Now a subject of multiple true-crime works, Warren Jeffs was once a cult leader of FLDS and admired by many followers. This continued until recently when the truths of his ghastly polygamy first surfaced. As the Churh’s head, he had 78 wives in addition to his legal spouse, per Bustle. By 2011, about twenty-four of these women were under the age of 17.
The outlet reported that allegations against Jeffs first surfaced when Arizona authorities indicted him of sexual conduct with a minor. Other charges included conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor in 2005. Moreover, he also faced two counts of rape as an accomplice in Utah the following year. He also made it to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list until his arrest in August 2006.
Reportedly, Jeffs, a sexual predator, was sentenced to life in prison with an additional 20 years in 2011 for sexually assaulting two girls.
Warren Jeffs conviction: Where is the former FLDS Chruch leader now?
According to The Florida Times-Union, in August 2011, a jury convicted polygamist leader Warren Jeffs of sexually assaulting two underage followers. As head of the FLDS Church, Jeffs took the minors under him brides in “spiritual marriages.” Following this, he received a life sentence with an additional 20 years and is currently serving his sentence at the Louis C. Powledge Unit in Palestine, Texas.
The outlet reported that the prosecution presented DNA evidence to prove that Jeffs fathered a child with a 15-year-old during his spectacular trial. They also played an audio recording in which he could be heard sexually assaulting a 12-year-old. Other evidence included recorded tapes of him giving instructions to his young wives on how to please him sexually. The prosecution also alleged that the sexual predator urged young girls to have sex with him, calling these sessions “heavenly” or “celestial.”
Reportedly, Jeffs was able to evade his arrest as a fugitive for years. The disgraced church leader even made it to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list. Authorities finally apprehended him in Las Vegas in 2006. Before his conviction, Jeffs once faced charges in Arizona after authorities arrested him there in 2005. He was also convicted of accessory to rape in Utah in 2007 but the Supreme Court overturned his conviction. Following this, he was extradited to Texas.
