Arizona judge pushes trial date for Bentley-driving polygamist to March: reports

The trial date for an Arizona alleged polygamous cult chief with 20 wives – a few of whom are underage and as younger as 9 – has been pushed again to March to permit his lawyer time to organize.

Samuel Rappylee Bateman – in addition to his conspirators and aiders and abettors – is accused of partaking within the transportation of minors in interstate commerce to have interaction in legal sexual exercise and journey interstate commerce to have interaction in illicit sexual conduct with minors, between Might 2020 and November 2021, between Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Nebraska.

Bateman’s wives have been allegedly transported throughout state traces in a trailer, whereas the self-proclaimed prophet drove two Bentleys whereas pushing failed enterprise ventures in actual property and purpose teaching.

BENTLEY-DRIVING ACCUSED CULT LEADER HAS 20 WIVES AS YOUNG AS AGE 9, POSSIBLY MARRIED OWN DAUGHTER, FBI ALLEGES

The investigation revealed that on August 28, 2022, Bateman, with aiders and abettors, dedicated obstruction of justice by destroying information of their unlawful actions, in line with federal prosecutors. 

Bateman pleaded not responsible to prices of kidnapping and tampering with proof in a federal investigation into his group, in line with a report from Fox station KSAZ in Phoenix.

Three ladies embrace earlier than they’re faraway from the house of Samuel Bateman, following his arrest in Colorado Metropolis, Ariz., on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. Seven have been faraway from the Bateman house, in addition to two others from one other home as a part of the investigation. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune through AP)
(Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune through AP)

Whereas the trial was anticipated to start on Jan. 10, 2023, Bateman’s lawyer requested extra time to organize. The choose granted extra time, and the trial is anticipated to start out on March 14.

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Bateman claims to be a prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, of FLDS, a subset of the fundamentalist Mormon Denominations whose members observe polygamy.

Bateman, in line with an FBI affidavit included in a legal criticism in opposition to three new charged co-conspirators, has almost 50 followers and over 20 wives, a lot of whom are minors, principally beneath the age of 15.

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The possible trigger affidavit filed in federal court docket final month by FBI Agent Daybreak A. Martin alleges that a few of Bateman’s wives have been the wives or daughters of Bateman’s male followers. The affidavit additionally accuses Bateman of making an attempt to take his personal daughter as his spouse.

Fox Information’ Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.