A polygamous religious leader who claimed more than 20 “wives” including girls as young as 10 is facing decades in prison when he was sentenced Monday for forcing girls as young as 9 to join him and other adults.
Samuel Bateman, whose small group was an offshoot of the cult once led by Warren Jeffs, pleaded guilty to a years-long scheme to transport girls across state borders for his sex crimes, and later to take some of them into protective custody. His plea deal calls for 20 to 50 years in prison, although each conviction carries a possible life sentence.
But first, a federal judge will hear from the doctor who evaluated Bateman’s competency.
The question could determine whether the sentence goes forward or whether Bateman is sent back to federal custody for psychiatric treatment until he is deemed mentally fit to help defend himself, said his attorney Brian Russo. Authorities say Bateman, 48, tried to start an offshoot of the group. The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is based in the neighboring communities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah.
The fundamentalist group, also known as the FLDS, split from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after Mormons officially outlawed polygamy in 1890. The alleged practice of cult members sexually abusing girls they claim to be spiritual “wives” has been troubling for a long time. the FLDS. Jeffs was convicted of federal charges in Texas in 2011 involving the sexual abuse of his minor fans. Bateman was one of Jeffs’ most trusted followers and declared himself, like Jeffs, a “prophet” of the FLDS.
Jeffs criticized Bateman in a written “revelation” sent to his followers in prison, then tried to start his own group. In 2019 and 2020, insisting that polygamy brought exaltation to heaven and that he was doing it on orders from “Heavenly Father,” Bateman began taking elderly women and children from his male followers and declaring them his “wives,” the plea agreement said.
Although none of these “marriages” were legally or legally recognized, Bateman admitted that each time he took a certain “wife”, it meant the beginning of his illicit sexual relationship with a woman or girl.
Federal agents said Bateman required his followers to publicly confess to any transgressions and issued punishments ranging from public shaming to sexual acts, including requiring certain male followers to atone for their “sins” by giving their wives and daughters to him. Bateman traveled extensively between Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Nebraska and often forced young girls into his sexual acts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona said.
Recordings of some of his sex crimes were broadcast across state lines using electronic devices. Bateman was arrested in August 2022 by state police while driving through Flagstaff. Someone alerted the authorities after seeing tiny fingers getting into the doorknobs.
Inside the air-conditioned trailer, they found a makeshift toilet, a sofa, camping chairs and three girls aged 11 to 14.
Bateman posted bond but was soon arrested again, accused of obstruction of justice in a federal investigation into whether children were being transported across state lines for his sex crimes. Authorities also took nine children from Bateman’s home in Colorado City into custody. Eight children later escaped from foster care in Arizona, and were found miles away in Washington state, in a car driven by elderly “wives.”
Bateman also admitted his involvement in the kidnapping attempt.
Federal prosecutors noted that Bateman’s plea deal was contingent on all of his co-defendants pleading guilty. It also called for up to $1 million in restitution for each victim, and for all assets to be confiscated immediately. Seven of Bateman’s former “wives” have been convicted of charges related to forcing children to have sex or obstructing the investigation into Bateman.
Others admitted that they also coerced the girls into becoming Bateman’s spiritual “wives”, witnessed Bateman committing sex crimes with the girls, participated in illegal group sex involving minors, or participated in their child rearing. Another woman is expected to go on trial on January 14 on charges related to the kidnapping.
Two Colorado City brothers also face up to 10 years to life in prison when they are sentenced, Dec. 16 and 20, after being convicted in October of charges including traveling abroad to solicit or coerce a child into having sex. Authorities say one bought two Bentleys for Bateman, and the other a Range Rover.
In court records, attorneys for Bateman’s other “wives” painted a negative picture of their clients’ religious upbringing. Another said that her client was raised in a religion that taught sex with children was acceptable and that she was tricked into “marrying” Bateman. Another said that his client was given to Bateman by another man as if he was a piece of property, feeling that he could do nothing, and was used by Bateman to do things he would not do.