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Date: May 25, 2023 10:15PM
Sam Bateman
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/05/25/53-felonies-polygamist-leader/"Months after a federal raid of his compound, the leader of a polygamous splinter group on the Utah-Arizona border has now been charged with 51 felonies — including, for the first time, counts accusing him of sexually abusing the underage girls he had claimed as his wives.
An updated indictment released Wednesday against Samuel Bateman, 47, provides new details about the offshoot that he claimed to be appointed by God to lead, and about the allegations of “overt acts” with minors that he said was part of the faith. Ten of his followers, some of whom were his adult wives, were also charged with aiding him in the sex crimes.
The extensive indictment now alleges that Bateman took 20 women and girls as “wives,” 10 of whom were minors when he married them. One of those girls later turned 18, and federal prosecutors say she helped Bateman assault and kidnap the others; she has also been charged. The counts against Bateman largely focus on the nine other girls, who were all younger than 15 when he allegedly began assaulting them.
“His intent was to engage in sexual activity with minor girls, and he did so on a regular basis,” according to the filing.
Bateman is alleged to have claimed his first minor wife in May 2020. She was 9 years old at the time.
For two years after that, he traveled across Utah, Arizona, Colorado and Nebraska, the charges allege, to collect child brides — who were the daughters of his followers. He allegedly told members that to be faithful they needed to offer up their daughters to him or face punishment. He often “rebuked” them in harsh ways, according to the court filing, if they refused. And the male followers offered up new Bentley cars and other favors to stay in his good graces or to trade for a night with one of Bateman’s young wives.
The alleged assaults of the girls occurred in all four states. Bateman later directed and participated in group sex acts with the girls, women and other followers, the indictment states. Children cannot legally consent to sex acts with adults."
There isn't a punishment severe enough for him.