Jeffs' lawyers appeal rape convictions

Published: Dec. 4, 2008 at 8:39 PM

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Lawyers for polygamy sect leader Warren Jeffs have appealed their client's convictions of being an accomplice to rape.

They are asking the Utah Supreme Court to grant Jeffs, the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints Church, a new trial and reverse his 2007 convictions, the (Salt Lake City) Deseret News reported Thursday.

Jeffs was convicted of presiding over a 2001 marriage ceremony in which a then 14-year-old girl, Elissa Wall, was wed to her 19-year-old cousin, Allen Steed, the newspaper reported.

Jeffs' lawyers say the court erred when it imposed two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison instead of concurrent sentences.

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's office has 60 days to respond with its own legal brief, the newspaper said.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Crude oil prices slide hard Thursday (2 min)
Unemployed grandmother hits street for job (5 min)
One Canadian cow sells for $1.2 million (9 min)
UPI NewsTrack Health and Science News (22 min)
Parents object to haircut punishment (30 min)
October budget deficit is $176.3 billion (31 min)
Officer hit by golf cart during parade (34 min)
fark
Elmo vs Spiderman vs Chewbacca: LA's superhero turf wars heat up again
John King to replace Lou Dobbs, says CNN. Dobbs' wife reportedly pleased
Guy's cell phone minutes run out, so he calls 911 five times to see if anyone will have sex with...
*POP*
Woman wins $1M McDonalds Monopoly prize. Plans to use winnings on new house, car, angioplasty
You went full North by Northwest, dude. Never go full North by Northwest