utah and arizona prosecute them, too.

John Pack Lambert | 6:34 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

There were no FLDS people on the jury.

Catappy | 11:37 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

There were no FLDS people on the jury.

I'm sure the prosecution made quite sure there weren't. HUGE conflict of interest there, wouldn't you say?

Auntie Em | 9:27 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Now on to prosecute the rest of those men!!! Way to go, Texas!!!

Only If 375 | 3:22 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

I agree Catappy, I don't think that they would have been able to find an flds who didn't know him or wasn't blood related.

Only If 375 | 3:24 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

Hopefully the results will be the same, Auntie Em, it's about time those girls were set free. Slavery was abolished a long time ago.

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