Jurors: Girl's age was crucial to decision in Jeffs trial
"She was 14. She didn't have to say anything for rape to occur. Warren Jeffs was her only ticket to getting out or not getting married," said juror Gerald Munk, 36, a maintenance worker for St. George.
The guilty verdict could send Jeffs, 51, to prison for life. Sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in 5th District Court.
Jeffs is the president and prophet of the Fundamentalist LDS Church, whose tenets include polygamy and a belief in arranged marriages through revelation by God to the FLDS prophet.
But religion did not play a part in the jury's decision, jurors said during a debriefing with reporters following the verdict. Defense attorney Wally Bugden argued during his closing statement that Utah had made a political decision to charge Jeffs with rape, when it could have filed charges of performing an illegal, underage marriage.
"Religion was definitely involved, but I don't think it (the case) was about that," said Heather Newkirk, a 32-year-old mom and massage therapist.
"Rape can be very subtle" when the victim is 14 years old, she said.
Under Utah law, a 14-year-old can consent to sex in some circumstances. But sex is not considered consensual if a person younger than 18 is enticed by someone at least three years older.
Elissa Wall, now 21 and married to a different man, testified she objected to an arranged marriage that placed her with Allen Steed, her 19-year-old cousin. Wall testified that no one in her family, including her mother and stepfather, Fred Jessop, who was second counselor in the FLDS Church presidency, would listen to her pleas to avoid the marriage.
Several weeks after the wedding, which Jeffs conducted in a Nevada motel, Wall testified that Steed forced her to have sex, leaving her feeling "dirty and used." Wall said Jeffs, who was first counselor in the FLDS Church at the time, ignored her complaints that Steed was touching her in ways she didn't like, admonishing her to repent and give herself "mind, body and soul" to her husband.
Steed testified tearfully that he loved his wife, tried hard to be a good husband, and had sex with Wall that was consensual. Jeffs dissolved the marriage after Steed discovered Wall was having an affair. Steed has not been charged with a crime. He testified that police never interviewed him before charging Jeffs.
Jurors said they did not fully believe Steed's testimony, although they did wonder why he was not charged with rape if Jeffs was being tried as an accomplice to the rape.
Recent comments
This country has gone crazy.
Reading or quoting a passage of scripture…Someone | Sept. 27, 2007 at 7:28 p.m.
Oh, wait
because he's the hero who raped? her and didn't have…Anyone | Sept. 27, 2007 at 6:42 p.m.
The jury makes no reference to discussing what has been PROVEN to…
Anyone | Sept. 27, 2007 at 6:35 p.m.
