Guide Note

Warren Jeffs is the leader and "prophet" of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). In 2006, Jeffs was arrested near Las Vegas, after being on the run for more than a year. On September 25, 2007, he was found guilty on two counts of rape by accomplice in connection to an arranged marriage.¹

On July 22, 2008, a Texas grand jury indicted Jeffs and five of his followers for sexual assault.²

Fast Facts

1. Born: December 3, 1955
2. May 2006: Added to FBI's Ten Most Wanted List³
3. Arrested: August 28, 2006
4. April 4, 2008: Jeffs' ranch in Texas was searched after a complaint was made to state child welfare investigators.
5. Official Title: President and Prophet, Seer and Revelator
6. Sentenced five years to life in prison, will serve at least 10 years⁴

In May of 2006, Jeffs was added to the FBI's Most Wanted List. Jeffs fled to avoid prosecution in a case in Utah where he was accused of arranging the marriages between his adult male followers and young girls.³

Jeffs was arrested in August of 2006 in Nevada. He agreed to go back to Utah and face his charges. Arizona also charged him with eight additional counts in two separate cases in May and July of 2007. The charges included sexual conduct with minors and incest.⁵

The Warren Jeffs trial in St. George, Utah began in September of 2007. The trial lasted less than a month. On September 25, Jeffs was convicted of two counts of rape as an accomplice. On November 20, 2007, Jeffs was sentenced to two consecutive prison terms of five years to life.⁶

On July 22, 2008, Jeffs and five other men were indicted on charges related to sexual assault. Jeffs was indicted by a Texas grand jury on a charge of felony sexual assault of a child. The indictment proceedings follow the child custody case of more than 400 children taken away from the Yearning For Zion Ranch in Texas. Jeffs is currently jailed in Arizona.⁷