A leader of a polygamous sect, currently serving a 50-year federal prison term for involvement in sexual activities with children, received an additional 24-year prison sentence on Tuesday for child abuse related to transporting girls in a poorly ventilated trailer in Arizona.
Samuel Bateman, aged 50, was found guilty of three counts of child abuse following a traffic stop in Flagstaff, Arizona, in August 2022. During the stop, three girls, aged 11 to 14, were discovered in the trailer, which lacked proper ventilation, air conditioning, and seat belts. The authorities were alerted to the situation after someone noticed small fingers protruding through gaps in the doors.
Bateman, whose group was an offshoot of the polygamous sect once led by Warren Jeffs, is already serving a 50-year federal sentence for coercing young girls to engage in sexual acts with him and other adults, as well as planning to abduct girls from protective custody.
Judge Joshua Steinlage, citing the grave danger the girls faced in the trailer, among other considerations, ordered Bateman to serve the state sentence after completing his federal sentence. Bateman, representing himself in court, expressed his love for the individuals involved but did not seek leniency during sentencing.
Despite Bateman’s claims of not intending harm, the victims implored the judge to dismiss his assertions. One victim, who was present in the trailer during the traffic stop, recounted the emotional trauma she endured, revealing that Bateman exploited her sexually when she was 12 years old, leading her to seek therapy to cope with the aftermath.
Bateman, a self-proclaimed prophet, had previously stated that he had over 20 “spiritual wives,” including ten underage girls. In the state case, he acknowledged knowing that the girls were in distress in the hot trailer but downplayed the severity of the conditions.
The sentencing in the state case was emphasized as a means of holding Bateman accountable for the harm inflicted on the young victims and preventing him from causing harm to children in the future, according to Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker.
Bateman’s involvement in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he built a network in several states, was highlighted by federal authorities. The sect, known for its history of polygamy, has seen its influence decline over time, with court interventions leading to changes in governance in the towns where it was prominent.
The area where the sect was historically based has undergone significant transformations, with a notable decrease in sect members in the population. Bateman’s story was featured in the Netflix series “Trust Me: The False Prophet.”