PHOENIX (AP) – The leader of a splinter polygamous sect near the Arizona-Utah border has pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport underage girls across state lines. Authorities say the scheme was a years-long scheme to orchestrate sex acts involving children.
Samuel Bateman also pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Phoenix to conspiring to kidnap in a plot to free underage girls held in Arizona. His plea agreement recommends a sentence of 20 to 50 years in prison, but some convictions could carry up to life in prison.
Prosecutors expand case against polygamist group leader, adding child pornography charges
In pleading guilty, Bateman admitted to taking underage brides for sex acts and sometimes arranging group sex involving child brides.
This undated photo provided by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona shows Samuel Bateman, the leader of a small polygamous group near the Arizona-Utah border. On Monday, April 1, 2024, Bateman was charged with conspiracy to transport minors for criminal sexual activity and what authorities say was a multi-year scheme to orchestrate sexual activity involving children. Pleaded guilty to another federal charge. (Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, via AP)
Authorities say Bateman, a self-proclaimed prophet who took more than 20 wives, including 10 girls under the age of 18, built a vast network spanning at least four states in an effort to start an offshoot of a fundamentalist Christian church. It was announced that. Latter-day Saints have historically been based in the neighboring communities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah.
He and his followers practice polygamy, a legacy of the early teachings of the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which abandoned the practice in 1890 and now practices polygamy. is strictly prohibited. Bateman and his followers believe that polygamy brings heavenly exaltation.
Bateman was arrested by Arizona State Police in Flagstaff in August 2022 after someone found a small finger in the crack of a closed trailer door. Authorities found three girls, ages 11 to 14, inside the trailer. The trailer was equipped with a makeshift toilet, sofa, camping chairs, and no ventilation.
Bateman posted bail but was arrested again the following month and charged with obstruction of justice in a federal investigation into whether children were being transported across state lines for sex acts.
During the second arrest, authorities removed nine children from Bateman’s home in Colorado City and placed them in foster care. Eight of the children subsequently fled, and the FBI alleged that three of Mr. Bateman’s adult wives were involved in helping the children flee Arizona. The girls were later found hundreds of miles away in Washington state in a car driven by one of his adult wives.
Bateman is accused of giving wives as gifts to male followers and claiming that it was at the command of his “Heavenly Father.” Investigators say Bateman traveled extensively between Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Nebraska and regularly had sex with underage girls. Some of the sexual acts Bateman engaged in were recorded and transmitted across state lines via electronic devices.
He becomes the second man convicted as part of the scheme. Moroni Johnson, a Colorado City businessman, pleaded guilty last month to conspiring with Bateman to transport underage girls across state lines.
Four of Mr Bateman’s wives have also filed formal proceedings after admitting they witnessed him having sex with child brides and took part in a plot to kidnap eight girls from state custody. Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct.
Four other women, identified as Bateman’s wives, and two of Bateman’s supporters have also been charged with charges including using interstate commerce to persuade or coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity. has been indicted for. The four women and two men have pleaded not guilty.
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The FBI said Bateman required his followers to publicly confess their indiscretions and share their confessions widely. According to federal law enforcement, he claimed that his punishments, which ranged from running out of time to public humiliation and sex acts, were from the Lord. Authorities say Mr. Bateman instructed some of his male followers to have sex with some of his wives to atone for the men’s crimes against the sect’s leaders.
Authorities said Mr. Bateman pressured Mr. Johnson to give up his three wives as penance because Mr. Johnson did not treat Mr. Bateman as a prophet.
Bateman’s sentencing is scheduled for July 15.
