Earlier this week, polygamist leader Warren Jeffs was found guilty of two counts of child sexual assault for his sexual relationships with two underage members of his Mormon sect. During his trial, Jeffs argued that he was engaged in "spiritual marriages" with the girls, and that charging him with the sex crimes was therefore a violation of his religious freedoms. The jury did not agree, finding Jeffs guilty on both counts.

Jeffs was arrested after a widely-publicized raid on his sect's Texas ranch. He is a self-proclaimed "prophet and elect of God" in a polygamist division of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The sect and the concept of polygamy have been condemned by the mainstream Mormon Church.

At the start of his trial, Jeffs fired his criminal defense attorneys and went on to represent himself. His self-representation was riddled with issues and missteps, such as when he called a member of his sect as a witness and questioned him for several hours about the general FLDS beliefs on polygamy in defense of his claim that the prosecution violated his religion. The judge presiding over the trial eventually put a stop to the questioning, calling it irrelevant to the case.

After deliberating for just three hours, the jury found Jeffs guilty of child sexual assault and aggravated child sexual assault for his alleged crimes against two female members of his sect, aged 12 and 14 years old. He now faces up to 119 years in prison. In addition, he faces an additional criminal charge of bigamy, which is illegal in Texas. That trial will likely begin in October.

Source: Reuters, "Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs guilty of child sex assault," Jim Forsyth, 4 August 2011