Kriti Mehrotra
With A&E’s ‘Secrets of Polygamy’ and Netflix’s ‘Trust Me: The False Prophet’ exploring the dark reality of a fundamentalist sect through the eyes of survivors, we get productions unlike any other. They carefully incorporate not just archival footage but also exclusive interviews with key figures to really highlight the way sometimes just one so-called leader can impact the lives of many. Amongst those to thus be a central figure in these originals was self-proclaimed FLDS head Samuel “Sam” Rappylee Bateman, who is now a convicted felon for his pedophilic as well as predatory actions.
Sam Bateman Showed an Interest in Minors Since At Least 2020
It was reportedly back in early 2019 that Colorado City FLDS church member Sam’s convoluted hunger for power, money, and young girls began to get to him in the worst ways imaginable. According to court documents, the married father of three had told his then-wife in February that “he was going to be a very important man” within their religion as he’d started having clear “visions.” He essentially indicated he was the succeeding Prophet following the infamous Warren Jeffs, only to then apparently add to it by asserting the latter’s “spirit” had visited him with this “declaration.”
Then there was Sam’s alleged admission at home around the same time about having explicit “feelings” for his then 14-year-old daughter — he wanted to marry, bed, and have a child with her. The young girl told investigators in 2020 that she was terrified when her father said this to her, so he had allegedly bribed her with two bags of chips plus $50 to keep their conversations a secret. However, he soon outed himself to his wife, following which she almost immediately filed a restraining order against him before moving out of their home with the kids for good — she left him before he went too far.
Though as time passed by, Sam’s power with the FLDS community grew because he vehemently maintained that Warren was dead, even though the leader is incarcerated in prison at the moment. As per records, he exploited his male followers’ faith by convincing them to give up their own daughters to be his child brides, following which he had control of the girls by telling them to be obedient. If they didn’t do so, he apparently threatened to banish them from salvation, so he ended up having around 20 wives, most of whom were grossly underage, and he had sexual relations with them all.
Sam Bateman Was Arrested in 2022 After an Extensive Investigation
As per court records, Sam managed to be physical with all his wives by luring them into it through claims of it being a “sacred” ritual for the betterment of all — he incentivized it based on their beliefs. Then came August 28, 2022, when he was pulled over on a highway in Flagstaff, Arizona, after several people dialed 911 to report some fingers sticking out of a trailer being carried in the back of a truck. He refused to answer any questions posed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s deputies, which made things worse once they pried the doors open to uncover three girls between the ages of 11 and 14.
The girls — in the back trailer and his truck — all turned out to be his brides, and they were allegedly being transported to another city altogether, leading him to be arrested. He was granted bail within 48 hours, but that’s partly because the FBI was already investigating him and could not risk their operation being blown, especially as they were looking into much more serious crimes. However, with this arrest, they were able to seize his phone as evidence. A few weeks later, his properties, vehicles, and belongings across Utah were raided, from where they uncovered crucial video footage and journals wherein he spoke of all his brides. He was arrested for the second time in mere months at the time of the raid by federal agents, but this time, it was for good.
None of Sam’s plural marriages were legally recognized, but he still called almost every girl or woman in his household his wife. Moreover, his personal entries revealed that he often had his elder wives or strangers teach the younger ones how to act/be in bed. According to police records, he also orchestrated forms of group sex, only for them to be broadcast or videotaped for fellow male followers, making him responsible for child pornography, too. Then there’s the fact he’s accused of trading sex with minor girls (his wives) for luxury cars as well as facilitating contact between adults and children via other means, most of which he noted in his journals. This polygamous splinter group was hence eventually charged with 51 federal felonies — including counts of sexual abuse against minors in various forms, sexual abuse in general, plus kidnapping-related charges.
Sam Bateman is Currently Incarcerated in a Federal Prison
Sam initially pleaded not guilty to all allegations against him, but he remained detained without bond awaiting trial owing to the severity of the charges. Yet, in the months that followed, he somehow still managed to lead his group – the Samuelites – because he was allowed contact like every other detainee. In fact, he allegedly used calls to continue being explicit with his wives, had them kidnap his 8 minor wives from child services, and once even ordered them to send “intimidating messages to a government witness.” His communication privileges with everyone, excluding his lawyers, were thus eventually withdrawn.
In the end, at the age of 48 on April 1, 2024, Sam pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Consequently, following testimonies from attorneys, investigators, witnesses, and survivors, he was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison plus a lifetime of supervision upon release. So, today, at the age of 50, he remains incarcerated in an unknown facility, where he is expected to remain until his scheduled release date of May 5, 2065. He will be 89 years old at the time. It’s imperative to note that after Sam’s conviction, his communication privileges were reportedly restored, so he continues to have regular access to his followers and wives.
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