SAN ANGELO, Texas – Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, who heads a breakaway Mormon sect, has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting two-underage girls he claimed as “spiritual” brides.
The Texas jury deliberated for less than an hour yesterday before giving him a 99-year sentence for one charge and 20 years for a second, the maximum for both.
Prosecutors said Jeffs (55), had “played a sick game of child molestation under the guise of religious ceremony”. He was convicted last week of aggravated sexual assault on a child and sexual assault on a child in connection with two girls he “married” when they were 12 and 14 years old.
Jeffs fathered a child with the older girl at his sect’s Yearning for Zion ranch in rural Texas and was heard on audio recordings telling groups of teenage girls they would be “rejected by God” if they refused his sexual advances.
Considered the spiritual leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Jeffs had argued that the Texas court was trampling on his religious rights by trying the case.
His sect, which experts estimate has 10,000 followers in North America, has been condemned by the mainstream Mormon Church and is accused of promoting marriages between older men and girls.
The case against Jeffs and others stems from an April 2008 raid on the sect’s compound in Eldorado, Texas. Authorities took custody of some 400 children but later returned them to their families after DNA tests.
“Mr Jeffs had his big house, where he chose to warehouse hundreds of girls and women for his sexual gratification,” assistant Texas attorney general Eric Nichols told the jury in closing arguments.
“The state of Texas has a big house too and that is where Warren Jeffs should spend the rest of his days,” he said.
Jeffs, who represented himself during his trial but had lawyers during the sentencing phase, told his attorneys to refrain from making closing arguments on his behalf. He made a written request for probation.
Some legal experts have argued that because the case was triggered by a false report of abuse, the evidence gathered in the raid could be disallowed.
Judge Barbara Walther however allowed evidence that prosecutors said proved Jeffs had abused his position to have sex with girls as young as 12.
A dozen defendants connected to the Yearning for Zion ranch have been indicted on sexual assault of a child, bigamy or other charges, according to Texas attorney general’s office.
Eight have been convicted on felony charges and the others are awaiting trial. – (Reuters)