Colorado City polygamist leader heads to Utah first
 
By Jim Seckler
Mohave Daily News
 
KINGMAN - The leader of a Colorado City polygamist sect will be tried on felony charges in Utah before he faces charges in Arizona.

After nearly two years on the run, Warren Jeffs, 50, was arrested by a Nevada highway patrol officer Monday night near Las Vegas.

Jeffs, the leader of the polygamist sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Colorado City faces rape charges in Utah.

Jeffs also faces charges in Mohave County of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor.

Jeffs waived extradition during Thursday's court hearing in Las Vegas and will be extradited first to Utah to face the more serious charges there, Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said.

The decision to go to Utah first was made during a conference call between the Utah and Arizona Attorney Generals Office, the U.S. Attorney’ Office, the FBI, the Mohave County Attorney's Office and the Washington County District Attorney's Office.

The decision was based on tougher release conditions based on Utah's more serious charges, Smith said.

Smith said once Jeffs appears in Utah court and has an attorney, the quicker his office will know when he will appear in Mohave County.

Another Colorado City polygamist, Donald Robert Barlow, also faces charges in Mohave County Superior Court. His trial is expected to begin Tuesday.

Barlow, 48, is charged with one count of sexual conduct with a minor and one count of conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor.

Kelly Fischer, 38, was the first defendant to be tried and convicted of one count of sexual conduct with a minor and one count of conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor.

Fischer was sentenced in last month to 45 days in county jail and probation.

Six other codefendants, who also belong to the polygamist sect, have upcoming trials.
 
MohaveDailyNews.com
Originally published Thursday, August 31, 2006
 
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