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	Polygamist FLDS Leader Jeffs Found Guilty of Sexual Assault By Kiah Collier and Matthew Waller The Republic August 4, 2011 http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/jeffs-guilty052511/jeffs-guilty052511/ A Texas County jury Thursday found polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs guilty of one count of sexual assault of a child and one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child. The verdict came after the Tom Green County jury deliberated for three hours and 45 minutes Thursday. The sentencing phase of the trial, in which the prosecution and defense can present arguments, witnesses and evidence for the jury to consider as it deliberates on penalties, began Thursday afternoon. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot said the sentencing phase could take three days. Jeffs displayed no reaction when the verdict was read. During closing arguments just after noon Thursday, Jeffs, head of the polygamy-sanctioning Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, stood silent before the jury for 24 minutes, gazing into space. Then he said, "I am at peace," and stood mute another five minutes before sitting down In mid-afternoon Thursday, the jury asked to have a transcript provided of the testimony of a witness, former FLDS member Rebecca Musser, and to have equipment to be able to again listen to audio recordings entered in evidence. Musser testified for hours about the importance in the sect of keeping recordings. The audio recordings included an alleged sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl, the giving of sexual instructions to a group of girls and women, and the giving of religious instructions. State Judge Barbara Walther denied the request for copies of the testimony, saying that specific parts could be read back to the jury by the court reporter in open court but not printed and given to the jury. In his closing arguments earlier, Special Prosecutor Eric Nichols reminded jurors of the DNA evidence presented during the nine-day trial and the audio recording Nichols said was of Jeffs having sex with a 12-year-old girl. Jeffs fired his court-appointed attorneys before the trial began and served as his own legal advocate. His defense included a long discourse on religious freedom and the history of his religion, which is a breakaway Mormon sect. Emily Detoto, one of the attorneys Walther ordered to stand by in case Jeffs needed assistance, said she wasn't surprised by his actions during the closing arguments. "It was in no way arrogant," said Detoto, who wasn't in the courtroom to observe the closing. "He is a peaceful person." Detoto added, "Mr. Jeffs' defense always has been religious freedom." She said she wished Jeffs had been given more time to prepare his defense and that she was supportive when he decided to represent himself. Earlier in the day, Jeffs sought to continue questioning the only witness he called, FLDS member J.D. Roundy, who testified for four hours on Wednesday about FLDS religious tenets. However, Walther halted the testimony shortly after it began Thursday. Jeffs was charged with with two counts of sexual assault of a child related to his "celestial marriage" of two girls. He faces a maximum of 119 years in prison.
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