Tuesday, July 27, 2010 #

Warren Jeffs' Conviction Overturned

It comes as a shock to learn today that the Utah Supreme Court has overturned Warren Jeffs' 2007 conviction of accomplice to rape. The jury had found him guilty of forcing 14 year old Elissa Wall into marrying her first cousin. Jeffs' attorneys had always contended that their client was being persecuted solely for his religious beliefs and that Utah was trying to send a message to the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS) located in the southern part of the state. Most have believed that with Jeffs' conviction in Utah and facing other charges in Arizona and Texas, he'd spend the rest of his life in prison. The Arizona charges have been dropped, he'll now receive a new trial in Utah and it's uncertain what will happen in Texas.

Prison has been extremely difficult for Jeffs, who's repeatedly gone on fasts and on at least one occasion tried to kill himself.  The FLDS has replaced him with a new prophet, although many feel he still wields considerable power behind bars. It is unthinkable to many women and men who've escaped the FLDS and had their lives severely impacted by Jeffs, that he may one day be free to reign again.

A number of women had banded together to bring Jeffs down and felt they'd succeeded.. One can only imagine what they're thinking and feeling today.

posted @ Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:58 AM | Feedback (0)