A businessman pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring with the leader of an offshoot polygamous sect near the Arizona-Utah border to transport underage girls across state lines, making him the first man to be convicted in what authorities say was a scheme to orchestrate sexual acts involving children.

Moroni Johnson, who faces 10 years to life in prison, acknowledged that he participated in a scheme to transport four girls under the age of 18 for sexual activity. Authorities say the conspiracy between the 53-year-old Johnson and the sect’s leader, self-proclaimed prophet Samuel Bateman, occurred over a three-year period ending in September 2022.

Authorities say Bateman had created a sprawling network spanning at least four states as he tried to start an offshoot of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which historically has been based in the neighboring communities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah. He and his followers practice polygamy, a legacy of the early teachings of the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which abandoned the practice in 1890 and now strictly prohibits it. Bateman and his followers believe polygamy brings exaltation in heaven.

  • FenrirIII
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    8 months ago

    Because polygamy is generally associated with being different; and being different makes you weird and suspect according to the news now.

    Edit: I’m not saying I agree with this line of logic. Simply stating an explanation.

    • @[email protected]OP
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      38 months ago

      Being different has ALWAYS made people weird and suspect.

      Please refer to LGBTQI+ people, anyone with a physical deformity, non-white people walking down the street in a rich neighborhood, etc etc etc

      • FenrirIII
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        28 months ago

        Exactly. It makes them an ‘other,’ which the status quo wants you to mistrust and be weary of.