AUSTIN, Texas — Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs has filed a new appeal of his child sex assault conviction, threatening God’s wrath if he is not freed from prison.
In revelations filed with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the Fundamentalist LDS Church leader claims Jesus Christ is asking the Texas Supreme Court to free him.
“My people have endured persecution by government powers since Joseph Smith’s day on earth; and this nation is ripened for my full judgments, living in corruption,” Jeffs writes. “Let my servant and his brethren of my Church in Texas prisons be released, for they are prosecuted for abiding my law of Celestial Eternal Marriage of Plural Marriage Celestial; my most holy pure law of salvation, necessary for them and all others to receive full salvation.”
Jeffs was convicted of child sex assault, accused of taking as polygamous brides a 12-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl, whom he fathered a child with. In another revelation, the polygamist leader warns of God’s punishment if he and other FLDS members convicted of charges related to underage marriages are not freed.
“Let it be evidence to you, even to know I shall cleanse all nations who seek to destroy innocence,” he wrote.
Jeffs is serving life, plus 20 years, in prison. His previous appeal was dismissed by Texas’ Third Court of Appeals because he did not respond to deadlines required by the courts.
