Court security is tightened anticipating Jeffs hearing
 
By Ben Winslow
Deseret Morning News
 
ST. GEORGE — Under intense security, polygamist leader Warren Jeffs will appear this morning in 5th District Court here.

The Fundamentalist LDS Church leader will be transported under guard from his cell in the Purgatory Jail about 10 miles away. At the courthouse, police said it would deploy its SWAT team to provide security outside.

At previous hearings, sharp-shooters have been spotted on building rooftops and in the red-rock hills nearby — even though Jeffs appeared via closed circuit TV from jail.

"We don't know what supporters or dissidents are out there who are going to take action," Sgt. Craig Harding said Tuesday. "We're looking at the worst case scenario, preparing for everything to happen and hoping nothing does."

Jeffs will make a brief appearance before a judge expected to schedule a preliminary and a bail hearing. Alongside Jeffs will be his three lawyers, high-profile criminal defenders Wally Bugden, Tara Isaacson and Richard Wright.

Jeffs, 50, was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list until he was arrested in a traffic stop outside Las Vegas last month. He is charged in Washington County with two counts of rape as an accomplice, a first-degree felony.

Jeffs is accused of forcing a teenage girl into a polygamous marriage with an older man. When she objected to the union, Jeffs allegedly threatened her "salvation."

Washington County prosecutors have not ruled out more charges against Jeffs.

"That is under consideration," deputy Washington County Attorney Brian Filter told the Deseret Morning News on Tuesday. "The investigation is ongoing."

Across the border in Mohave County, Ariz., Jeffs is facing similar charges accusing him of arranging a child bride marriage. He is charged with sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor.

The Mohave County Attorney said he will likely wait until the Utah case is finished before going ahead with his charges.

"We are working on our case on Warren and will continue to prosecute the men for the underage marriages and probably try three to four more cases," Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said in a recent e-mail to the Deseret Morning News. "That's my focus until Jeffs actually comes to Arizona."

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
 
deseretnews.com
Originally published Wednesday, September 27, 2006
 
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