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Richard Piatt ReportingPolygamous leader Warren Jeffs faced a Utah judge for the first time, today, since his arrest last week. Police arrested him during a traffic stop in Nevada last week.
It was formal. It was brief. It was the first step toward prosecuting Warren Jeffs, and his first Utah court appearance today.
Warren Jeffs sat stone-faced and sounded subdued, even as a judge formally read the serious charges against him, two counts of first degree rape as an accomplice.
Judge: "Do you understand that, sir?"
Jeffs: "Yes."
Judge: "Thank you Mr. Jeffs."
Jeffs' first Utah court appearance actually took place on a closed circuit hookup between the courthouse and the Purgatory jail. Still, there was a heavy police presence outside the 5th District court in St. George.
Craig Harding, St. George Police Department: "What we want to do is identify anything unusual going on around the courthouse, any unusual people."
The first order for Warren Jeffs is to find a Utah lawyer, and he is under pressure to find one. Judge John Shumate set both a preliminary hearing and bail hearing for the 19th of this month.
The Washington County attorney is already confident about the state's case, implying still more charges are possible.
Brock Belnap, Washington County Attorney: "We bring charges when we have sufficient evidence and a reasonable likelihood there would be a conviction. And that's why we're moving forward on this case. There is nothing to say more charges may come in the future if sufficient evidence were developed to support a charge."
Until Jeffs has a Utah attorney, his response to the charges--even the issue of bail--is on hold. Warren Jeffs will appear in court again Monday to check on his lawyer situation.
For now, Warren Jeffs---ex-most wanted, the man thousands see as a prophet--is locked up at the Purgatory jail.
