A jury of 10 men and two women has been seated in San Angelo in the trial of Warren Steed Jeffs, who stands accused of sexually assaulting two underage girls, one of them as young as 12. The girls were said to have been “sealed” to Jeffs as celestial wives. Two alternate jurors, a man and a woman, were also chosen.
Jeffs is the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a breakaway sect of the mainstream Mormon church that still practices polygamy.
UPDATE -- SAN ANGELO, TX -- 12:30pm 08/03/2011 -- The prosecution rested its case shortly after noon after playing an audio recording allegedly made of Jeffs and 12-year-old victim having sex in the company and with the assitance of some of his other wives.
Prior to playing the recording, the state offered evidence that the victim was at the YFZ Ranch near Eldorado, TX at the time of the assault.
Jeffs, who is representing himself, is slated to begin his defense when court resumes at 3 p.m.
Special Prosecutor Eric Nichols told jurors during opening arguments last Thursday that he would use church records and DNA evidence to prove that FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs had sexually assaulted and impregnated a 15-year-old girl that he took as a celestial wife when she was only 14.And, true to his word, Nichols offered church documents and DNA evidence, that one state expert said almost certainly proved that Jeffs had fathered the girl’s baby.
SAN ANGELO, TX -- 5:25pm 8/3/2011 -- Warren Jeffs gave an openin statement before beginning his defense this afternoon. The statement was more like a sermon mixed with a U.S. history lesson than a legal argument and didn't directly challenge the state's case.
Jeffs then put one of his followers, J. D. Roundy, on the stand to read from the Pearl of Great Price, one of the three books of Mormon Scripture. Prosecutors offered a couple of objections which Judge Walther sustained.
The judge finally called a recess. Unsure for how long.
Jeffs case goes to jury
Thursday, 04 August 2011 14:04
Special prosecutor Eric Nichols told jurors that the case against Warren Jeffs is about child abuse, not religion, as he gave his closing arguments Thursday.
For his part, Jeffs, who is representing himself, stood silent for about 20 minutes before saying, "I am at peace." It was his only remark during his closing argument.
The case has now gone to the jury which deliberated briefly before having lunch delivered.
The jury then asked to have audio tapes replayed and asked questions about a portion of a Rebecca Musser's testimony read to them.
FLDS Prophet Warren Steed Jeffs continues to shuffle his legal team in advance of his July 25th trial date.
A jury of 10 men and two women has been seated in San Angelo in the trial of Warren Steed Jeffs, who stands accused of sexually assaulting two underage girls, one of them as young as 12. The girls were said to have been “sealed” to Jeffs as celestial wives. Two alternate jurors, a man and a woman, were also chosen.