| Jeffs makes first court appearance Attorney says Jeffs sees case as one of religious persecution | |||||||||
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By Patrice St. Germain patrices@thespectrum.com | |||||||||
ST. GEORGE - Warren Jeffs' attorney Walter Bugden said outside 5th District Court on Wednesday morning that his client does view the case against him as religious persecution. "Absolutely," Bugden said in response to a question. Bugden, along with his partner Tara Isaacson, Las Vegas attorney Richard Wright and investigator Doug Maack, appeared in court for Jeffs' scheduling conference. The court appearance before Judge James L. Shumate lasted less than five minutes and basically was held to schedule a preliminary hearing - set for one full day on Nov. 21. Court was already in session when Jeffs was brought into the courtroom Wednesday morning. Everyone, including Shumate, was already seated when Jeffs was led into court by several bailiffs. As Jeffs, dressed in a dark suit with white shirt and tie, was escorted in, his defense team all rose, although two members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who were also in the courtroom did not. It was Jeffs' first live court appearance as the previous hearing had been held via closed circuit television and was the first time he appeared in civilian clothes - in answer to a motion filed by his attorneys. Jeffs is charged with two counts of rape as an accomplice, both first-degree felonies, which each carry a penalty of five years to life. He only spoke once during the brief hearing to answer Shumate in the affirmative that it was OK to hold the preliminary hearing on Nov. 21 - well beyond the 10-day deadline for incarcerated defendants. Following Jeffs' court appearance, he met with his attorneys before Bugden gave a brief statement to the media outside the courtroom. "We're going to have a preliminary hearing, with one step at a time. We intend to confront the witnesses against us and there will be cross-examination at the preliminary hearing," Bugden said. Outside the courtroom, Washington County deputy attorney Brian Filter said the woman, identified as Jane Doe IV, will be present and will testify at the preliminary hearing. When asked if Jane Doe is getting cold feet, Filter replied that she was doing well. "She is doing well and looking forward to testifying and have her day in court," Filter said. Jane Doe IV's husband, only identified as John Doe IV, has not been charged with any crime yet. Watching the goings on inside and outside the courtroom was former Short Creek resident Ezra Draper. Draper who now lives in North Idaho said he was in court observing but said he didn't know what to think. "I'm not accustomed to going into court every day, but history is being made," Draper said. Draper said the last time he saw Jeffs in person was 2001. Also in court was Nephi Jeffs, Warren Jeffs' brother, and Lindsay Barlow. Jeffs, the prophet of the FLDS church, which has between 6,000 and 10,000 followers, mainly in the communities of Hildale and Colorado City, Ariz., also faces several counts of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor in Mohave County, Ariz. Bugden said he cannot represent Jeffs in Arizona and said Jeffs has retained counsel for the charges against him there, but said he did not know who Jeffs had retained. | |||||||||
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TheSpectrum.com Originally published September 28, 2006 | |||||||||
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