Who is Samuel Bateman? Arizona polygamist cult leader had 20 wives, most under age 15, including his 9-year-old daughter

A polygamist cult leader in Arizona is accused of marrying over 20 women, the majority of them were under 15, including his daughter, according to reports. a Friday in Washington-filed FBI affidavit that the Salt Lake Tribune was able to get. contains horrifying allegations of incest, group sex acts involving adults and children—some as young as 9—and child sex trafficking against Samuel Rappylee Bateman, 46. Since the FBI raided his two Colorado City homes in September, Bateman, who is the leader of a branch of the Mormon Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, has been detained in an Arizona jail. Agents reportedly searched for proof of child marriages or adult-kid interactions, according to the Tribune. The Tribune reports that in the beginning of 2019, Bateman's family reportedly told investigators that he had felt compelled to wed his own teenage daughter. Although Bateman has not been charged with sexual abuse, the affidavit states that the FBI has reason to believe that between May 2020 and November 2021, he and others transported minors between Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and Nebraska in order to engage in illicit sexual activity. According to the statement submitted by FBI Special Agent Dawn A. Martin, Bateman "began to announce he was a prophet" in 2019 and attracted over 50 followers and over 20 wives, the majority of whom are children under the age of 15. According to the statement, the majority of his wives are mothers, sisters, and daughters of two large polygamous households. [caption id="attachment_68725" align="aligncenter" width="2000"] The majority of Bateman’s wives are daughters, sisters and mothers from two extended polygamous families. image: AP[/caption] Martin was given audio recordings of a conversation that took place in November 2021, during which Bateman said that "Heavenly Father" had told him to give three of his adult male followers "the most precious thing he has, his ladies' virtue." The affidavit claims that Bateman then observed the three grown males engaging in sexual activity with his daughters, one of whom was only 12 years old. Then, he allegedly added, "God will mend their bodies and put the membrane back in their body" after his daughters "sacrificed their virtue for the Lord." I've never been more certain that I am carrying out his wishes. Martin cited Bateman as stating, "It's all out of love. The affidavit was submitted on Friday in a federal court in Spokane, Washington, where the Arizona Department of Child Safety had removed eight girls from Bateman's residence on Thursday. The girls vanished on Sunday after being placed in group homes in the Phoenix suburbs. [caption id="attachment_68728" align="aligncenter" width="540"] FBI agents have since raided Bateman’s two homes and are gathering evidence against the cult leader (Picture: AP)[/caption] Bateman used to be one of FLDS founder Warren Jeffs' most dependable adherents, but Jeffs recently disowned Bateman in a letter addressed to his followers from prison. Adam Zickerman, Bateman's lawyer, warned against drawing the conclusion that the case involved religious persecution in September, but he avoided mentioning Bateman's religion or whether or not he engages in polygamy. Following a court hearing in September, both Zickerman and the US Attorney's Office in Arizona declined to comment. While the case moves through the courts, US Magistrate Judge Camille Bibles ordered that Bateman remain in custody. "Courts have a tremendous interest in protecting people who can't protect themselves," noted Bibles, adding that Bateman had the connections to get assistance if necessary and that she was worried about the young girls in precarious situations.