The False Prophet: Warren Jeffs

One of the first witnesses to take the stand for the defense was "Jane Doe's" former husband, Allen Steed, who denied ever forcing his ex-wife to have sex. Contrary to what his ex-wife said on the stand, Steed painted a much different reality claiming that during their turbulent marriage she often initiated sexual relations and when he sought counsel because he was "not particularly schooled" in sexual matters, he was informed to "take it slow" and "show love," Adams reported.

Steed told jurors that he always tried to listen to what his wife wanted and respect her wishes, although he said that she often over-rode him to get her way. He presented "Jane Doe" as the dominant one in the relationship and he as the soft-spoken man who had difficulty communicating with his wife. He suggested that their differences caused friction in their marriage.

According to Steed, soon after their wedding when they consummated their marriage, "Jane Doe," "didn't come right out and say stop or no or don't, at least push away from me or something," Adams quoted him as saying. He said that for weeks thereafter, they were often affectionate with one another, hugging, kissing and touching like most newlyweds. At one point, Steed broke down crying when he answered questions concerning his wife's affair. He told the court that the extra-marital relationship ruined his marriage and hurt him "really bad."

Adams reported that after Steed's testimony, the state called Jane Blackmore, a Canadian midwife, who testified that "while treating Doe for a miscarriage in December 2002, the young woman said she felt like she was being forced to have sex with her husband" who "wouldn't take no for an answer," Blackmore was the last to testify in a trial that would last less than two weeks.

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On Tuesday September 25, 2007 Warren Jeffs was convicted of being an accomplice to rape for performing a wedding between a 19-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl.