Polygamist Warren Jeffs Guilty of Child Rape, KABC, August 4, 2011

Polygamist Warren Jeffs Guilty of Child Rape

KABC
August 4, 2011

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Douglas C. Pizac-Pool/Getty Images

A jury has found polygamist religious leader Warren Jeffs guilty of child rape.

Jeffs, the leader of a radical polygamist sect of Mormonism known as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (FLDS), was found guilty of forcing two teenage girls into "spiritual marriage," and fathering a child with one of them when she was 15. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Jeffs, who acted as his own lawyer, called only one witness in his defense. The witness was a fellow member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints who, at Jeffs' direction, read at length from the Book of Mormon. During the trial, Jeffs frequently interrupted testimony.

He ended the trial in silence Thursday, standing mute for nearly half an hour during the time designated for his closing argument.

Every five minutes, District Court Judge Barbara Walther would remind Jeffs of the time. Spectators in the gallery exchanged smiles and odd glances. One security officer did his best to stifle a yawn.

Finally, at the conclusion of the 25 minutes allotted to Jeffs for his summation, Jeffs turned toward the jury with a slight smile and said quietly, "I am at peace."

Texas state prosecutors wrapped up their case against Jeffs by using his own words against him: a disturbing August 2006 recording of what Jeffs' called a "heavenly comfort" training session with three of his so-called "spiritual wives."

Earlier, lead prosecutor Eric Nichols gave an impassioned closing argument as he summarized the evidence for the jury, occasionally jabbing his finger toward Jeffs. He urged them to convict Jeffs, who he said cast sexual acts in terms of religious principals.

One of the females was exactly 12 years, one month, and three days old when the recording was made. Jeffs was charged with aggravated sexual assault for this incident, considered a first-degree felony.