KUTV Salt Lake City - "Raymond Jessop is one of 12 men from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints indicted after the April 2008 raid at their ranch and the first to face trial.Did we think it would be a guilty plea? I suppose you have to file the routine report.
The 38-year-old Jessop pleaded not guilty at a pretrial hearing Friday in San Angelo before Texas District Judge Barbara Walther.
His trial is scheduled to start Oct. 26 in the tiny West Texas town of Eldorado.
Jessop faces a separate indictment on a bigamy charge that could be tried later."
What was news?
The San Angelo Standard-Times - "The indictment against the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints member has been amended, prosecutor Eric Nichols said this morning, with the removal of an enhancement that would have raised the offense to a first-degree felony.Can you say "sandbagging?"
Nichols said the enhancement was based on legislation passed in Texas that wasn’t in effect at the time the alleged act occurred, so the allegation against Jessop is now a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison. He was previously facing a penalty of five to 99 years."
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6 comments:
This has me scratching my head?????
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/6649276.html
"Jessop also has been indicted on a bigamy charge, but prosecutors decided to pursue that charge separately."
Not hearing of any opposition to separating the charges leaves me wondering 'what's up' here.
There's a rumor (I stress RUMOR) floating around that the DNA evidence wasn't in discovery on some or all of these cases.
Attorney mark Stevens has requested two DNA experts be added to Raymonds witness list, so it would appear DNA evidence is to be entered into evidence. I thought the 'Motion to suppress' was to be discussed in this pretrial, is the YFZ Temple evidence now agreed to enter? No specifics on this other than most of the 'Motion in Limine', see item 4.,was agreed to by both the defense and prosecution, seems the Temple evidence is to allowed?
Could mean this trial will finish in two weeks or less and set a significant precedent, too.
Jam,
I don't know honestly. I put the "rumor" out there to see if someone DID know.
It is to the advantage of the FLDS at this point to foot drag monstrously since it is entirely possible new evidence may show up.
Evidence that was possibly withheld from them by the prosecution.
The DNA is evidence that may apply to sexual assault charges, but I have no idea how it would be relevant in the bigamy charge.
If you have a child with TWO women it could be supportive evidence for the bigamy charge.
The next move in this case could be the revival of the evidence question in Arizona.
I still have no idea if you can appeal the inclusion of evidence prior to the trial.
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