Jeffs attends brief hearing tied to Arizona charges
 
By Jennifer Dobner
The Associated Press
KVOA News 4 - Tucson
 
ST. GEORGE, Utah -- Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs appeared in a southern Utah courtroom Wednesday to discuss his Arizona criminal case, but the hearing ended within minutes and his extradition to the neighboring state in the months ahead remains unsettled.

Jeffs, 50, is in jail on Utah charges related to the marriage of an underage girl to an older man. He's waiting to learn if a judge will move that case to trial.

Meantime, Jeffs must deal with procedural matters tied to similar criminal charges in Mohave County, Ariz.

Appearing over closed-circuit television from jail in Hurricane, Jeffs said he's trying to find Arizona attorneys to defend him.

"It's in progress," he told 5th District Judge James Shumate.

No one from the Mohave County prosecutor's office appeared in the St. George courtroom. Prosecutor Matt Smith was in trial.

Shumate set another hearing for Dec. 26, the end of a 90-day period to get a warrant to ensure Jeffs' extradition. If Arizona fails to act by then, the process would have to be restarted.

Jeffs would not be extradited to Arizona until after his Utah case. He has not said whether he would fight it.

The leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was arrested Aug. 28 during a traffic stop outside Las Vegas. He had been on the run for nearly two years.

In Arizona, Jeffs faces six charges of performing the marriages of three minors to older men.

Authorities agreed to let Utah take Jeffs first because the case is considered stronger and the penalties more severe. The two rape-by-accomplice charges each carry a penalty of five years to life in prison.
 
KVOA.com
Originally published October 25, 2006
 
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