Polygamous leader asks again to be let out of jail

Polygamous leader asks again to be let out of jail

(Associated Press)


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SALT LAKE CITY — A high-ranking polygamous sect leader accused of helping orchestrate a multimillion-dollar food stamp fraud scheme says he should be let out of jail since the trial has been pushed back to October.

Lyle Jeffs' attorney says in new court filing Thursday that her client's constitutional rights will be violated if he's kept behind bars until October.

The 10 other defendants in the case have been granted supervised release pending trial.

Federal public defender Kathryn Nester says none of the other defendants have tried to flee, disproving the prosecution's theory that none of them respect court orders due to their religious beliefs.

In April, U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart denied Jeffs' previous request to be let out, saying Jeffs couldn't be trusted to adhere to conditions of release because of his loyalty to his brother, Warren Jeffs.

Warren Jeffs is considered the prophet of the Fundamentalist LDS Church by his followers. Investigators say he continues to lead the church from his prison cell in Texas where he is serving a life sentence for sexually assaulting two underage brides.

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