A leader of a polygamous sect, Samuel Bateman, was sentenced to an additional 24 years in prison on state convictions for child abuse in Arizona. This sentence comes while Bateman is already serving a 50-year federal prison term for his involvement in sexual activities with children. The state convictions stemmed from a 2022 incident in Flagstaff, Arizona, where three girls, aged 11 to 14, were found in an unventilated trailer during a traffic stop.
Judge Joshua Steinlage emphasized the extreme danger the girls faced in the trailer as he ordered Bateman to serve the state sentence after completing his federal term. Bateman, who represented himself in court, did not seek leniency during his sentencing. Victims of Bateman’s crimes expressed their disagreement with his claims of innocence.
One victim recounted the psychological trauma she endured, stating that Bateman sexually exploited her when she was only 12 years old, leading her to seek therapy to cope with the aftermath. Bateman, who admitted to knowing about the poor conditions in the trailer, claimed he was surprised to learn the girls had not exited the vehicle during the stop.
Bateman, a self-proclaimed prophet known to have multiple “spiritual wives,” including underage girls, was a prominent figure in a splinter group of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had ties to Warren Jeffs, the former sect leader serving a life sentence for similar offenses.
The influence of Bateman’s polygamous sect has diminished over time in the communities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, where it was historically based. A court order in 2017 removed the sect from local government control, and the towns were released from supervision earlier than expected in 2021. The sect’s members now represent only a small fraction of the towns’ populations.
Bateman’s story was featured in the Netflix series “Trust Me: The False Prophet.”