PHOENIX — Less than two years after his arrest outside of Flagstaff, the polygamist leader Samuel Bateman is expected to take a plea deal in federal court on April 1.
New records filed in court on Wednesday show that Bateman and his co-conspirators have each been offered deals relating to sex trafficking of minors, child pornography, kidnapping, conspiracy and tampering with evidence, among the dozens of counts they face.
This comes days after some of his followers accepted plea deals of their own.
12News Special Report: Colorado City and Samuel Bateman
Bateman was arrested outside Flagstaff in 2022, when investigators found young girls inside his trailer, wearing wedding rings.
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He considered himself a prophet of the FLDS church, following the footsteps of Warren Jeffs.
The federal government's case says that Bateman amassed followers from multiple states and convinced some to bring their daughters to live with him on a compound in Colorado City, Arizona.
According to a federal indictment, Bateman is accused of taking 20 wives, including minors and adults. The youngest, just 9 years old.
Now, federal court records say he is expected to take his own plea deal on Monday.
His remaining co-conspirators have also been offered pleas and have until April 12 to decide whether or not to take the deals.
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