Polygamous Sect Leader Receives Lengthy Prison Sentence
In a case that has drawn significant attention, a leader of a polygamous sect has been handed a 50-year prison sentence. This follows a plea deal in which the leader, Samuel Bateman, confessed to a series of crimes involving underage girls under the guise of spiritual marriages.
Bateman, who led a faction near the Arizona-Utah border, admitted to having over 20 spiritual “wives,” including 10 minors. These admissions were a part of his plea deal, which addressed a “yearslong” conspiracy to exploit young girls, according to prosecutors.
Details from court documents reveal an extensive effort by Bateman to transport underage girls across state boundaries for sexual purposes. Even after his arrest, Bateman allegedly continued to exert influence from jail, instructing his followers to abduct some of the girls from protective custody. More information on his post-arrest actions can be found in this report.
The sect, a splinter group of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), was known for its strict adherence to polygamous practices. The FLDS, led in the past by the infamous Warren Jeffs, is primarily located in Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah.
During the sentencing, the judge remarked on the severe impact of Bateman’s actions, calling the harm “nothing short of immeasurable.” With Bateman being 48 years old, the 50-year sentence effectively ensures he will spend the rest of his life in prison.
The plea agreement hinges on similar guilty pleas from Bateman’s co-defendants, with two other men facing comparable charges expected to be sentenced later this month.
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