In a shocking court revelation, Samuel Bateman, the head of a polygamous sect, pleaded guilty to transporting minors for illicit acts. As detailed by ABC15, Bateman admitted his part in a scheme involving the sexual abuse of underage girls and a conspiracy to kidnap them from state custody. The leader of this fringe group now faces a recommended sentence of 20 to 50 years, with the possibility of life behind bars.
Authorities unmasked Bateman's cultish network, which spanned across at least four states, with the zealot claiming to be acting on divine orders. According to the details acquired by KSL Newsradio, Bateman and his acolytes believed their practices would lead them to celestial glory, a holdover belief from the early days of the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which itself disavowed polygamy over a century ago.
What exposed the depths of Bateman’s perversions was a call to Arizona State Police in August 2022 about small fingers seen through a trailer's door gap which led to the discovery of three trapped girls, as young as 11. In a space with makeshift amenities and no ventilation, the girls' plight highlighted the dangers of the sect's isolated lifestyle. Bateman's subsequent arrest saw him temporarily freed on bond, only to be taken into custody yet again a month later.
The case deepened as four of Bateman's wives pled guilty to obstructing official proceedings, acknowledging they had seen the illicit acts and participated in a kidnapping plot. These developments, coupled with pending charges against four other women and two men within the sect, paint a ghastly picture of indoctrination and manipulation. Bateman reportedly would give away wives as "gifts" and recorded some of the sexual acts, which were later transmitted across state lines.
Moroni Johnson, a business associate, was also convicted for helping transport minors as part of Bateman’s operation. If the sordid tales of coercion and abuse weren't enough, it's reported that Bateman also enjoyed lavish gifts from his followers, including two Bentleys and a Range Rover. Sentencing for the fallen prophet is scheduled for July 15.
