Warren Jeffs Convicted of Child Sex Abuse

Polygamist leader faces life in prison after sentencing phase
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 4, 2011 7:17 PM CDT
Warren Jeffs Convicted of Child Sex Abuse
A law enforcement officer, left, escorts Warren Jeffs into the Tom Green County Courthouse Thursday in San Angelo, Texas.   (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

A Texas jury made quick work of the Warren Jeffs case today, deliberating for less than four hours before finding him guilty of sexually assaulting two underage girls in his polygamist sect, reports CNN. He faces life in prison when the sentencing phase of the trial wraps up. Jeffs acted as his own attorney, and he remained silent during most of the time allotted for his closing argument. At one point, he stared at each juror individually before mumbling, "I am at peace."

Prosecutors had used an audio recording of a panting Jeffs to make their case that he had sex with young "spiritual wives" in his charge. They promised more "repulsive" evidence in the sentencing phase, which could finish tomorrow. "I think it will confirm in (jurors') minds why they convicted the man and why they want to put him behind bars for a long time," said the state attorney general. (More Warren Jeffs stories.)

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