Samuel Rappylee Bateman, a leader of a polygamous sect, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for serious crimes involving minors. Bateman, aged 48, was found guilty of conspiracy to transport a minor for sex and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. He had initially pleaded guilty to these charges in April.
According to reports, Bateman had over 20 wives, some of whom were underage. Prosecutors stated that he directed his followers to kidnap girls who had been removed from his home by child services and transported them across state lines for sexual purposes.
During the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich expressed the severity of Bateman’s actions, stating that the harm he caused was immeasurable. She emphasized that he should never have the chance to be free again, and he took innocent children from their homes, making them victims of sexual exploitation.
In his plea deal, Bateman admitted to pressuring girls as young as nine to take part in sexual acts with him and other adults. Several victims spoke in court, sharing the long-term impact of the abuse on their lives. One victim mentioned the widespread pain the abuse had caused, while another expressed a hope that Bateman would truly feel the consequences of his actions.
Bateman was arrested in September 2022 after an FBI investigation revealed that he led a cult-like group affiliated with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The investigation uncovered disturbing details about his activities, including live recordings of him stating that a divine calling justified his actions.
Additionally, Bateman allegedly told his 14-year-old daughter that he wanted to have a child with her. At one point, he offered her money and snacks, which the FBI described as bribes. Following this incident, she was removed from his home, and a restraining order was placed against him.
After his arrest, law enforcement officials searched Bateman’s Arizona residence, where they found multiple girls aged between 11 and 16, all of whom were taken into protective custody. Unfortunately, some of these girls later went missing for weeks but were eventually located in Spokane, Washington. Prosecutors claim that from jail, Bateman instructed his followers to abduct the girls and move them across state lines.
Several of Bateman’s followers have been convicted of related crimes, including attempts to convince children to engage in sexual activities. Additionally, some of his adult wives have been charged with offenses connected to the exploitation of minors and obstructing the investigation.
