Arizona Jury Convicts Polygamist of Sex Offenses


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KINGMAN, Ariz. (AP) -- A jury on Wednesday convicted a Colorado City polygamist of sex offenses related to his marriage to an underage girl.

The jurors in Kingman took about 40 minutes to find David Bateman guilty of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy.

Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said Bateman was 44 years old when he had sex with the 17-year-old girl in 2001.

The girl got pregnant and had a child.

Bateman faces up to two years in prison at a sentencing that was set for Dec. 21.

The trial on the two felony charges -- sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor -- began Tuesday in Kingman, the county seat.

It was the third of eight trials scheduled for Arizona polygamists accused of taking underage brides. The first trials led to a conviction and an acquittal.

Bateman's lawyer, Bruce Griffen, had tried to argue the state couldn't prove that the sexual act in question took place in Mohave County.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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