Self-proclaimed polygamist “prophet” Warren Jeffs has been sentenced to life in prison in Texas following his conviction last week on charges of sexual abuse against minors, according to televised reports on CNN. Besides violating Texas state law, Warren Jeffs has had his fair share of legal trouble right here in Arizona, as well as in Utah. The charges in each state involved sexual abuse or rape charges.
Warren Jeffs Gets Life In Prison For Child Sex Abuse
While Jeffs, 55, was able to skirt officially going to trial and being convicted of an accomplice to rape charge in Arizona last summer, he did spend more than two years in a Mojave County jail after his initial arrest. Warren Jeffs was extradited to Texas following his release from the Arizona jail, which ultimately resulted in the developments we’ve seen over the last week. Get more back story here on AZCentral.com.
During Jeffs’ recent Texas trial by jury, audio recording was played of Jeffs engaged in sex with a 12 year-old girl. The jury reportedly took less than four hours to convict Jeffs, according to People Magazine last week.
Warren Jeffs is recognized by his followers as the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , and fancies himself an all-knowing prophet. According to current public record, however, he is merely a ward of the state of Texas, and a convicted sex offender to boot.
Sources:
CNN – televised report 8/9/2011
AZCentral.com
People.com