Richard Holm and Jethro Barlow, former members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, will be allowed to testify in the upcoming trial against Warren Steed Jeffs, self-proclaimed prophet and leader of the 10,000 member congregation.
Fifth District Judge James L. Shumate ruled Monday that the two men will be allowed to tell their stories during the trial, stories that the prosecution hopes will shed light on the inner-workings of the polygamous sect. Members of the FLDS church consider themselves to be the true followers of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion. The broke away from the mainstream Mormon church decades ago when the mother church banned the practice of polygamy.
Estranged mother enters S.D. compound in attempt to see daughter, grandchildren
Editor’s note: The following story appeared in the August 30, 2007 edition of the Custer County Chronicle in Custer, S.D. It is reprinted here with permission.
by Norma Najacht Susie Johnson may never know her mother came to visit her last Saturday. She and her children may never receive the presents her mother lovingly chose and left for her.
Jane Blackmore knew she didn’t have much hope of seeing her daughter, Susie, when she made the 932-mile, two-day trip to Custer from her home in Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada, but still she came.
“For the most part, it’s maternal,” she said simply. “She’s my daughter.”
Jane wasn’t asking for much; just a short visit with her daughter, who she’s seen only once since July 2003. She didn’t even ask to see Susie’s four sons, two of whom she has never seen. One was born approximately a month ago, but Jane has not been informed of his birth date or his name.
At the age of 17, Susie was taken by her father, Winston Blackmore, to Salt Lake City to marry Ben Johnson. They met for the first time just five minutes before the ceremony.
In early 2004, Susie went missing from their Colorado City, Ariz., home. Jane received a call from Susie in June of that year, begging Jane to stop trying to track her down. There was an obvious strain in Susie’s voice.
District Judge James L. Shumate began the arduous task of selecting jurors last Friday to determine the guilt or innocence of fundamentalist Mormon leader Warren Jeffs on two counts of rape as an accomplice.
The self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints stands accused of using his power over his followers to coerce a 14-year-old bride into marrying her 17-year-old cousin. Jeffs then allegedly pressured the girl into having sex with the groom against her will and over her repeated objections.
Prosecution rests its case in Jeffs rape trial, defense attorneys launch rebuttal
Thursday, 20 September 2007 00:00
Warren Jeffs, embattled prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints finally got his day in court this week, as the State of Utah pressed its allegations that Jeffs was an accomplice to rape.
Prosecutors, including Washington County Attorney Brock Belknap, elicited testimony from a woman identified only as Jane Doe 4 in which she alleged that she had been forced into a marriage against her will when she was only 14. The woman, now 21, says she was married to her 19-year-old cousin by Warren Jeffs despite her repeated pleas not to be married.
A jury on Tuesday convicted FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs on two counts of felony rape as an accomplice after a week-long trial before 5th District Judge James L. Shumate in St. George, Utah.
Jeffs was faced down in open court by 21-year-old Elissa Wall, who testified that Jeffs had used his position of leadership within the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to order her into a marriage when she was only 14-years-old. Her mate, also chosen by Jeffs, was her 19-year-old first cousin, Allen Steed.
The first rape occurred between April 23, 2001 — the day Jeffs conducted Wall’s marriage — and May 12, 2001, when the couple traveled to Canada to visit Elissa Wall’s sisters.
Warren Jeffs faces the prospect of spending the remainder of his days in jail, following his conviction last week as an accomplice to rape. But most court observers believe the beleaguered prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will receive a much shorter sentence.
Utah law provides a sentence of 5 years to life for each conviction and Jeffs was found guilty on two separate counts. But, Jeffs was never previously convicted of a crime and U.S. courts, including the state courts in Utah are known for their leniency.
Judge James L. Shumate has asked for sentencing recommendations but it is he who will ultimately decide how much if any prison time Jeffs will receive. Sentencing is presently slated for November 20th
by Norma Najacht
Warren Jeffs, embattled prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints finally got his day in court this week, as the State of Utah pressed its allegations that Jeffs was an accomplice to rape.
A jury on Tuesday convicted FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs on two counts of felony rape as an accomplice after a week-long trial before 5th District Judge James L. Shumate in St. George, Utah.
Warren Jeffs faces the prospect of spending the remainder of his days in jail, following his conviction last week as an accomplice to rape. But most court observers believe the beleaguered prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will receive a much shorter sentence.