"The Most Lawless Town In The Country"

July 28th, 2011
12:09 AM ET



..and Garu Tuchman report

Crime & Punishment: In polygamist sect does violence rule?

Editor's note: CNN's Gary Tuchman reports on allegations of lawlessness against the FLDS, the polygamist church tied to Warren Jeffs.

---

Attorneys to argue about evidence in Warren Jeffs sexual assault trial

By the CNN Wire Staff
July 27, 2011 -- Updated 0622 GMT (1422 HKT)



..Dr. Sanjay Gupta with Michael Watkiss report


San Angelo, Texas (CNN) -- Attorneys are scheduled to be in court Wednesday to argue a motion to suppress evidence, a day after jury selection in the sexual assault trial of polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs.

It's unclear when the jury of 10 women and two men will hear opening statements.

The jury selection Tuesday followed a full day of questioning. At one point, nearly half of 207 potential jurors raised their hands when asked by defense attorney Deric Walpole "if you do not presume my client to be innocent."

Jeffs is charged with two counts of sexual assault on a child and one count of bigamy stemming from a 2008 raid on a ranch operated by his church.

Authorities raided the Yearning for Zion ranch near Eldorado, Texas, and removed 400 children who they feared had been sexually abused.

Some of the men at the ranch were charged with sexual abuse and most of the children were later returned to their families.

The ranch is operated by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, an offshoot sect of the mainstream Mormon Church.

Walpole said he needs more time to present a defense, but Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said the defense has had sufficient time to prepare.

District Judge Barbara Walther told the pool of potential jurors Monday that the trial could last two to three weeks.

He is expected to be tried on the bigamy charge later.

The FLDS splintered from the Mormon Church more than a century ago when Mormons renounced the practice of polygamy. Jeffs' church is believed to have about 10,000 followers.

In Session's Jim Kyle, Lena Jakobsson and Beth Karas contributed to this report.