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ST. GEORGE -- No plea deal has been reached in the case against Allen Glade Steed, charged with rape in the fallout from the criminal prosecution of polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs.
Steed was due in court on Tuesday for what was calendared as a "special setting resolution" hearing, but his attorney, Jim Bradshaw, told KSL NewsRadio that no plea deal had been reached.
"We tried to, but didn't quite get there," he said. "We've had some discussions but we haven't finalized everything yet."
Instead, 5th District Court records show that lawyers discussed the statute of limitations on rape and the defense indicated it planned to file a motion seeking to dismiss the criminal charge. An evidence hearing will be scheduled in the case, court minutes said.
The Washington County Attorney's Office did not immediately return calls seeking comment on Tuesday morning.
Steed, 28, was charged with first-degree felony rape in the aftermath of the conviction of Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leader Warren Jeffs. He testified on behalf of Jeffs, who was convicted of performing a marriage between Steed and Elissa Wall.
Steed was 19 years old at the time, Wall was 14.
Wall was the prosecution's star witness in the case against Jeffs. She testified she was forced into the marriage. Jeffs, 52, was ultimately convicted of rape as an accomplice and sentenced to a pair of five years to life sentences.
Jeffs, who was once on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, is currently facing charges in Arizona, accusing him of performing other marriages. He is also facing criminal charges in Texas.
E-mail: bwinslow@ksl.com
