Update: Warren Jeffs Sentence

[LSN80]

After only 30 minutes of deliberation of sentencing by the jurors in polygamist Warren Jeffs sexual assault/aggravated assault case, Jeffs was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years. Jeffs received the maximum sentence on each count. The chance of parole is there, as the 55 year old man will have to serve at least 35 years of the life sentence(life expectancy being 70), and 10 years of the other. Prosecutor Eric Nichols said the following of the verdict:

"Jeffs perverted his position as the head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to satisfy his own personal appetites and desires". The jurors saw through his charade of freedom of religion and made the right decision here".

As I stated in my other thread regarding Jeffs, he was charged with aggravanted assault on 12 year old girl, to whom he was "married", and aggravated sexual assault, when he impregnated a 15 year old girl. But perhaps the most damning thing in Jeffs case was a tape played by the prosecutor during his sentencing hearing. It was a recording of Jeffs saying the following:

"You have to know how to be sexually excited and to help each other ... and you have to be ready for the time I need your comfort. This is your mission. This is how you abide the law. Take your clothes off. Do it right now. Just don't think about the pain; you're going to heaven."

I shudder at the though of the "pain" he was referring to, and I won't even being to speculate on it. Jeffs insisted that the After playing the tape, Nichols said the following to the jury before sending them to deliberations on sentencing.:

"Rarely if ever in the criminal justice system in Texas have we ever encountered a person such as Warren Jeffs, whose criminal conduct spans decades, multiple jurisdictions and hundreds of victims.This is not the prosecution to persecute a people, this is a prosecution to protect a people,"

Nichols made the last statement regarding persecution and protection because Jeffs was claiming that everything he did fell under his rights of protection of freedom of religion. Jeffs didnt attend the hearing, and instructed his lawyers to give no closing statement. Upon conviction, Jeffs became the 8th man from the church to be given prison time for sexual assault of a minor, with four others awaiting trial. Jeffs was easily given the most publicity, and his punishment was the harshest. Following the verdict, one of the victims, former church member Rebecca Musser, said the following:

"The verdict will not bring back lost innocence. But she said it can help others escape from abuse they may have suffered.Whether the currency is God or greed, the trafficking of women and children for sex is a form of slavery".

Im extremely pleased with the verdict myself, as this sends an incredibly strong message. I have no problem with people practicing their faith as they see fit, but not at the expense of others. In this case, I feel Jeffs case ranks among the worst of them all, as he took advantage of young innocents, and encouraged some members of his congregation, as shown by the arrests and convictions of them, to do the same. But Im curious to hear your thoughts on this as well.

Did the jury get the sentencing(life + 20 years) correct? Why or why not?

Where does Jeffs crime rank in terms of crimes done in the name of religion?

What are your feelings regarding polygamy? If not done in the exploitation of minors, other then it being illegal, is there harm in it?

Feel free to answer any/all of the questions, or take this in any direction you like. Let's talk about this!

 

[klunderbunker]

This is something that needed to be done. Jeffs may be the leader of his church or sect or whatever you want to call it and he may have even believed that what he was doing was the Lord's work. That being said, there are laws that are designed to prevent an adult from impregnating a 12 year old girl. Jeffs used his position and authority to get something he wanted which was illegal. The girl may or may not have been ok with it, but that's the point: she shouldn't have had to make such a decision. At that age you can't comprehend things like these, at least not to their full reprecussions. I have no issue with Jeffs being in jail, because there are no situations in which what he did can be classified as legal.

As for polygamy, I think that's a far lesser deal. America decided a long time ago that marriage has to be between one man and one woman because. That's it. It must be just because. In a situation where adult women or men are aware of what's going on and are ok with their husband or wife being married to someone else, I don't see how that's the issue of the federal government. If it's a known fact to all parties involved, that's their business. The sanctity of marriage issue hasn't meant much in this country in years, so I don't see how it could be used in protest of it. It's not something i'd do, but I don't see how it's some evil that must be stamped out.

 

[Dagger Dias]

20 years is not long enough, but it definitely does send a message to anyone else thinking of doing what Jeffs did. I honestly think it needs to be longer, nothing can ever bring back the innocence that was lost due to his actions. Jeffs' crime is one of the worst I have ever heard of done in the name of a "religion". I've never agreed with polygamy in any way shape or form. That comes from my own personal and religious beliefs. We were created male and female, thus we are meant to find our other half and spend life with them alone. Some find their soulmate while others might not be so lucky. I am not one to judge though, if people are involved in polygamous relationships and everyone involved is ok with it, then I will not shove my beliefs down their throats. However, I still disagree with that lifestyle no matter what the situation is because I am a firm believer in monogamy.

 

[gabriellejohnson]

Indeed, this becomes a hot polemic because of motley reactions from the populace. After being convicted recently of sexual assault, Warren Jeffs was sentenced to life in prison for his crimes. Jeffs, the leader of a fundamentalist Mormon church that practices polygamy, will not be eligible for parole until he is 90. Check this out: Warren Jeffs given life sentence for crimes against children. Moreover, according to the Telegraph, Jeffs stormed out of the courtroom on Friday after the jury found him guilty. He was absent from the courtroom for the rest of the sentencing proceedings. Deliberations lasted less than 30 minutes before the jury handed down the maximum possible sentence for each charge. Jeffs, according to MSNBC, says the court is infringing on his religious rights.