Brother of alleged polygamist leader charged

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Quigley_Sharps, Nov 1, 2005.


  1. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    DENVER (Reuters) - The brother of the fugitive leader of a reputed polygamous group was charged on Monday with hiding the man from authorities.



    Seth Jeffs, 32, faces up to five years in prison if convicted on the harboring charges. He was arrested in southern Colorado with $142,000 in cash last Friday.

    Seth Jeffs' brother, Warren, 49, is the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

    Law officials claim Warren Jeffs runs a polygamous community in Colorado City, Arizona and is considered a prophet by an estimated 10,000 followers in Utah, Texas, Arizona, Colorado and British Columbia. He may be traveling with several loyal bodyguards, the FBI said in court documents.

    The group split from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the official name of the Mormon church, over the polygamy issue in 1890.

    The community tries to get around U.S. laws against polygamy by having men legally marry one woman. The men then take additional wives in church-sanctioned marriages which are not legally registered.

    Women in the community are not allowed to have multiple husbands.

    An Arizona grand jury indicted Warren Jeffs in June on charges of sexual conduct with a minor and with conspiracy to arrange the marriage of a 16-year-old girl to a 28-year-old married man.

    FBI agent Andrew Stearns said in the court documents that Seth Jeffs told police in Colorado he doesn't know where is brother is and that no one in the congregation would assist law officers.

    '"It would be stupid to tell anyone where he is because he would get caught,"' Stearns quoted Seth Jeffs as saying.

    Police stopped a car in which Seth Jeffs was riding on suspicion of drunk driving. The driver of the vehicle told police he was paid $5,000 by Jeffs for "sexual services."

    The driver was charged with prostitution.

    A search of the vehicle uncovered $142,000 in cash in envelopes addressed to "The Prophet," or Warren Jeffs.

    If convicted, Seth Jeffs could receive a sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
     
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