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| US polygamy sect leader sentenced | US polygamy sect leader sentenced |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A US polygamist sect leader has been sentenced to 10 years to life in jail as an accomplice to rape for forcing a 14-year-old girl to marry her cousin. | |
| A Utah court said the state board of pardons would ultimately determine how much time Warren Jeffs would serve. | A Utah court said the state board of pardons would ultimately determine how much time Warren Jeffs would serve. |
| The 51-year-old was jailed for at least five years on two counts, with the sentences to be served consecutively. | The 51-year-old was jailed for at least five years on two counts, with the sentences to be served consecutively. |
| The self-proclaimed prophet was found guilty in September of encouraging the girl to have sex against her will. | The self-proclaimed prophet was found guilty in September of encouraging the girl to have sex against her will. |
| He spent 15 months on the run before his arrest in August 2006. | He spent 15 months on the run before his arrest in August 2006. |
| Jeffs was the head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). The sect split from the Mormon Church after it renounced polygamy. | Jeffs was the head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). The sect split from the Mormon Church after it renounced polygamy. |
| He went into hiding after being charged in Arizona with being an accomplice to incest and sexual misconduct for allegedly arranging marriages between minors and older men. | He went into hiding after being charged in Arizona with being an accomplice to incest and sexual misconduct for allegedly arranging marriages between minors and older men. |
| Warren Jeffs was on the FBI's most wanted while on the runAt the time of his arrest he was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. | Warren Jeffs was on the FBI's most wanted while on the runAt the time of his arrest he was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. |
| A jury convicted Jeffs of orchestrating the girl's marriage to her 19-year-old cousin in 2001 and encouraging her to have sex by telling her she would go to hell if she did not. | A jury convicted Jeffs of orchestrating the girl's marriage to her 19-year-old cousin in 2001 and encouraging her to have sex by telling her she would go to hell if she did not. |
| Allen Steed, who has not been charged with any offence, testified that his wife had initiated their first sexual encounter. | Allen Steed, who has not been charged with any offence, testified that his wife had initiated their first sexual encounter. |
| Under Utah law a 14-year-old can consent to sex, but not if they are enticed by someone at least three years older. | Under Utah law a 14-year-old can consent to sex, but not if they are enticed by someone at least three years older. |
| Church under pressure | Church under pressure |
| Jeffs, who is reputed to have 70 wives, took over the leadership of the FLDS church after his father, Rulon, died in 2002. | Jeffs, who is reputed to have 70 wives, took over the leadership of the FLDS church after his father, Rulon, died in 2002. |
| An estimated 40,000 people in the US still believe in polygamyThe 10,000-strong sect dominates the towns of Colorado City, in Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, less than a mile away. A compound in Eldorado, Texas, is also home to a growing community. | An estimated 40,000 people in the US still believe in polygamyThe 10,000-strong sect dominates the towns of Colorado City, in Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, less than a mile away. A compound in Eldorado, Texas, is also home to a growing community. |
| Members believe a man must marry at least three wives in order to ascend to heaven. Women are taught that their path to heaven depends on being subservient to their husband. | Members believe a man must marry at least three wives in order to ascend to heaven. Women are taught that their path to heaven depends on being subservient to their husband. |
| Polygamy is illegal in the US, but the authorities have reportedly been reluctant to confront the FLDS for fear of sparking a tragedy similar to the 1993 siege of the Branch Davidian sect in Waco, Texas, which led to the deaths of about 80 members. | Polygamy is illegal in the US, but the authorities have reportedly been reluctant to confront the FLDS for fear of sparking a tragedy similar to the 1993 siege of the Branch Davidian sect in Waco, Texas, which led to the deaths of about 80 members. |
| However, observers say the church is coming under increasing pressure from authorities in Utah and Arizona. | However, observers say the church is coming under increasing pressure from authorities in Utah and Arizona. |