Polygamous Sect Leader Convicted of Child Abuse After Girls Found in Trailer
A polygamous sect leader, already serving a federal sentence for child sex offenses, has been convicted on state child abuse charges after three girls were discovered inside an unventilated trailer he was transporting. Authorities were alerted to the situation when fingers were seen reaching through gaps in the trailer’s doors, leading to a traffic stop in Flagstaff. The girls, aged 11 to 14, were found in the makeshift enclosure, prompting the conviction on three counts of child abuse. Sentencing is scheduled for August 25, with potential prison terms of four to eight years per count.
John Q. Hosedrinker