Polygamist Leader Gets 5 Years to Life
By JENNIFER DOBNER,AP
Posted: 2007-11-20 17:14:52
ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) - A judge on Tuesday sentenced a polygamous-sect leader to five years to life in prison for his role in the arranged marriage of teenage cousins.
Warren Jeffs, 51, was convicted of rape as an accomplice for his role in the marriage of a 14-year-old follower and her 19-year-old cousin in 2001. The sentences are to be served consecutively.
It will be up to the Utah parole board to decide just how long he stays behind bars.
Jeffs is head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, whose members practice polygamy in arranged marriages that have often involved placing young girls with older men. Most FLDS members live in the twin communities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., about 350 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.
Washington County prosecutors said Jeffs enticed Elissa Wall into marriage and sex against her will by telling her the relationship was commanded by God and that any refusal would place her salvation at risk.
Jurors said Wall's age was a major factor in their decision. Under Utah law, a 14-year-old can consent to sex in some circumstances. But it is not considered consensual if a person under 18 is enticed by someone at least three years older.
2007-11-20 09:48:08 · 11 answers · asked by marnefirstinfantry 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
On a scale of 1-10 (1=too light, 5= just right,10=too harsh), please rate if justice was served in the sentencing and time offered polygamist Warren jeffs.......
2007-11-20 09:50:56 · update #1
1. What he was doing was completely wrong. Forced marriage of a child, incest, rape... need I go on? And I'm sure she wasn't the only one. If someone was an accomplice to raping me, I'd want them to go to prison for life. He will do it again if he's let out.
2007-11-26 17:46:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
1
2007-11-20 11:51:48 · answer #2 · answered by janine o 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Great question! Warren Jeffs should go to prison for life, for all of the lives he's destroyed.Sadly,I think he will get a slap on the wrist.
2016-04-05 00:40:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
2
It's actually 2 five year sentences, which will be served seperately, so a minimum of 10 years before parole-- hopefully, if he lives that long, parole will be denied to that egotistical monster and he will spend the remainder of his days in prison.
2007-11-26 09:00:18 · answer #4 · answered by strplng warrior mom 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It was about a 2.
For goodness sakes he arranged the marriage of a child to her cousin. That I not only incest, but legally rape.
2007-11-20 10:30:20 · answer #5 · answered by smedrik 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It should be 50
2007-11-24 06:50:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
ok the statutory rape charges should yield more than 5 years in prison. now as for being a cult leader, dunno if that should even be a crime because the people who joined up did so on their own. and even though hes in jail right now, the cult keeps on going. hard to say what to do about cults because yes they brainwash and put people into bondage, but in a way, those people can still choose to get out of there too...nothing is ever written in stone.
2007-11-23 03:30:04 · answer #7 · answered by shrekky 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
1- he is a pedophyle pimp. Those kinds of people should never be allowed out of prison. He is even worse because he claims that he is doing it in the name of God.
2007-11-26 06:49:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
George, it should of been more, I say! In Jeffs mind, he wanted to play god and enforce his sickened rules to others.
He should be condemned for all eternity!
2007-11-20 13:55:12 · answer #9 · answered by ♪ Brunette Latina ♫ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I give him a -1. what he did is wrong.
2007-11-26 07:16:33 · answer #10 · answered by Captain Galactic 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋