Decisions

Sentencing to Begin in Jeffs Trial

After niece and nephew testify he sexually abused them.

The jury in Warren Jeffs’ child rape trial will start deliberations Tuesday to determine how long the former polygamist sect leader should serve in prison. Jeffs was found guilty Thursday of two counts of sexual assault against a child, and he faces up to life in prison on the charges. On Monday, prosecutors gave their final push for the maximum sentence against Jeffs, and played audiotapes of two people apparently having sexual intercourse and another audiotape of what prosecutors said was Jeffs instructing underage girls on how to please him sexually. Jeffs’ niece and nephew testified Saturday that their uncle had abused them as children. During the first day of the sentencing hearing on Friday, Jeffs requested to be excused for religious reasons, saying, “I am God. Cease. Do not present my holy ways as a thing of naught.”