Texas Court Dismisses Appeal of FLDS Leader Jeffs

KHOU
March 30, 2012

http://www.khou.com/news/texas-news/Texas-court-dismisses-appeal-of-FLDS-leader-Jeffs-145057615.html

These photos released by the Texas Department of Public Safety show the five indicted members of a West Texas polygamist sect that turned themselves into authorities, Monday, July 28, 2008 to face child sexual abuse charges. Also pictured is Warren Jeffs, the already-jailed leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. From left, top row, Raymond Merrill Jessop, 36, Allen Eugene Keate, 56, Michael George Emack, 57. Botton row, Merrill Leroy Jessop, 33, Lloyd Hammon Barlow, 38 and Jeffs.

A Texas court has dismissed the appeal of Warren Jeffs after the convicted polygamist sect leader made almost no progress on his case.

The 3rd District Court of Criminal Appeals on Thursday wrote in a two-page order that Jeffs has failed to meet filing deadlines and has altogether not responded to notices from the court.

Jeffs is the head of Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He is serving a life sentence after being convicted last year of sexually assaulting two of his underage brides at the remote West Texas ranch built by his followers.

Jeffs has represented himself since firing the last of a revolving door of lawyers during his criminal trial. He also refused to acknowledge the judge then and often sat outside the courtroom.