PHOENIX — Lurid new details have emerged from a new 53-felony-count federal indictment against an Arizona-based polygamist fundamentalist cult and its leader, Samuel Bateman.
The US Attorney’s Office for Arizona has now charged Bateman, a self-proclaimed prophet of a breakaway group from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and 10 others with sexually assaulting nine girls, ages 9 to 17. Was between The time the alleged offense took place.
Federal prosecutors filed a comprehensive indictment against Bateman and three followers on May 18, replacing the more limited indictment. The latest court filing, which names 11 defendants, shows that the case has expanded in scope and the allegations have become more serious.
According to documents filed in US District Court in Arizona, the new charges rely partly on Bateman’s own writings and comments from some of the girls. The new indictment alleges Bateman forced little girls to have sex with him and other adults, traded nights out with the girls for luxury Bentley cars, made children participate in live-streamed group sex acts, and state Across the world, stories of girls being taken for the sex trade were revealed.
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Bateman was charged in Decemberalong with Naomi Bistline, Donna Barlow and Moretta Johnson, all of whom Bateman claimed to be his wives.
Originally, the four faced charges of kidnapping and destruction of evidence in a federal investigation. The US Attorney’s office filed affidavits describing the sexual coercion but did not file charges against him.
Josephine Barlow WaistlineLadell Bistline Jr., Brenda Barlow, Maronna Johnson, Torrance Bistline, Leah Bistline and Leilani Bistline were added to the indictment on May 18. They are all relatives, followers and others whom Bateman claimed as wives.
The 11 co-defendants face charges ranging from producing child pornography to taking children for sex.
Who is Samuel Bateman?
He is 47 years old and an FLDS sect leader in Colorado City, Arizona. Apart from this, much is still not known about him. According to residents of Colorado City and Hilldale, Utah, he calls himself a prophet.
What happened in Colorado City, Arizona?
On August 28, Arizona Department of Public Safety Troopers observed a GMC Denali stopped on Interstate 40. They saw a child’s hand reaching out from a trailer in tow, and then arrested Bateman. He was being held in the Coconino County Jail on suspicion of endangering children.But he returned home.
Why is the FBI involved?
Federal agents suspected Bateman was deleting records from a cellphone app during and after his arrest and communicating with supporters in the Colorado town while he was in jail. On September 13, agents searched his home there. On September 15, he appeared in federal court at New Federal charges related to interfering with the destruction of records,
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Overt Actions, Sex and Bentleys
Last week’s indictment listed the “overt actions” in a detailed timeline, beginning in 2019 when Bateman declared himself a prophet and ending with his arrest by federal agents in the fall of 2022.
Court documents describe alleged “acts” that Bateman perpetrated on young girls and led their parents to believe that God had ordered them to marry. The ceremony was often the first time the girls were asked to have sex with him — some of the girls admitted to being scared, according to the indictment.
By the time law enforcement caught up with him, he had claimed 10 women and 10 underage girls as his God-given wives. The identities of most remain unclear.
In court records filed last winter, federal prosecutors hinted at some of the terrifying allegations they presented in the new indictment. they include:
- Forced sexual acts.
- Leading children to have sex with other adults.
- Trying to marry one of his minor daughters.
But new details, some confusing, go further.
According to the latest allegations, Bateman began a manipulative pattern of taking underage girls in March 2020, when he claimed a vision from God led him to the 9-year-old daughter of a man known only as MJ. asked to take her as his wife.
Reports in court records allege that four months later Bateman slept with the 9-year-old in his bed.
Prosecutors claimed Bateman did this at least seven times. Four more daughters aged 10, 11, 13 and 14 were taken from MJ. Two other daughters, ages 9 and 10, were taken from co-defendants Ladell Bistline and Josephine Bistline. According to the new indictment, Bateman would also take Josephine Bistline as his wife.
On at least two occasions, it is alleged that the girls described sexual acts with Bateman. In another article, it was claimed that Bateman wrote, referring to one of the girls, that he “slept with the Angel Mother tonight!”
In a previous filing, Ladell Bistline was accused of engaging in group sex acts involving girls. New allegations suggested that Bateman offered Ladell Bistline one of the children for sex in exchange for a night with Bistline’s wife.
Prosecutors noted that in October 2021, Torrance Bistline, a wealthy farm engineer, bought Bateman a luxury Bentley. Months later, according to the indictment, Bateman propositioned Torrance Bistline, a 12-year-old girl, and witnessed them having sex.
Prosecutors claimed that Torrance Bustle would buy Bateman a second Bentley shortly after that night.
Greenhouse
Prosecutors allege that while sitting in the Coconino County Jail after his arrest in Flagstaff, Bateman contacted Torrance Bistline and other followers to delete messages and documents from digital devices.
According to the indictment, after Bateman was bonded out in early September, a 15-year-old girl claimed Bateman coerced another 15-year-old into sex and forced her to watch.
The indictment claims that when federal agents arrived on September 13, some of the older women attempted to get rid of or hide evidence. One reportedly threw a bag full of condoms and digital devices out the window.
Prosecutors also moved to confiscate Bateman’s belongings upon conviction. They are also seeking seizure of two homes in the Colorado town that prosecutors claim belonged to Bateman. They were known as “Blue House” and “Green House”.
For more than a year, several girls visited the Green House. Prosecutors claimed this was where Bateman held them to participate in group sex acts.
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53 felonies matter
The indictment numbers 1-53 as each separate charge. Some defendants share the same count. The following is a list of the number and types of charges each defendant is facing.
Bateman faces a total of 51 felony counts. These include production of child pornography, interstate travel with intent to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity.
Donnae Barlow, Moretta Johnson and Naomi Bistline have four felony counts against them. These include kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap, tampering with official proceedings and conspiracy to tamper with official proceedings.
Josephine Barlow has 12 crimes listed on her waistline. These include the creation of child pornography, transfer of pornographic material to a minor, and transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity.
Ladell Bistline is charged with eight felonies. These include receipt of child pornography, transfer of pornographic material to a minor, and transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity, among others.
Brenda Barlow faces 11 felony charges. These include transfer of obscene material to a minor, transporting a minor for criminal sexual activity and conspiracy to kidnap.
Marona Johnson faces one felony count of transfer of obscene material to a minor.
Leah Bistline faces two felony counts of using the means of interstate commerce to persuade or coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Torrance Bistline faces five felony charges. These include using a means of interstate commerce to persuade or coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity and four other felonies related to tampering with evidence.
Leilani Bistline faces three felonies, including using a medium of interstate commerce to persuade or coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity, transporting a minor for criminal sexual activity and engaging in sexual activity. involves persuading or coercing.
Bateman is due to appear in court in Phoenix on Friday.
Contact crime reporter Miguel Torres [email protected] or on twitter @TheMiguelTorres,
