| Order in the court Amid tight security, Jeffs makes first court appearance | |||||
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By Patrice St. Germain patrices@thespectrum.com | |||||
ST. GEORGE - Dressed in a green and white jumpsuit, Warren Steed Jeffs, the self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, made his first appearance in 5th District Court Wednesday afternoon. Appearing via a closed circuit television link, Jeffs appeared to have circles under his eyes. Although Jeffs' initial appearance was by video, security inside and outside the courthouse was extremely high. Snipers sat on the roof of the police station diagonally across from the courthouse and members of the SWAT team surrounded the facility. Inside the courtroom, mostly filled with media, were six bailiffs. Judge James L. Shumate asked Jeffs if he had a copy of the charges against him and if his name and date of birth on the documents were correct. Jeffs quietly replied "Yes," after each question. Shumate read the charges against Jeffs - two different counts of rape as an accomplice - and told him the penalty for each count is not less than five years in jail and not more than life. He also told Jeffs that each charge carries a fine of $18,525 and possible restitution. The judge then asked Jeffs if he had an attorney. The leader of the polygamous FLDS church answered that he has an attorney who is helping him find Utah counsel. By law, a preliminary hearing must be held within 10 days of the initial appearance unless waived by the defendant and counsel. Shumate set the date for Sept. 19 at 8:30 for the preliminary hearing and, simultaneously, a bail hearing and explained to Jeffs that he is currently being held on a no-bail status. Shumate also explained what happens during the preliminary hearing when the state presents its evidence. If able to establish probable cause, the case will be held over for trial. Jeffs answered that he understood the procedure. Washington County Attorney Brock Belnap said his office had been in contact with Richard A Wright, a Las Vegas attorney Jeffs has also contacted. Belnap told the court that Wright asked if it would be possible to schedule a status council next week. Shumate asked Jeffs about the status conference and Jeffs said yes, his attorney had asked for a court continuance. Shumate said he was reluctant to extend the preliminary hearing past 10 days without Jeffs having counsel. However, he did schedule a status conference for Monday at 8:30 a.m. That hearing will also be via closed circuit television unless Jeffs has an attorney who asks otherwise. Jeffs is being held in administrative custody in the Purgatory Correctional Facility, segregated from the jail population. He gets one hour each day for a shower, exercise and to make telephone calls. Normally, when inmates make their initial appearance from Purgatory, the proceedings are at 1:30 p.m. and they are all gathered in the same video conference room at the jail. Jeffs appeared to be alone in the room, staring at the quad-screen video link with rows of empty chairs behind him. Lt. Jake Adams with the Washington County Sheriff's Office said prisoners can see themselves, the judge, prosecutors and an overview of the courtroom on the screen. Adams said the special court time and having Jeffs appear on his own was because he is being kept away from other inmates. None of Jeffs' supporters or followers appeared at the courthouse. Other than media and court personnel, the only others inside the courtroom were four Dixie State College students. Shannon Potter, a psychology major with a minor in criminal justice, said she came to the court proceedings as part of her Intro to Criminal Justice class, which is taught by deputy county attorney Matt Miller. "It's exciting to be here for this," Potter said. "And Matt Miller is an awesome teacher." Accompanying Potter were classmates McKensy Neil, James Trunnell and Nicole Ferguson. Miller, who has been teaching at Dixie State College since 1999, said the Jeffs case is a perfect opportunity for students to see a criminal case that is getting a lot of press attention and learn how the system works. "This will be a good process to see a criminal case from beginning to end," Miller said. "This is a good opportunity and good timing." Deputy County Attorney Brian Filter said regardless of what happens in Utah, Jeffs still faces numerous charges of conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor and sexual conduct with a minor in Mohave County, Ariz. "There's a lot of 'ifs' here, but if he is convicted and if he was committed to prison he would go there (prison) and be extradited to Arizona to answer to those charges," Filter said. "But potentially, depending on how the timing works, he could go to Arizona before this case is even completed to start that process." Jeffs was on the FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted list since May. His flight to avoid prosecution ended quietly and peacefully on Interstate 15 just north of Las Vegas on Aug. 28 when the vehicle he was riding in was pulled over for a traffic stop by a member of the Nevada Highway Patrol. Despite claims by Jeffs that he would never be taken alive, he was taken into custody without incident. Although the number of Jeffs' follower's ranges from 6,000 to 10,000, most of the members live in the twin cities of Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Ariz., which was previously called Short Creek. The area has been home to polygamy since the early 1900s. The church has recently expanded its property holdings and now has compounds in Eldorado, Texas, Mancos, Colo., Pringle, S.D. and in British Columbia, Canada | |||||
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TheSpectrum.com Originally published September 7, 2006 | |||||
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