Prosecutors have expanded prosecutions against members of a small polygamous group living near the Utah-Arizona border, naming its leader and the children he took as his wife in a new indictment filed earlier this month. detailed sexual contact with.
An unusual way of worshiping their God
A grand jury added new charges to last year’s kidnapping and obstruction of investigation charges, indicting Sam Bateman for documenting child sexual abuse in a recently filed alternate indictment. A call to one of Mr. Bateman’s attorneys for comment on the matter on Thursday was not immediately answered. Polygamy is a legacy of the early teachings of the mainstream church popularly known as Mormon. However, this custom was abandoned by him in 1890 and is now strictly prohibited.
“Impressions about Heavenly Father’s Will”
In December, federal prosecutors indicted Bateman and several of his wives on charges of kidnapping a minor and obstructing a foreseeable prosecution of helping girls associated with the group escape from an Arizona home. Bateman is said to have traveled extensively between Arizona Utah Colorado, and Nebraska and regularly had sexual relations with minor girls. Bateman was arrested last year and remains in federal custody pending a trial scheduled for March 5, 2024. He has previously pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges of kidnapping, child molestation, and evidence tampering.