Polygamist Warren Jeffs’ rape conviction overturned

In case you’ve been following the prosecution of polygamist prophet Warren Jeffs, here’s the latest: his rape conviction has been overturned due to erroneous jury instructions.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that Jeffs’ legal troubles are over–far from it.  The Utah Supreme Court, which handed down its ruling unanimously, ordered a new trial.  The ruling, which overturned Jeffs’ conviction on two counts of rape as an accomplice for his role in the “spiritual marriage” of a 14-year-old girl to her 19-year-old cousin, stated that the conviction focused on Jeffs’ actions rather than the cousin’s.  (Deseret News)  Apparently, the court did not instruct the jury that Jeffs needed to know that unwanted sex would take place and that a rape did occur. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Meanwhile, Texas is chomping at the bit to get their hands on Jeffs, too.  He is scheduled to appear in court this afternoon for an extradition hearing to send him to Texas.

(UPDATE) With the conviction overturned and a new trial ordered, Utah has decided to not extradite Jeffs to Texas, yet, probably pending the retrial.

See also:

• Warren Jeffs’ conviction overturned; new trial ordered (Deseret News)
• Supreme Court: Jeffs gets new trial (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Utah Supreme Court orders new trial for Jeffs, convictions overturned (Fox 13 Now)