Pool photo by Douglas C. Pizac
A southern Utah jury convicted Warren Jeffs today on two counts of being an accessory to rape. I am very, very surprised, and disagree with this jury’s verdict. The jury was supposed to begin deliberations all over this morning because one juror was dismissed. Yet, here they have already returned a guilty verdict in just hours after they supposedly began anew. Court TV anchors and criminal defense attorneys commented that this would be their first appeal issue.
From a public policy standpoint the convictions are particularly troubling. First, this young woman’s family was at least as involved in arranging for and pushing for this “marriage” as was Warren Jeffs. Are they next to be indicted, tried, and convicted? First on the list, has to be the “husband”, who prosecutors didn’t even begin to interview about any criminal charges until after Warren Jeffs was charged with the crime. The criminal investigation didn’t even begin until after Elissa Wall consulted with civil attorneys to plan for her $1 million civil lawsuit. Of course she is now smiling all the way to the bank, since the criminal conviction will establish the civil liability without a doubt.
It will be interesting to hear the jury’s version of what went on during their deliberations. I am anxious to hear how they went from almost a hung jury on one count, to a conviction on two counts. The counts were identical, except for the time frame. If Jeffs was guilty on count one, how could he not be guilty on count two? If he was not guilty on count one, how could be guilt on count two?
I have always thought this prosecution was a politically and religiously motivated witch hunt. The husband was never charged with rape, and at least as of now, still remains uncharged. Though, I’d have to admit, if I were he, I’d be looking over my shoulder more than usual. If the state is unconcerned about charging the actual alleged rapist with the crime, it is quite clear they had other motivations to go after Jeffs.
Polygamy’s modern day practice may produce many societal evils. The response, however, should be laws directly aimed at and specifically enforced to criminalize the specific actions that produce those evils. If we as a society are turned off by 14 year old girls getting married, then we need to pass comprehensive laws outlawing marriage until one is 16, 18, 21, or whatever age society will condone.
If we are troubled by welfare fraud that is often associated with modern day polygamy then society needs to enforce those laws which currently prohibit such fraud. Or, we need better laws to prohibit such conduct. Bringing the full weight and force of the criminal justice system against Warren Jeffs because he is an unpopular religious leader with unpopular beliefs sets a dangerous precedent. I am troubled by this entire case. I hope the defense appeals, and fights this travesty of justice.
Blogs:
Main stream media coverage:
Salt Lake Tribune on what’s next for Jeffs
(For my prior Jeffs’ posts, see here)
September 25, 2007 at 2:09 pm
I am surprised and disappointed in the jury as well.
I was ready to throw this guy under the bus when the news reports first came out last year. The more I read about the case the more I realized that this guy wasn’t guilty of the charges levied against him in Utah (Nevada charges are a different case).
I think the jury couldn’t get past who the guy was, polygamy(even though not involved at all in this case), his religion, and tried him on that instead of the actual charges.
Scumbag yes, guilty no.
If guilty then where are the charges against Steed (the supposed rapist) and the girl’s parents (more culpable then Jeffs)? Oh yea there aren’t any.
September 25, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Can’t edit my comment. Think Arizona is other case not Nevada.
September 25, 2007 at 7:59 pm
If you think Jeffs is not guilty, you are ignorant of facts of the case including the mans history. He had the ultimate power to coerce this young woman into marriage and sex she did not want. He could have kicked her family out of their home, which is owned by FLDS. He could have banished her or her whole family from the church and the town, which he has done many times before for disobedience, criticism of this decisions and challenges to his will. Jeffs is not a leader of FLDS, he is a dictator of all who belong to the FLDS cult. The jury who heard all the facts convicted him. You should respect their decision which is based on more information than you have available from merely the press.
September 25, 2007 at 8:54 pm
I think that it is amazing that the husband hasn’t even been charged. This is very weird. If there was a rape then isn’t the state under some obligation to establish that through convicting the husband first?
I hope Jeffs rots but this is all very strange.
September 25, 2007 at 10:17 pm
honey, you need therapy. First, for believing there are “prophets” (please, this is the 21st century). Second, if there were, believing that sexist and misogynistic practices would be loved by god (if there is one, I assure you she hates this garbage).
Advice: please, get a shrink and then get educated. You are too ignorant to be mad at, but as you can vote, I’d like to see you educated.
September 26, 2007 at 4:50 am
CK:
Except that there wasn’t any credible evidence presented at the trial that anyone coerced Ellisa Wall into sex–not even her so called husband. If the State of Utah had such evidence you can be certain that Mr. Steeds, and Ms. Wall’s own parents and siblings would have been sitting at the same table as Warren Jeffs, and now all convicted of rape by accomplice.
It isn’t against the law to marry children in Utah with parental consent at a young age. If people want that to be the case, then the Utah legislature needs to pass that law and law enforcement needs to enforce it. Jeffs wasn’t charged with marrying a young girl–though to listen to some of the juror post trial interviews, it is clear that that was one of the factors which influenced them–a likely appellate issue.
arJ:
As do many across the country, including me.
Just as a matter of public policy, I would think Utah is obligated to prosecute all who were involved, including Mr. Steeds, and Ms. Wall’s parents and siblings. Otherwise, the prosecution remains a religious and political witch hunt. A modern day St. George version of Salem, MA.
September 26, 2007 at 7:43 am
“Except that there wasn’t any credible evidence presented at the trial that anyone coerced Ellisa Wall into sex–not even her so called husband.”
- In what way is the threat of eternal damnation not coercion?
September 26, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Authorities have just filed charges against the husband for rape of a child. Considering that the Jeffs jury found that the girl would never have had sex if not for Jeffs’ religious dominance, it seems that the husband should now point out that he never would have married a 14 year old and had sex with her, if Jeffs hadn’t used his religious authority to direct it.
How much would you like to bet, however, that such consistent logic won’t prevail when the husband goes to trial?
September 26, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Nick, keep in mind the husband was a legal adult at the time. The girl wasn’t. We’re talking five years difference in age. He did not resist the marriage or the sex like the girl did, but rather sought it out. He helped pressure her into it by telling her it was time to do her duty for him. He is not a victim here, but is one of the offenders.
September 27, 2007 at 8:00 am
Whether Steed “resisted” the marriage really isn’t much of a concern, when he was brainwashed by a “prophet” who taught that his eternal salvation depended on marrying who and when he was told to. Even the whole “time to be a wife” thing, as I understand it, was done on the direction of Warren Jeffs.
I believe in accountability, but what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. When the prosecution argued that this girl would never have had sex with Steed, absent the influence of Warren Jeffs, they simultaneously open the question of whether Steed would have sex with a 14 year old girl, absent that same influence.
October 9, 2007 at 1:38 am
My biggest concern is the precedent set. If a person’s daughter can convince a court that she would never have dated someone without their consent (i.e. absent their influence), and the guy rapes her, are they now accomplices to that rape?
November 6, 2007 at 12:26 pm
The ex-husband has now been charged with rape as well.
The sentiments expressed in this earlier comment by Nick Literski will likely come up in that trial.
“I believe in accountability, but what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. When the prosecution argued that this girl would never have had sex with Steed, absent the influence of Warren Jeffs, they simultaneously open the question of whether Steed would have sex with a 14 year old girl, absent that same influence.”
John Harvey
July 27, 2010 at 8:53 am
[...] This is exactly the argument they made at trial, and that many who followed the trial also thought was the better argument. I have argued that going after Jeffs was not about rape, but about his unpopular religious views. I was critical of the Jeffs saga from the beginning : See here and here. [...]
August 4, 2011 at 2:46 pm
There was an audio tape of Jeffs having sex with these underaged girls. Every intelligent person knows he is guilty as sin. Personally I can’t muster up any sympathy for the brainless FLDS mothers who sacrifice their daughters and run off their sons. I know psychologists say they are indocrinated and brainwashed from birth, but they KNOW that they are allowing their children to suffer. Nothing is worth that—-not even supposed “heavenly rewards”. I wish they would be prosecuted too along with the complicent males in this cult.