Sect leader Warren Jeffs guilty of child sexual abuse
Elena Vnorovscaia / Chişinău / Moldova.ORG / -- A Texas jury convicted polygamist sect head, president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Warren Jeffs of child sexual assault Thursday.
The 55-year-old polygamist leader took 2 young minors as brides in what his church calls "spiritual marriages."
The evidences which helped the prosecutors to convict the man were audios prove the sexual contact and photos show polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs holding and kissing two different young girls in wedding-like photos.
The images are dated July 2006 and January 2005. In one set of photos Mr. Jeffs appears with a girl Loretta under the label of "First Anniversary" with a date of Jan. 26, 2005. The second set displays him and a girl Merrianne, July 27, 2006.
On the trial process Warren Jeffs accused police of discriminating against the West Texas DaySaints because his followers looked and acted differently than mainstream society. The most shocking thing is that Jeffs really thinks sexual contact with his wives revives him spiritually and brings the girls closer to God.
Officials denied it: "A sexual assault of a 12-year-old and 15-year-old girl has nothing whatsoever to do with religious persecution. If anybody of any religious background comes to Texas and sexually assaults young girls, they are going to be investigated and prosecuted regardless of what their religious background is", Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said.
The audio that also was used against the Church Community leader was recorded at the Yearning for Zion ranch in Texas in August 2006. Jeffs' called a "heavenly comfort" 20-minute training session with three of his so-called "spiritual wives" became a public one.
One of the abused females was exactly 12 years, one month, and three days old when the recording was made. Jeffs was charged with aggravated sexual assault for this incident, considered a first-degree felony. The recording begins with Jeffs asking the girl how she feels. "Feels good," she answers. "Everyone else let go of me, back away a little. Please get on the other side of the bed", continues Jeffs. "You shall learn the powers of the spirit of God as a heavenly wife should. Let the heavenly comfort hear us", Jeffs tells the 12-year-old.
"We bless you, by the Lord, at this young age. To come to know God and his power, and feel his presence," says Jeffs, according to the transcript.
As it is reported there are periods where sounds described by the transcript as "rhythmic heavy breathing" can be heard. Later on Jeffs asks again how the girl feels. "I feel fine, thank you," she responds. When the “training” ends, Jeffs begins to pray. "Behold father these three ladies, innocent and pure. We thank you for these gifts and join in a prayer of oneness."
Recall that Warren Jeffs' sect broke off from the mainstream Mormon Church 72 years ago. His 10,000 followers across North America consider him a prophet who serves as God's spokesman on Earth.
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