Polygamous sect leader sentenced to 50 years for child sex crimes in Arizona
newsweek.com — December 10, 2024, 04:01 PM UTC
Samuel Bateman, leader of a polygamous sect, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for a child sex scheme involving underage girls. He coerced girls as young as nine into sexual acts and attempted to kidnap them from protective custody. Bateman, 48, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to transporting minors for sexual activity and kidnapping. His sentence will run concurrently for both counts. Seven of his adult "wives" were also convicted for their roles in the scheme. Bateman's arrest in 2022 followed a tip about three girls found in a trailer. The case has highlighted ongoing issues of abuse within the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from which Bateman's group is an offshoot.