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SAN ANGELO, Texas — Warren Jeffs almost certainly fathered a child with an underage girl. That testimony, given Monday, is the strongest evidence yet in his Texas trial on charges of sexually assaulting two young girls.
The probability that Jeffs fathered the child is 99.99996 percent, according to the testimony — a virtual certainty. The prosecution now has to establish the mother was 15 when the child was conceived.
The probability that Jeffs fathered the child is 99.99996 percent, according to the testimony — a virtual certainty. The prosecution now has to establish the mother was 15 when the child was conceived.
Jeffs faces life in prison for sexually assaulting the 15-year-old and another 12-year old girl — both of whom he allegedly took as spiritual wives.
Critics say it underlines the tragedy following the raid three years ago, when the Texas Supreme Court ordered more than 400 children to be returned to their FLDS parents.
"I think the abuse has continued," says former FLDS member Flora Jessop. "And I think those children have been spirited away into isolation, and we will never, ever have an opportunity to protect them again."
There is a mountain of evidence in the case against Jeffs, and it's all on paper. Much of it apparently will be used to establish marriages, ages and births connected to Jeffs.
During the law enforcement raid on the FLDS compound 3 years ago, officers reportedly found 1.7 billion pages of documents and photos — much of it involving marriage and birth records. The prosecution hopes the documentation will help prove that Jeffs took the two girls as spiritual wives and had sex with them.
Most of the records were found in the FLDS Temple and an annex building in a vault that lawmen had trouble opening even with jackhammers.
As testimony unfolded Monday about the raid, Jeffs repeatedly stood and demanded the trial be stopped. The head of the Fundamentalist LDS Church also filed a motion purporting to quote God as saying state District Judge Barbara Walther should "step away from this abuse of power against a religious and pure faith in the Lord."
After a short recess, Walther ruled the trial would continue under new Texas Supreme Court rules that went into effect Monday. They no longer require an immediate hearing to recuse a judge after evidence in a case has been heard. A hearing will eventually be held on Jeffs' motion, but it's unclear when.
The bottom line is if you're religious beliefs say that you have a right to abuse children, then America better stand up; because if religion says that's what you can do, then religion is wrong.
–Jeffs' critic
Throughout the hearing, Jeffs continued his objections, saying the trial was defiling the sacred edifice of his religion and trampling on the religious freedom of his people.
"This proceeding is unjust and against an innocent people being derided by the public," Jeffs said Monday. "There is taking place an action that cannot be undone."
Prosecutors usually ignore his objections, and let Walther overrule them. But lead prosecutor Eric Nichols finally responded, "this is not a proceeding against a people. This is a proceeding against an individual named Warren Steed Jeffs."
Jeffs' critics outside the courtroom agreed with the prosecutor.
"The bottom line is if you're religious beliefs say that you have a right to abuse children, then America better stand up; because if religion says that's what you can do, then religion is wrong," one man said.
The trial has been moving slowly, partly because of Jeffs' frequent speeches and objections — all of which the judge has overruled.
Still waiting in the wings is an audio recording of an alleged sexual assault on the 12-year-old. Private investigator Sam Brower says that tape was seized five years ago, but the judge in Jeffs' Utah trial ruled it inadmissible in that case.
"In his own words, he said it was 'too inflammatory.'" Brower said. "In my opinion, that's like saying the murder weapon is too inflammatory to introduce in a trial."
Brower says he has heard the tape and it shocked him. He says it was apparently recorded in the FLDS temple as Jeffs assaulted the girl.
The private investigator says two other women were involved in the sex act.
Written by John Hollenhorst with contributions from The Associated Press.
