| Jeffs in Purgatory FLDS leader transferred from Las Vegas jail | |||||||||
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By Patrice St. Germain patrices@thespectrum.com | |||||||||
HURRICANE - Under a veil of secrecy, the Washington County Sheriff's Office transported polygamist leader Warren Steed Jeffs, 50, from the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas to the Purgatory Correctional Facility Tuesday morning. Jeffs was transported by two Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies in a helicopter provided by the Utah Department of Public Safety. The helicopter landed at 12:30 p.m. behind the jail in the exercise area, blocking any view of Jeffs from the media waiting in front of the jail in what Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith is calling "the single most highly publicized event we have seen in Washington County." It's also the first time a prisoner has been transported by helicopter here, and although extra security measures are being taken, Smith said there have been no threats. "When you deal with religious extremists you really don't know what to expect. Our job in law enforcement is worst-case scenario," Smith said following a press conference Tuesday afternoon. "Our whole goal in this thing is to get Mr. Jeffs here, get him through his court proceedings and then on to whatever waits after that, whether it's the Department of Corrections or freedom; whatever the jury decides." Smith did say followers of Jeffs - members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who live predominantly in Hildale and Colorado City - are not prone to violence. Washington County Sheriff's Office Lt. Jake Adams said prior to the helicopter leaving Purgatory, only a handful of people knew that Jeffs was to be transported Tuesday. Jeffs will have his initial appearance today at 1 p.m. and will appear before Judge James Shumate via closed circuit television, which is standard for an initial appearance. Following Tuesday's press conference, Smith announced that he had been contacted by Las Vegas attorney Richard A. Wright, who told Smith he has been retained as Jeffs' counsel. Telephone calls to Wright's office were not returned Tuesday afternoon. Smith said Jeffs will be in administrative segregation and his 6-foot by 10-foot cell will have a mattress, sink and urinal. Jeffs will be allowed outside of his cell one hour a day for visits, telephone calls and showers, but will spend the balance of his time alone in his cell. Smith said every law enforcement agency in the county has offered to help with extra needs during Jeffs' time at Purgatory. Deputy Attorney Brian Filter would not comment about the case but said during the initial appearance Jeffs will be informed of the charges against him and his constitutional rights. The issue of bail may also be addressed. Jeffs is facing two first-degree felony charges of rape as an accomplice out of Washington County. He also faces several charges of conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor and sexual conduct with a minor. The Utah charges could carry five years to life for each count. Jeffs, the self-proclaimed prophet of the FLDS Church, was on the FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted list since May and was a fugitive from justice for more than a year. Smith said Jeffs' visitation will be modified, although it will maintain his constitutional and the court-ordered rights he has. At this time, Smith said he has no reason to believe Jeffs will be anything other than a model prisoner and that authorities in Las Vegas said Jeffs was very meek and passive. The extra precautionary measures with security - including the helicopter transport and the extra costs associated with that - will come out of the Washington County budget, Smith said. "This is the price of being a community and a county," Smith said. "Staffing is OK, but we may wind up paying overtime." | |||||||||
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TheSpectrum.com Originally published September 6, 2006 | |||||||||
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