New federal charge against polygamist prophet Warren Jeffs
 
By Brent Hunsaker
ABC 4 News
Warren Jeffs

On Wednesday a federal grand jury handed up a one count indictment against Warren Steed Jeffs. Jeffs is charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. That is in addition to felony charges in both Utah and Arizona. Those charges are in connection to the forced marriage of underage girls to older men.

Jeffs is the leader of the largest polygamist sect in North America. He was on the FBI's 10 most wanted list for 5 months before being caught in late August, 2006, by a Nevada State trooper. He'd pulled over Jeff's red Cadillac Escalade on northbound I-15 outside of Las Vegas because the temporary license was not visible.

Inside his Escalade, investigators found a wealth of items that would be very useful to someone on the run from the law: pre-paid credit cards, cell phones, laptop computers and even wigs, makeup and sunglasses that could be used to create a disguise for Jeffs.

Based largely on that evidence, Brett Tolman, the United States Attorney for the District of Utah, asked for and got the indictment.

"I do not have a position on his religion or on polygamy. I have a position against crime," Tolman said. "Mr. Jeffs' flight is a criminal act."

Tolman said that this is not the end of the federal investigation of Jeffs, only a milestone. He also said others who helped Jeffs hide from the law might also be charged.

Jeffs is scheduled to go to trial April 23rd in St. George on 2 counts of rape as an accomplice.

Tolman said he will wait until that trial is over before proceeding with the federal case.

brent@abc4.com
 
ABC4.com
Originally broadcast March 7, 2007
 
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