A polygamous sect leader, Samuel Bateman, has been convicted on state child abuse charges after three girls were found confined in an unventilated trailer he was hauling through Arizona in August 2022. Bateman, who is already serving a 50-year federal prison sentence for orchestrating child sex acts and plotting to kidnap girls from protective custody, was convicted in a state court on Friday. The federal case, which included allegations of coercing girls as young as nine into sex acts, is the subject of the Netflix series Trust Me: The False Prophet.
Core Facts and Immediate Action
A member of the public alerted authorities after spotting small fingers reaching through gaps in the trailer's doors. Police stopped Bateman's vehicle in Flagstaff and discovered three girls, aged 11 to 14, inside the enclosed trailer, which contained a makeshift toilet, a sofa, and camping chairs. Bateman testified in his own defense, claiming he would never harm the people he loves but acknowledged the trailer's poor ventilation. He also stated he believed the girls had exited the trailer before police stopped him.
Deeper Dive and Context
Background on Bateman's Crimes
Bateman led an offshoot network of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, based in Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah. He previously claimed to have more than 20 "spiritual wives," including 10 girls under the age of 18. In the federal case, he was convicted of coercing girls into sex acts and plotting to kidnap them from protective custody. The state case focused on the conditions in which the girls were found in the trailer.
Legal Proceedings and Defense
During the state trial, prosecutor Eric Ruchensky argued that it was "common sense" not to carry people in a cargo trailer without ventilation on a hot day. Bateman, who represented himself, repeatedly brought up his federal conviction despite the judge's instructions not to do so. The jury ultimately convicted him on all charges.
Netflix Series and Public Attention
The federal case against Bateman is the focus of the Netflix series Trust Me: The False Prophet, which has brought additional attention to his crimes and the broader issues within the sect.