Polygamous Morgan leader Sam Bateman pleads not guilty to kidnapping

A fundamentalist Mormon leader accused of having more than 20 wives, many of whom are underage, pleaded not guilty this week to federal kidnapping and tampering with evidence charges. Samuel Rappylee Bateman, 46, was first jailed in August when authorities found three underage girls locked inside a trailer he was towing near Flagstaff, Arizona. He

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A fundamentalist Mormon leader accused of having more than 20 wives, many of whom are underage, pleaded not guilty this week to federal kidnapping and tampering with evidence charges.

Samuel Rappylee Bateman, 46, was first jailed in August when authorities found three underage girls locked inside a trailer he was towing near Flagstaff, Arizona. He subsequently made headlines when a federal raid of his homes in Colorado City turned up evidence of incest, group sex acts involving adults and children, and child sex trafficking.

He remained in custody this week, when he entered his plea in a Phoenix courtroom, CBS reported.

Samuel Bateman was arrested in August. AP

The case against Bateman is part of an ongoing crackdown on abuse allegations in Colorado City and nearby Hildale, Utah. Both cities are longtime strongholds of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), a polygamous offshoot of mainstream Mormonism.

Bateman was once a trusted follower of self-proclaimed FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs, who was sentenced to life in prison more than 10 years ago on child sex abuse charges stemming from underage marriages.

However, the affidavit filed shortly after the September raid detailed how Bateman broke away from Jeffs and “began to proclaim he was the prophet” in 2019. He subsequently gained about 50 followers and 20 wives, most of whom are under 15 years old, according to the affidavit.

Wives, children and followers of Samuel Bateman amid the federal raid in Colorado City in September. AP
Federal agents during the raid at Colorado City. AP

At least two of his wives are allegedly his own teenage daughters.

Though the current charges against Bateman are limited to tampering with evidence and aiding in abducting young girls, court documents indicated the federal government has evidence that could lead to further charges.

In audio recordings that have been submitted to the FBI, Bateman appeared to facilitate the rape of minors by gifting his daughters to adult male followers.

In one November 2021 interaction, Bateman can be heard saying the “Heavenly Father” commanded him to “give the most precious thing he has, his girls’ virtue.” 

One of the daughters was only 12 at the time.

Earlier this month, three of Bateman’s adult wives were charged with kidnapping and impeding prosecution after eight children from the Colorado City complex absconded from protective custody and were later found hiding at an Airbnb in Washington state.

The inside of the trailer in which three underage girls were being transported by Bateman in August. Coconino County Superior Court
DPS troopers found a Streak ammo box in Samuel Bateman’s SUV during the traffic stop. Coconino County Superior Court

Authorities say the adult women were acting on Bateman’s example, after the jailed prophet instructed his followers to obtain passports and delete messages following his arrest. 

Bateman’s trial is set to begin on Jan. 10, though this date may be pushed back if his lawyers receive more time to prepare.

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