Polygamous Prophet Update: Jeffs Found Guilty of Being Rape Accomplice
Warren Jeffs nailed for role in arranging and carrying out marriage of 14-year-old to her cousin
By Jordan Smith, Fri., Oct. 5, 2007
At last month's trial, the former child bride, Elissa Wall, now 21, took the stand, testifying that she did not want to marry her cousin, Allen Steed, but that her protestations were ignored. She sobbed at her wedding, she said, and was cajoled into saying "I do." A month later, she said, Steed forced her to consummate the relationship. Steed, who testified for Jeffs, said he didn't remember any of that and that, in fact, it was Wall who initiated the couple's first sexual encounter.
In the end, however, jurors didn't buy Steed's account and concluded Jeffs was, indeed, guilty as charged. Jeffs will be sentenced Nov. 20 and could face up to life in prison. Utah officials have also charged Steed with rape, based on his trial testimony; he was warned prior to testifying that whatever he said in court could be used against him in a later proceeding.
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