A leader of a polygamous sect, Samuel Bateman, has been sentenced to an additional 24 years in prison for child abuse after being found transporting girls in an unventilated trailer in Arizona. The incident occurred during a traffic stop in Flagstaff, Arizona, where three girls aged 11 to 14 were discovered in the trailer, which lacked proper ventilation, air conditioning, and seat belts. Bateman, who is already serving a 50-year federal prison sentence for coercing young girls into sexual acts and other crimes, faced state convictions related to the child abuse incident.
During the sentencing, Judge Joshua Steinlage emphasized the significant danger the girls faced in the trailer and ordered Bateman to serve the state sentence consecutively after completing his federal sentence. Bateman, who represented himself in court, expressed his love for the individuals involved but did not request leniency. Victims of the abuse urged the judge to reject Bateman’s claims of innocence.
One victim, who was sexually exploited by Bateman at the age of 12, described the emotional trauma she experienced, stating that she had to undergo therapy to cope with the abuse. Bateman, a self-proclaimed prophet, previously asserted to have over 20 “spiritual wives,” including minors under 18 years old.
In response to the sentencing, Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker highlighted the importance of holding Bateman accountable for the harm inflicted on the young victims and ensuring he could not harm children in the future. Bateman’s involvement in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he practiced polygamy, was extensively documented in a Netflix series called “Trust Me: The False Prophet.”
Despite the historical influence of the polygamous sect in the towns of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, its presence has diminished significantly over time. Recent legal actions have separated the church from local governance, resulting in a decrease in the sect’s population within the communities.