Polygamous Sect Leader Faces Additional Prison Time for Child Abuse Convictions
Samuel Bateman, a leader within a polygamous sect, has been handed a 24-year state prison sentence for child abuse, adding to his existing 50-year federal term. This recent conviction stems from an incident where Bateman transported three young girls in a dangerously unventilated trailer in Arizona.
The case originated from an August 2022 traffic stop in Flagstaff, where authorities discovered three girls, aged 11 to 14, crammed into a trailer equipped with a makeshift toilet and inadequate ventilation. A concerned observer had alerted authorities after noticing small fingers poking through the gaps in the trailer doors.
Bateman’s group is a splinter faction from the polygamous sect previously led by Warren Jeffs. Bateman is already serving a lengthy federal sentence for crimes involving coercing young girls into sexual acts and attempting to abduct them from protective custody, a story highlighted in the Netflix series, “Trust Me: The False Prophet.”
Judge Joshua Steinlage cited the “insane danger” posed to the children among other considerations in deciding that Bateman’s state sentence will begin following the completion of his federal term.
During his sentencing, Bateman, who chose to represent himself, stated, “I love these dear people with all my heart, and I had no intention in the entire world to harm them.” Despite his claims, victims urged the court to dismiss Bateman’s assertions of innocence.
One victim recounted the psychological trauma she endured, revealing that Bateman sexually exploited her at the age of 12. She stated that therapy was necessary to heal from the experiences, lamenting, “He stole my childhood.”
The Associated Press maintains its policy of not naming alleged victims of sexual assault.
Bateman, who claimed to have more than 20 “spiritual wives,” including 10 underage girls, acknowledged the poor conditions inside the trailer but attempted to minimize the severity, claiming ignorance of the girls’ presence at the time of the traffic stop.
Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker emphasized, “Today’s sentence is about accountability for the harm done to these young victims. It also ensures that Mr. Bateman will never again be in a position to harm a child.”
Federal investigations revealed that Bateman frequently traveled between Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and Nebraska, building a network tied to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a sect historically rooted in Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah.
Although the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints renounced polygamy in 1890, Bateman and his followers continued the practice. Bateman was once a trusted associate of Jeffs, who is serving a life sentence for child sexual assault.
Over recent years, the influence of the polygamous sect has diminished in its traditional strongholds. In 2017, judicial intervention separated the church from municipal governance, leading to notable transformation. The towns, previously under court supervision, were released from oversight earlier than anticipated, with sect members now a minority.
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