FLDS First Family Update

Warren Jeffs

On Nov. 15, a federal grand jury in Denver indicted Seth Steed Jeffs, the 32-year-old brother of fugitive polygamist Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints "prophet" Warren Jeffs, on a single count of harboring a fugitive, for allegedly helping big bro Warren evade capture. Warren Jeffs has been on the lam since June when he was indicted in Arizona on two state felony counts for his role in arranging a marriage between a teen girl and an older, married man. Prophet Jeffs is also wanted on one federal charge of fleeing to avoid prosecution – a charge that landed Jeffs' toothy mug on one of the FBI's most wanted lists in August.

Colorado cops arrested little brother Seth Jeffs on Oct. 28, after Pueblo Co. deputies were called about a possible drunken driver near the city of Pueblo. Police found Seth Jeffs and cousin Nathaniel Steed Allred in an SUV; Allred told police he'd been hired by Seth Jeffs to provide sexual favors to his cousin. Also inside the car, police found more than $140,000 in cash, numerous letters addressed to Warren Jeffs, and a glass bowl, affixed with a photo of Warren and labeled "Pennies for the Prophet." Seth Jeffs told authorities he didn't know where his brother was and was simply acting as a "messenger," taking the money and letters to a church bishop inside the new FLDS compound in Eldorado, Texas, just south of San Angelo. (For more on the Eldorado compound see, "Meet the New Neighbors," July 29.)

Despite Seth Jeffs' protestations to the contrary, federal grand jurors have determined there is enough evidence to try him for his alleged role in aiding Warren Jeffs' run from the law. Seth is currently out of jail on $25,000 bond; if convicted, he could face up to five years in the federal pen and up to a $250,000 fine. On Nov. 17, he pled not guilty to one count of knowingly harboring and concealing brother Warren. Seth's trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 9 in Denver.