Right Juris

The trial begins for Raymond Jessop. He is the first of twelve men who will stand trial in connection with the Yearning for Zion Ranch polygamist case. The case garnered national attention in April 2008 when the ranch was raided and over 400 children were removed from the compound.

Jury selection has started in Eldorado, Texas for the first of the men who will stand trial for polygamy among other charges in the case of the Yearning for Zion Ranch case. The case is notable for several reasons, one of which is that it has been the largest child custody cases in American history. The State took 439 children of sect members into custody when it was raided in April 2008. The Fundamentalist Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) is a sect that broke away from the Mormon Church. Polygamy is no longer practiced by Mormons.

Jessop, 38-years-old is facing charges of abuse of underage girls which are related to his ‘marriages’ to underage girls and bigamy. His current trial is for the charges related to his sexual relationships with underage girls. He’ll face the bigamy charges in a later trial.

The sexual assault on an underage child stem from allegations that one of his wives went into labor in 2005 and had difficulty delivering the baby. She was just 16-years-old and was in labor for several days. Jessop sought counsel from cult leader and prophet Warren Jeffs who wrote in his journals that taking her to the hospital was out of the question. The girl wasn’t taken to the hospital for fear medical personnel would discover her age and start an investigation into the lifestyle of the Yearning for Zion Ranch cult. One of Jeffs daughters was married to Jessop the day after she turned 15-years-old. His bigamy charges are related to that marriage. He is alleged to have been ‘married’ to eight woman and girls.

The Raymond Jessop trial is being tried in Schleicher County Courthouse in front of State District Judge Barbara Walther. If convicted of sexual assault of a child, Jessop will face up to 20 years in prison. This is only the beginning of the Yearning for Zion Ranch Polygamist case trials.

Check out the video about the trial begins of Raymond Jessop as well as videos about the Yearning for Zion Ranch Polygamist Case below.