Polygamous sect leader Samuel Bateman will spend the next several decades in prison after he was found guilty of child abuse.
Bateman, 50, was sentenced to serve 24 years in prison during a hearing on Wednesday, August 26, according to Fox 10 Phoenix. He received his sentence after he was convicted of child abuse.
As Us previously reported, Bateman was arrested after he smuggled three young girls in a hot and unventilated trailer through Flagstaff, Arizona, in 2022.The trailer included a makeshift toilet, sofa and camping chairs but did not include safety features, including air conditioning and seat belts.
Authorities learned of the incident when they pulled the trailer over after someone reported seeing small fingers sticking out of gaps in the doors.
During the trial, Bateman claimed he was a “kind and loving father” and insistent that he doesn’t “even spank my children,” according to a video from Hidden True Crime.
Bateman – who acted as his own defense throughout the trial – told jurors that he knew the girls were sitting in the hot trailer for hours, though he believed the conditions were fine.
“I just trusted myself as a driver,” he continued. “I asked God to bless me every time we hopped in that vehicle.”
Bateman went on to claim that he believed the girls escaped the trailer before he was pulled over. He then told the jurors that he was “shocked as could possibly be” when he realized the girls had not left the trailer.
By the end of the trial, Bateman was found guilty on three counts of child abuse on June 26.
Bateman was previously sentenced to 50 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and transporting a minor for criminal sexual activity in 2024.
The Justice Department said in a news release that his trials took place after he was arrested in 2022 for spending years “amassing ‘wives’ from his followers in several states … 10 of whom were under the age of 18.”
Bateman grew to prominence in 2019 when he created a large religious following, convincing his followers to make their minor daughters his “spiritual wives.” He had acquired 15 girls by the time he was arrested.
At least 10 of his victims came forward with abuse allegations against him. Hiss youngest victims were just 9 years old.
Bateman’s crimes were previously documented in Netflix’s March docuseries Trust Me: The False Prophet.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
