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Guilty plea by leader of polygamous sect near the Arizona-Utah border is at risk of being thrown out

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Guilty plea by leader of polygamous sect near the Arizona-Utah border is at risk of being thrown out


PHOENIX (AP) — A guilty plea by the leader of an offshoot polygamous sect near the Arizona-Utah border is at risk of being thrown out due to an unmet condition of his deal that hinged on whether others charged in the case also would plead guilty.

Under the terms of Samuel Bateman’s deal, prosecutors can — but aren’t required to — withdraw his guilty plea, after two other men charged in the case rejected plea offers and are now headed to trial.

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Bateman, a self-proclaimed prophet who took more than 20 wives, including 10 girls under age 18, pleaded guilty this month to charges of kidnapping and conspiring to transport underage girls across state lines in what authorities say was a years-long scheme to orchestrate sexual acts involving children.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Phoenix declined on Friday to say whether it will withdraw Bateman’s plea.

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“We have yet to see it. It’s not on the docket,” Bateman’s attorney, Myles Schneider, said when asked about the matter. He declined to comment further.

Hearings are scheduled Monday and Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich over the offers that were rejected by Bateman’s co-defendants.

Bateman’s plea agreement recommends a prison sentence of 20 to 50 years, though one of his convictions carries a possible maximum sentence of life.

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In his plea, Bateman, 48, acknowledged taking underage brides, having sex activity with them and arranging group sex, sometimes involving child brides.

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Authorities say Bateman created a sprawling network spanning at least four states as he tried to start an offshoot of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which historically has been based in the neighboring communities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah.

He and his followers practice polygamy, a legacy of the early teachings of the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which abandoned the practice in 1890 and now strictly prohibits it. Bateman and his followers believe polygamy brings exaltation in heaven.



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Arizona Cardinals ink former Pittsburgh Steelers preseason star

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Arizona Cardinals ink former Pittsburgh Steelers preseason star


Former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Eku Leota is signing with the Arizona Cardinals just one week after he was cut by the New Orleans Saints.

Leota played in three games for the Saints this season. The Steelers let go of Leota during final cut downs in August despite having a standout preseason for the team.

A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Leota was an undrafted free agent in the 2023 NFL Draft. He made the practice squad for the Panthers to start the year before being elevated in November. The 6-foot-3 linebacker can play both inside and outside but had stood out as an edge rusher for the Steelers during the preseason.

Leota played for the Auburn Tigers and Northwestern Wildcats during his college career, and lost most of his final collegiate season with a torn pectoral muscle. He had 7.5 sacks in his first season with the Tigers.

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In a crowded room, Leota still flashed and was able to separate himself enough to get noticed by other teams, and now, get a spot on an active gameday roster.

The Steelers, meanwhile, have lots of talent in their outside linebacker room and have four players they are comfortable with right now, which left Leota on the outside looking in.



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Arizona grandma surprised with $500, GoFundMe after helping stranger

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Arizona grandma surprised with 0, GoFundMe after helping stranger


Valley social media influencer Jimmy Darts gave an Arizona grandma the surprise of a lifetime after helping him buy medicine at an Arizona Walmart. Eighty-six-year-old Connie didn’t hesitate to help, even though she’s struggling to afford food and rent. Darts surprised her with $500 on the spot and then set up a GoFundMe, where over 2,000 people have donated more than $58,000 to help turn her life around.



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Arizona AG sues Temu over alleged illegal data collection, false advertising

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Arizona AG sues Temu over alleged illegal data collection, false advertising


PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona’s top prosecutor announced a lawsuit against a China-based online shopping giant Tuesday morning, alleging the platform steals customer data and misleads customers.

“We allege that Temu has repeatedly and willfully violated the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act and put the privacy of Arizonans, including minors, at extreme risk,” said Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes in a written statement. “Arizonans should be aware that behind Temu’s low prices and shiny advertising, there is real danger. The Temu app can infect users’ devices with malware to steal their private data while carefully hiding its tracks.”

The AG’s office said the complaint was filed in Maricopa County Superior Court on Monday. The state alleges that the Temu app is deliberately designed to “harvest sensitive user data without users’ knowledge or consent and to evade detection.”

In addition to the privacy risk allegations, the state claims the shopping giant is also engaging in deceptive and unfair trade practices, including the use of forced labor and false advertising.

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Specifically, the AG’s office shared examples of merchants selling counterfeit goods of iconic Arizona brands like those of sports teams and colleges, including the Arizona Cardinals, Fender Guitars, the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University.

Some other complaints the state says it has seen include fake reviews, using payment information to order items not requested, bait-and-switch, and charging for goods not ordered or not delivered.

“I will not stand by while a Chinese company vacuums up reams of sensitive data from Arizonans’ phones and profits from deception and abuse,” added Mayes. “We are taking Temu to court to stop these practices, protect Arizonans’ privacy, and hold Temu fully accountable under Arizona law.”

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