Warren Jeffs was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday after a jury deliberated for only 30 minutes.
The polygamist sect leader was convicted last week on two counts of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old who were his "spiritual wives." The jury sentenced him to life in prison for the first count of aggravated sexual assault and 20 years for the second count of sexual assault plus a $10,000 fine. The sentences were the maximum allowed for each count. The judge ruled that the sentences be served consecutively.
On Monday, the two sides rested their cases, without the defense calling any witnesses.
Earlier Monday, jurors weighing punishment for Jeffs heard audio recordings that prosecutors say show he had sex with underage girls and encouraged group sex.
At times difficult to hear, one of the tapes recorded sounds of two people apparently engaging in intercourse. Other recordings captured Jeffs instructing what prosecutors say were underage girls in how to please him. Girls could be heard giggling in the background.
Jeffs, the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was charged after a 2008 raid on a ranch his church operates near Eldorado, Texas.
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@nan: That's not *entirely* accurate.. People born here are not immigrants at all.. Their forefathers, sure.. The white side's anchor baby died centuries before i was born. The amer-indian side, even farther..
Good. Now he can go to prison where some fellas have invented their own religions too. They aren't keen on pedophiles there either. Say goodbye to your 14 year old 'wives' low life.
If he wants to live a day in prison they had better send him to Alcatraz. Prisoners have their own standards and that includes hating child molesters. Prisoners view it as maybe being their daughter and mark the creep for death. Guards ofter look the other way. Warren Jeffs is a marked man!
I wonder if he knows what happened to Jeffrey Dahmer in the big house.
The reason for the consecutive sentences is simple: parole rules. Jeffs will be eligible for parole on the 20-year stretch in maybe 7 years, if he's a model prisoner. But even if he gets parole, he goes right back in for at least 30 more years on the life sentence. Judge is just trying to maximize his stay in the hospitality of Bubba and the TDC. At least 37 years. 55 + 37 = 92 years of age when he gets out. I can live with that. His disciples will forget him long before then.
@abcd1: I'm a child of God as are you. Jesus is no better than any of us or any of God's angels. God has many children and Jesus (Lucifer) was sent down here as punishment, because he was a jealous, greedy and egotistical little dung heap. Our sins are not cleansed by his death, because only hard work and repentance can deliver true salvation. I thought suicide was a sin? Did Jesus not commit suicide by cop? Lol Wow. I believe in God according to the first commandment and anyone else claiming to be the light, the way, perfect, or free of sin is a scam artist in my view. Your cult defies logic and critical thinking. You should read more books, like science, math, logic, or anything other than a cult's handbook. I will seriously pray to the real God that you find safety and sanity..
Texas sure breeds alot of idiots doesnt it.
@Gabbi: Ok God on earth was Jesus.. You know God is eternal right? God is also all knowing right? God is all powerful right? Ok so how was Jeffs allowed to infiltrate God's religion and not get caught until now? I believe Christianity was formed to make God look like an emotional doochbag.
@abcd1: I'm not going to discuss or argue anything related to my eternal soul with someone who can't say more than two sentences.
That is one weird dude. He likes deformed little girls without faces.
He made it even worse for himself by not letting his attorney represent him. What a sicko and people are still living on the ranch when all of them should be thrown in jail
they say "the man who represents himself has a fool for a client"....this just goes to prove it.
What a waste of money–He will be executed by the prisoners within a year–
now....time to prosecute the other parents involved. whether or not they actively participated, they actively permitted the abuse to occur.
I think he got better than he deserved. However, they should also go after the parents of these children that allowed this to happen. The duty of the parents is to protect their children no matter what religion or culture you are in. They should suffer whatever punishment he suffers since they knowingly and willfully allowed it to happen. For those that claim that the children should be allowed to stay with their families to help prevent psychological problems, they allowed it and what is to stop them from allowing to happen again or committing the acts themselves. For those that claim that the mothers should not be punished due to them being raised in that environment, that excuse only goes so far. You have to grow up and make your own decisions sometime.
I hope your religion allows you to eat sausage Mr. Jeffs. It's on the menu every day where you are going.
Now you can be a missionary, or in the missionary position with a whole new group of people...
Enjoy!
LOL, awesome!
Exactly..how do you like them sausages in your cornhole pervert!!
Beautifully said.
Religion in the extreme is always dangerous. This wolf in Sheeps clothing is finally getting what he deserves