Posted on 03/17/2010 1:56:48 PM PDT by Colofornian
San Angelo, Texas » A Tom Green County jury deliberated 62 minutes today before finding Merril Leroy Jessop guilty of sexual assault of a child in connection with charges he illegally married an underage girl.
Jessop, 35, is a member of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Earlier in the day, lead prosecuting attorney Eric Nichols gave the first closing argument.
"You can conclude who that child's parents are beyond a shadow of a doubt," he said about the baby resulting from the alleged assault.
Nichols recalled testimony of DNA experts who said Jessop had more than a 99 percent probability of being the father.
Behind him, a projected image showed the girl the state alleges was abused, half smiling and holding the child.
Nichols also referred back to evidence "taken from the sacred church archives," which indicated Jessop was living at the ranch at the time of the offense, which the state says was Aug. 20, 2006, when the girl was 15.
Nichols also told the jury to recall the intent of the "spiritual" or "celestial" marriages that the FLDS practices.
"The purpose of the celestial or spiritual marriage is to be placed in a position to bear children to achieve her eternal salvation," Nichols said.
Lead defense attorney Dan Hurley began his closing arguments with a reference to the book To Kill a Mockingbird, specifically when the main character is told to "walk a mile in their shoes" before judging someone.
Hurley said all the sect members, not just women, were raised to believe that the FLDS prophet is "God's mouthpiece on Earth."
"Was he intentionally and knowingly violating the law, or was he following the directive of the prophet?" Hurley asked.
It sounds to me like it's no longer an allegation! He's been found guilty!!! (And frankly, the baby evidence has been around for several years)
From the article: Nichols also told the jury to recall the intent of the "spiritual" or "celestial" marriages that the FLDS practices. "The purpose of the celestial or spiritual marriage is to be placed in a position to bear children to achieve her eternal salvation," Nichols said.
So, now raping 15 yo girls is "salvific" for them??? (Oh, as long as you get them pregnant in the process, that is???) Disgusting. But then again, it's all right there in the Mormon "scriptures" -- Doctrine & Covenants 132's focus of "celestial marriage" -- held by LDS & FLDS alike as a "revelation" from the Mormon god.
From the article: Hurley said all the sect members, not just women, were raised to believe that the FLDS prophet is "God's mouthpiece on Earth."
This is what all various Mormon sects are taught (they each just have different "prophets"). If they are each the "solo" mouthpiece, then which utterance trumps the others?
Will our government have the stones to do the same with Muslims??
http://www.uncoverage.net/2010/03/the-ayatollah-khomeinis-booksex-with-children-and-animals/
Wonder how much press the trial for this rape of a 15 year old is going to get around the state:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6915492.html
HIV-positive Houston man charged in sex assault of Ind. boy
A 49-year-old Houston man has been charged with aggravated assault of a 15-year-old boy with a deadly weapon — HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Kevin Lee Sellars is accused of having sex with a boy he met online and flew to Houston from Indiana for 10 days in December, prosecutors said. He was charged Friday.
Assistant Harris County District Attorney Eric Devlin said Sellars coerced the child into sexual acts from Dec. 20 to Dec. 30, by saying he would not pay for the return trip home unless the boy complied. After the “relationship” soured, Sellars told the boy he was infected .
Probably not. Remember who is in the white house.
Wow.
I heard about another AIDS patient who had slept with as many as 100 women.
Lovely, huh?
A.
The law is no secret.
“The law is no secret.’’ Correct. And ignorance of it is no defense.
Right here in Indiana!
D&C 132 IS law!
GOD's law!
At LEASET the Flds folks KEEP it!
The SLC bunch are too afraid of the United States Government; as THEY gave up the 'practice' in 1890.
Holy Smokes!!! This guys was f**king nuts! Sick. Beyond sick.
Nothing is ever certain in the modern media, except "all the cops are criminals, and all the sinners saints." I'll give you a funnier example: a few years ago, in San Diego, a surfer barely survived a great white in "an alleged shark attack." I kid you not.
What a self serving asshole and a psychopath.
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