Bateman was arrested in September after a traffic stop in Utah led to the discovery of a 16-year-old girl who had run away from a home in Arizona and was with Bateman against her will. The girl told authorities that she had been forced into a relationship with Bateman that included sexual acts. In his guilty plea, Bateman admitted to taking this girl and other underage girls across state lines for illegal sexual activity. He also acknowledged arranging group sexual encounters involving minors.
Bateman’s guilty plea was part of a deal that hinged on whether two other men charged in the case would also plead guilty. However, both of these men rejected plea offers and are now headed to trial. As a result, prosecutors have the option to withdraw Bateman’s guilty plea, though they are not required to do so. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Phoenix has not yet made a decision on whether to withdraw Bateman’s plea. Hearings are scheduled before U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich to address the rejected plea offers of Bateman’s co-defendants.
The plea agreement for Bateman recommends a prison sentence of 20 to 50 years, with one of his convictions carrying a possible maximum sentence of life. Bateman, who is 48 years old, has confessed to taking underage brides, engaging in sexual activity with them, and participating in group sex that included child brides. He is described as a self-proclaimed prophet who led a group of followers who practice polygamy.
Authorities say that Bateman was attempting to establish an offshoot of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a sect that has historically been centered in Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah. Polygamy is a fundamental aspect of this sect, despite being prohibited by the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bateman and his followers believe that practicing polygamy will lead to spiritual exaltation in the afterlife. The group’s activities spanned across multiple states, creating a network dedicated to their beliefs.
The case against Bateman and his followers has shed light on the continued practice of polygamy within certain religious sects, despite it being illegal in the United States. The allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation of underage girls are particularly disturbing and have raised concerns about the protection of vulnerable individuals within closed-off communities. The upcoming trial of Bateman’s co-defendants will further explore the extent of the illegal activities carried out by this polygamous group and the role of its leaders in orchestrating these crimes.
The possibility of Bateman’s guilty plea being withdrawn raises questions about the effectiveness of plea deals in cases involving multiple defendants. The outcome of the hearings before Judge Brnovich will determine the next steps in the legal proceedings against Bateman and his co-defendants. The case highlights the complexities of prosecuting crimes within insular communities that operate outside of mainstream societal norms and the challenges of holding individuals accountable for their actions in such contexts. As the legal process unfolds, the victims of Bateman and his followers deserve justice and protection from further harm.
