PHOENIX (AP) - A polygamist religious leader who claimed more than 20 spiritual "wives," including 10 underage girls, faces decades in prison at his sentencing on Monday for coercing girls as young as 9 years old to submit to criminal sex acts with him and other adults.
Samuel Bateman, whose small group was an offshoot of the sect once led by Warren Jeffs, has pleaded guilty to a yearslong scheme to transport girls across state lines for his sex crimes, and later to kidnap some of them from protective custody. His plea agreement called for 20 to 50 years in prison, though each conviction carries a possible life sentence.
"The question could determine whether the sentencing goes forward or Bateman is remanded to state custody for psychiatric treatment until he’s deemed mentally fit to assist in his defense," said his attorney Brian Russo.
Authorities say that Bateman, 48, tried to start an offshoot of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints based in the neighboring communities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah. The fundamentalist group split from the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after Mormons officially abandoned polygamy in 1890.
The alleged practice of sect members sexually abusing girls who they claim as spiritual "wives" has long plagued the FLDS. Jeffs was convicted of state charges in Texas in 2011 involving sexual assaults of his underage followers. Bateman was one of Jeffs' trusted followers and declared himself a "prophet" like Jeffs. However, Jeffs denounced Bateman from prison and then tried to start his own group.
In 2019 and 2020, insisting that polygamy brings exaltation in heaven and acting on orders from the "Heavenly Father," Bateman began taking female adults and children from his male followers and proclaiming them as his "wives." While none were legally recognized marriages, each marked the beginning of illicit sexual contact with these women or girls.
"Bateman demanded that his followers confess publicly for any indiscretions," federal agents reported. He imposed punishments ranging from public shaming to sexual activity.
Bateman traveled extensively between Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Nebraska coercing underage girls into criminal sexual activity. Recordings were transmitted across state lines via electronic devices.
Bateman was arrested in August 2022 by state police while driving through Flagstaff pulling a trailer where authorities found three girls aged 11-14 inside without ventilation facilities.
"Someone had alerted authorities after spotting small fingers reaching through the slats of the door."
After posting bond but being re-arrested soon after for obstructing justice during a federal investigation into child transportation across states for sex crimes; nine children were taken into protective custody but eight escaped foster care only later found hundreds miles away driven by one adult “wife.”
"Federal prosecutors noted that Bateman's plea agreement was contingent on all co-defendants pleading guilty too."Seven adult “wives” convicted related coercion activities against children impeding investigations acknowledged witnessing/participating various abuses alongside kidnapping plots.