Guilty! Warren Jeffs Convicted Of Sexual Assault Of 12 And 15-Year-Old Girls
Aug. 4 2011, Published 8:45 a.m. ET
- RadarOnline.com Senior Reporter
Polygamist cult leader Warren Jeffs was found guilty of sexually assaulting two young girls, ages 12 and 15, by a Texas jury on Thursday.
Jeffs, 55, was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault against the 12-year-old girl and guilty of sexual assault of the 15-year-old girl.
The jury deliberated for three hours before reaching their verdict and the 10 women and 2 men did not look at Jeffs when the verdict was announced.
Jeffs was looking at the jurors but was stoic and did not show any emotion when the verdict was read.
The jury will now decide what the sentence should be and they will return to the courtroom after a short break. Jeffs could be facing life in prison for the convictions.
The leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints called only one witness for his defense, church elder JD Roundy whom he questioned on religious matters, but did not present any evidence for his defense.
Jeffs claimed that the two young girls were his so-called "spiritual wives."
Prosecutors presented horrific tape recordings of Jeffs having sex with the 12-year-old girl, where he ordered her to "take your clothes off," as she was heard crying.
Jurors dabbed their eyes with tissues as they heard him say "How do you feel, doesn't it feel good," and then telling the girl "just don't think about the pain."
The prosecutors also presented DNA evidence to show that Jeffs fathered a child with the 15-year-old girl.
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