Plan to Bring Jeffs to Utah is Still Secret

Plan to Bring Jeffs to Utah is Still Secret


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John Hollenhorst ReportingWarren Jeffs has not gone to Purgatory yet, but he's expected any day now -- that's the Purgatory Correctional Facility in Southwestern Utah. When he's brought to Utah from Las Vegas, the captured polygamist leader will spend weeks or months there awaiting trial.

The man revered as prophet by the FLDS church is accustomed to life in huge homes and on the road in wide open spaces, especially in his year as a fugitive. Now, when he's finally brought back to Utah, he'll be locked up in a small cell 23 hours a day.

The Purgatory Correctional Facility is Washington County's only jail. Authorities have not revealed a timetable for bringing Jeffs here, but when he comes it will likely be in cars, under heavy guard, like another inmate brought in from Las Vegas recently.

Jeffs will essentially be in solitary, 23 hours a day. At a news conference last week Sheriff Kirk Smith called it "administrative segregation".

Kirk Smith, Sheriff, Washington County, Thursday: "He'll be allowed out for one hour a day. That will be to make phone calls, to shower, and to exercise."

23 hours a day Jeffs will be able to read or sleep in his one man cell. Meals will be brought to him there. He'll be allowed visitors one or two hours each week.

The plan for Jeffs' move from Las Vegas is being kept secret, even though the sheriff says he has no information to suggest there will be trouble from Jeffs' followers.

Sheriff Kirk Smith, Thursday: "That group has historically, historically it has been very docile."

Some have speculated that Jeffs will continue to command the faithful while he's behind bars. If so, he may have to be somewhat guarded in what he says. His telephone calls from the jail will be monitored.

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