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bacasper
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
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 Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 1:45 am Post subject: Polygamist leader Jeffs' conviction voided |
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| On the Texas polygamist hearing turns into farce thread, stillnotking wrote: |
Exactly... bacasper, I'm sympathetic to your basic argument here, but your apparent belief that there was "no evidence" of any abuse is preposterous. There are books full of survivors' stories from this evil, abusive cult. There is no question that the FLDS were committing horrendous crimes, including statutory rape and incest, on a regular basis. The state did what it had to do.
The ACLU is on site to make sure no one's rights are violated. Which is good -- it's their job, and it's necessary. But it will be a real shame if the state screws up this prosecution.
Check out the Wikipedia entry on Warren Jeffs for a little light reading sometime. Or read Under the Banner of Heaven, if you have a strong stomach. |
I guess the state DID screw it up - big-time, and once again:
Conviction of polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs voided
Updated 3d 3h ago
By Dennis Wagner, USA TODAY
The Utah Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned the rape-as-an-accomplice conviction of Warren Jeffs, the prophet and leader of a polygamist sect based on the Arizona-Utah border.
In a unanimous decision, justices found that jurors in the case were given improper legal instructions by Washington County, Utah, Judge James Shumate before reaching their 2007 verdict that Jeffs contributed to the 2001 sexual assault of teenage victim Elissa Wall, then 14, by directing her to marry an adult cousin.
Jeffs, 54, once was listed among the FBI's most wanted fugitives and faced criminal prosecutions related to child rapes in three states. He is serving two sentences of five years to life in the Utah State Prison.
ARIZONA: State abandons case against Jeffs
Because Mohave County, Ariz., prosecutors dismissed the Arizona charges against Jeffs in June, the Utah Supreme Court decision could mean the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints faces criminal charges only in Texas.
Brian Filter, senior deputy in the Washington County Attorney's Office, said prosecutors have not decided whether Jeffs will be retried. "From the beginning, we've sought justice in this case, and that's what we'll continue to do," Filter said.
The ruling stunned former church member Flora Jessop of Phoenix, who wept as she denounced the court's findings: "I think the Supreme Court of Utah just raped Elissa Wall, and I wonder who's going to prosecute that case." Jessop, who alleges she was abused in the sect before she fled at age 16, said, "It's a betrayal of all of us � every child victim. ... It just sickens me."
Jeffs' Utah attorney, Walter Bugden Jr., said it was "thrilling" to see judges stand up for the rule of law by vindicating a man who has been vilified in Utah and nationwide.
Noting that the sect is a historic offshoot from the mainstream Mormon Church, which renounced polygamy more than a century ago, Bugden said, "The Utah Supreme Court was willing to exonerate a religious figure who is very unpopular in this state. ... It's a significant decision because of Utah's religious roots."
Wall has gone public with her story, including co-authoring a book called Stolen Innocence. She could not be reached for comment, and her attorney, Roger Hoole, was unavailable.
The Utah Supreme Court found Judge Shumate incorrectly advised jurors they could find Jeffs guilty as an accomplice to rape based on the notion that his authority and marriage ceremony led to the sexual assault, regardless of whether that was his intent.
At least 10 FLDS male sect members have been convicted in Arizona and Texas on charges related to sexual abuse of child brides. |
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Kepler
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 5:02 am Post subject: |
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Charges against him may have been dismissed in Utah, but not in Texas:
"Earlier on day 8 of the trial, the jury of 10 women and two men heard an audio recording of Jeffs allegedly having sex with the 12-year-old girl he is accused of taking as a wife � with two other wives present, and possibly participating.
"Jeffs is heard panting and breathing heavily throughout the 21-minute tape recording. And while it was difficult to hear some portions due to background noise, a girl�s voice occasionally can be heard and Jeffs twice refers to the alleged victim by name.
"The girl is not heard resisting, and there are no overt references to sex.
"But prosecutors had earlier presented testimony that certain phrases heard on the tape are used by Jeffs and his followers to refer to sex, including 'heavenly comfort' and 'heavenly sessions.'
"Just before the tape ends, Jeffs is heard saying, 'In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.'
"And three female voices are heard replying, 'Amen.'
"The recording was apparently made inside the soaring white temple located at the polygamous sect�s YFZ Ranch, according to other records presented by the prosecution....
"On Tuesday, prosecutors had introduced three other audio recordings, including a 90-minute recording of Jeffs apparently giving the 14-year-old victim, along with 11 other wives, a lesson on group sex, becoming comfortable nude and how to care for their body hair. They listened to the December 2004 'training' after undressing and putting on white robes. Obedience and cooperation as a key to God�s love were a running theme in all three recordings."
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/52318021-78/jeffs-tape-sex-girl.html.csp |
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Kepler
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
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| Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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He'll probably spend the rest of his life in prison:
"SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) � Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs recorded everything he said. Thousands of pages, written with Biblical flourish, about God wanting him to take 12-year-old wives. About those girls needing to sexually please him. About men he banished for not building his temple fast enough.
"Facing his last chance to keep his freedom, Jeffs didn't say a word.
"He was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for sexually assaulting one of his child brides � among 24 underage wives prosecutors said Jeffs collected � and received the maximum 20-year punishment on a separate child sex conviction. Jeffs, 55, will not be eligible for parole until he is at least 100 years old...."
http://news.yahoo.com/polygamist-leader-gets-life-prison-assault-171324613.html |
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Ineverlie&I'malwaysri
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:09 am Post subject: |
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| What makes you so sure this new conviction won't ultimately be voided? |
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wombatsincombat
Joined: 08 Aug 2011
Location: United States
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:43 am Post subject: |
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The man got life for ruining two girls lives, and the guy who shot everyone in Norway got 23 years?
America's justice system is screwed. The punishments are more severe and yet we have a lot more crime than Norway. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:36 am Post subject: |
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| The dude in Norway very well may spend the rest of his life incarcerated. The thing is that the time past 23 years isn't part of the punitive prison sentence. |
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wombatsincombat
Joined: 08 Aug 2011
Location: United States
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:44 am Post subject: |
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| Oh! Thanks for clearing that bit up for me, I guess I didn't understand the sentencing. So he will be in prison for longer? It just hasn't been decided yet? |
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Ineverlie&I'malwaysri
Joined: 09 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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| ^ Wrong thread. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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