Around this time one year ago, a Tom Green County jury found themselves sitting in a freezing-cold courthouse full of locals, former FLDS members, and reporters, listening to Warren Jeffs’ monologues. (Example: “The conditions of present defense is such that I cannot use them they not having all-needed understanding for my defense which writing and representation by one who knows and understands the facts of these [thirteen-second pause] truths that can reveal a true defense involves not having the present counsel be the writers.”) On August 4, he was found guilty on two charges: aggravated sexual assault of a twelve-year-old and sexual assault of a fifteen-year-old. Five days later he was shipped off to Huntsville.
- Workers at Yearning for Zion raised and then destroyed a 100-foot concrete tower complete with an observation deck.
- Jeffs has continued excommunicating members while others have opted to leave
- The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the most populated FLDS community—the twin cities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah—alleging religious discrimination
- New police began patrolling Colorado City, AZ, “to provide fair and unbiased law enforcement services to this community on the Arizona-Utah border.”
- Jeffs has continued having revelations. (The Salt Lake Tribune’s fabulous polygamy beat reporter Lindsay Whitehurst created this handy calendar.)
- Warren removed his brother Lyle as bishop of the FLDS
- Former FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop sued Warren Jeffs, Lyle Jeffs, et al. and went on to win a $30 million judgment in the case.
- The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected Warren Jeffs’ appeal.