An Arizona man had a total of 20 wives that included several girls, one who was nine years old, the FBI said.
An affidavit that was filed in federal court on Friday, noted the claims against Samuel Bateman, 46.
It documented him as a cult leader, who had “approximately 50 followers and over 20 wives, many of whom are minors, mostly under the age of 15.”
In the U.S., polygamy is unlawful even though the documents stated the word “wives.” Without a judge’s consent, marrying is unlawful under the age of 16 in Arizona.
It was revealed that Bateman started his relationships in 2020 with children, wives, and some of his followers. One the girls may have been his daughter.
One girl was born in 2011 which means she had to be nine years old in November 2020 when she was with Bateman.
Additionally, he managed group sex acts with them.
Documents show that the FBI had probable cause to conclude that Bateman and others trafficked the individuals “to engage in criminal sexual activity, and travel in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct with minors.”
Although Bateman is in jail because of child abuse allegations, he hasn’t been charged with sexual abuse.
When the investigation first began, FBI agents removed eight girls from Bateman’s residences in Colorado City, Arizona. They were aged 11 to 16.
Bateman has been said to be a part of the Mormon faith which permits polygamy as a portion of a splinter group. This faith is also known as Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS).
The mainstream Mormon church has disassociated themselves from the FLDS and added that polygamy is terms for excommunication.
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