Lehi Barlow Jeffs pleaded no contest Thursday morning to one count of Sexual Assault of a Child and a single count of Bigamy. 51st District Judge Barbara Walther found Jeffs and sentenced him to eight years in prison on each of the charge. The terms will be served concurrently.
Jeffs was then taken from the courtroom in handcuffs and was transported to Eldorado where he as booked into the the Schleicher County Jail.
Court observers began speculating last week that a plea bargain was in the works when the prosecution failed to file documents, such as Jeffs' "prior bad acts." Similar documents had been filed before trial in other YFZ Ranch cases.
Additionally, Michael Emack pleaded no contest to a single charge of Bigamy and received a seven year sentence to be served concurrently with the seven years he received previously on a charge of Sexual Assault of a Child.
Jeffs became the fifth defendant from the YFZ Ranch to be found guilty of Sexual Assault of a Child. The charges against him stem from the April 3, 2008 raid on the ranch.
Jeffs, Emack and Allan Keate now wait in the Schleicher County Jail for transfer to the Texas Department of Corrections in Huntsville.
A hearing was also planned Thursday afternoon regarding child support payments owed to Carolyn Jessop by her former polygamous husband Frederick Merril Jessop.
Watch this site for more details.
Merril Jessop a no-show at child support hearing
Wednesday, 21 April 2010 17:00
Carolyn Jessop, former wife of Frederick Merril Jessop of the YFZ Ranch, appeared in 51st District Court in San Angelo last Thursday, with her attorney Natalie Malonis.
Ms. Jessop was seeking a child support order against her former husband. She also asked for a “ turnover order” so that money Merril Jessop might have on deposit with attorneys Amy Hennington of San Angelo and Gerald Goldstein of San Antonio, could be seized to help satisfy child support payments due to Ms. Jessop.
Michael Emack sentenced to 7 years in prison on Bigamy charge
Lehi Barlow Jeffs, 31, of the YFZ Ranch, appeared in 51st District Court last Thursday, where he entered a plea of “No Contest” to a charge of Sexual Assault of a Child and a charge of Bigamy.
Jeffs was sentenced to eight years in prison on each of the charges by District Judge Barbara Walther, with the two terms to be served concurrently.
Jeffs’ plea of “No Contest” carries the same effect as a guilty plea and the judge formally found him guilty before handing down his sentence.
Dr. Lloyd Barlow issued $3,000 fine by Texas Medical Board
Tuesday, 27 April 2010 11:22
Dr. Lloyd Barlow, the Utah physician indicted for failing to report abuse to girls at the YFZ Ranch, was fined $3,000 on April 19th by the Texas Medical Board and ordered to complete a series of continuing education classes.
The board’s ruling is based on Dr. Barlow’s “failure to use due diligence and maintain adequate medical records.”
It was also noted in the order that the doctor had failed to properly fill out a number of birth certificates.
Schleicher County Clerk Peggy Williams and her staff sent out 325 jury summons last Friday for the upcoming trial of Abram Harker Jeffs.
Jeffs will be the sixth YFZ defendant to stand trail since the 2008 raid and subsequent indictments. His attorneys have asked that his trial be held in Eldorado.
Merril Leroy Jessop is asking that he be declared indigent so that the state can pay for his appeal. Jessop was convicted of Sexual Assault of a Child by a Tom Green County Jury on March 17, 2010. Two days later, that same jury sentenced Jessop to 75 years in prison.
Jessop appeared before Judge Barbara Walther on Thursday, May 13th to say that he has no income and no benefits from prior businesses. He noted that he has $25 per week placed in the commissary account at the Schleicher County Jail. Jessop added that he has no assets other than a 2003 Yukon but said he owns more on it than the vehicle is worth.
Lehi Barlow Jeffs pleaded no contest Thursday morning to one count of Sexual Assault of a Child and a single count of Bigamy. 51st District Judge Barbara Walther found Jeffs and sentenced him to eight years in prison on each of the charge. The terms will be served concurrently.
Carolyn Jessop, former wife of Frederick Merril Jessop of the YFZ Ranch, appeared in 51st District Court in San Angelo last Thursday, with her attorney Natalie Malonis.
Dr. Lloyd Barlow, the Utah physician indicted for failing to report abuse to girls at the YFZ Ranch, was fined $3,000 on April 19th by the Texas Medical Board and ordered to complete a series of continuing education classes.
Schleicher County Clerk Peggy Williams and her staff sent out 325 jury summons last Friday for the upcoming trial of Abram Harker Jeffs.
Merril Leroy Jessop is asking that he be declared indigent so that the state can pay for his appeal. Jessop was convicted of Sexual Assault of a Child by a Tom Green County Jury on March 17, 2010. Two days later, that same jury sentenced Jessop to 75 years in prison.