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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A federal judge has ruled that a Colorado sheriff's deputy acted appropriately when he arrested Seth Jeffs, brother of fugitive polygamous leader Warren Jeffs, during a traffic stop.
Pueblo County sheriff's Deputy Eric Medina pulled Seth Jeffs and driver Nathaniel Allred over on Oct. 28 after Pueblo County dispatchers received a report of a possible drunken driver.
U.S. District Judge Robert E. Blackburn on Thursday denied defense attorneys' requests to block prosecutors from using statements and evidence seized during the stop. Blackburn ruled the "totality of circumstances" warranted the stop.
Seth Jeffs was charged after the stop with harboring a fugitive, his brother.
The judge also rejected Seth Jeffs' request to unseal documents and testimony used to request a warrant to search his vehicle. Blackburn also declined a request to return items seized from Seth Jeffs' vehicle, including a computer, a GPS unit, a Palm Pilot, cell phones and calling cards.
Seth Jeffs' motion to suppress the use of information from the GPS unit was granted, with Blackburn noting that prosecutors have said they don't plan to use the device as evidence.
Warren Jeffs is prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a polygamous sect with communities in Hildale, Utah; Colorado City, Ariz.; Eldorado, Texas; Mancos, Colo., Pringle, S.D.; southeastern Nevada; and British Columbia. Warren Jeffs is wanted on a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution on an Arizona charge related to his role in facilitating the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl by a 28-year-old man.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
