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	Range of Emotions for Courtroom Spectators By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times August 4, 2011 http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2011/aug/04/range-of-emotions-for-courtroom-spectators/ Flora Jessop experienced strong emotions watching Warren Jeffs' trial. She had been a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for much of her life, and Jeffs had been her spiritual leader, through whom she believed God spoke. "It was emotionally draining, just hearing his voice for the first time in 25 years," Jessop said. "I remember thinking of him as a larger than life prophet. Now I know he was just a pedophile." Jeffs, 55, has been found guilty of two counts of sexual assault of girls 12 and 15 years old. He gave several long addresses in court about needing religious protection. Jessop also brought her daughter. "She is seeing what she missed out on by me leaving," Jessop said. Jessop said she left the FLDS when she was 16 years old, after being a child bride herself. Now she works with a children's rights organization. Jessop is among many watching the trial almost purely as a spectator. Miranda Green, of San Antonio, and her husband had cut a vacation in New Mexico short because of wildfires and decided to stop in San Angelo on their way home, not knowing the trial would be occurring when they arrived. "This is hundreds of years of history right here, right now," Green said. Green has read several books about the FLDS, and she and her husband had driven to the FLDS Yearning for Zion Ranch and caught a glimpse of the white temple gleaming in the distance. She was sitting in the courtroom July 28, wearing a T-shirt that said "People are crazy." It was just after Jeffs had announced that he would defend himself. That shocked many trial-watchers, including San Angeloan Bitsy Stone. "I was stunned," said Stone, who opened her home to social workers when more than 400 children were removed from the YFZ Ranch in April 2008. Even with all the unfolding drama, the proceedings had their dull moments, as Steven Schooler, a young professional new to San Angelo, noted. "It's pretty lackluster," Schooler said. At one point as evidence was admitted, Schooler had his head on his hand, eyes closed. Others who have been in the courtroom include writers, curious attorneys, family members of the attorneys involved in the case and members of the FLDS, including Jeffs' brother Lyle Jeffs. Among the hardest moment for those in the court was listening to an audio recording of Jeffs' alleged rape of the 12-year-old girl. "I tried to detach, but it was very emotional," said Bridget Cook, an author of hopeful stories who had come from Utah. She said she has a 12-year-old of her own. After Jeffs called his first witness for the guilt and innocence phase of the trial, Stone said there was no telling what might happen. "It's so bizarre," Stone said. "You don't know what will come next."
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