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SAN ANGELO, Texas — A Texas judge has selected a jury for the sexual assault trial of polygamist leader Warren Jeffs.
A jury of 10 women and two men was selected Tuesday evening after a very long day in court. It was an exhausting process to narrow down the jury pool from nearly 300 people.
A total of 207 prospective jurors returned to the courthouse Tuesday, to undergo questioning about their backgrounds and whether they could be impartial should they be seated on the jury.
By late afternoon, more than half of those potential jurors had been excused. As of 5 p.m., just 87 remained; and the final selection of 12 was made at around 8 p.m.
Jeffs — escorted by several officers and again dressed in a suit and tie, and not wearing restraints — is accused of sexually assaulting and marrying a 14-year-old girl along with a 12-year-old girl at the Yearning for Zion Ranch, just outside of the small town of Eldorado, Texas.
Judge Barbara Walther is working from such a large jury pool because of all of the publicity involving this case in this region of Texas.
Jurors were asked questions about their religious views and if they can abide by the law involving a jury trial.
From the questions being asked of prospective jurors, we got a glimpse of the prosecution's case against Jeffs. For instance, the jury pool was asked if they could convict someone of a sex crime without DNA evidence. Also, an explanation was given about the difference between direct and circumstantial evidence.
The Texas attorney general won't comment on whether the alleged victims will be called to testify themselves, but prosecutors have carried numerous boxes of evidence into the courtroom. Most of that evidence against Jeffs was seized during the raid on the FLDS compound three years ago.
Even though the call that led police to the ranch turned out to be a hoax, it is likely the judge will allow evidence pertaining to the raid to be admitted at trial. Walther has previously refused to suppress similar evidence in the cases of seven FLDS men already prosecuted for sex crimes involving underage girls at the YFZ ranch.
If Jeffs' legal team could get that evidence suppressed, however, it would be a major victory for Jeffs.
The Texas attorney general prosecuting Jeffs has been personally involved in the jury selection and told KSL News he hopes this case will send a message that men taking child brides will be prosecuted.
Email: spenrod@ksl.com
