Polygamist leader likely to keep grip on US church

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Polygamist leader likely to keep grip on US church

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A polygamous sect leader to lead his church from jail after being sentenced to life in prison.

10 August,2011 12:59 pm

Followers of Jeffs Utah-based Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are likely not to be swayed from their belief in him, despite evidence that he had sex with girls from the isolated sect as young as 12, former church members and experts say.Jeffs, 55, was sentenced by a Texas jury Tuesday and will not be eligible for parole until he is at least 100 years old.The vast majority are just not going to leave, Atlanta-based polygamy historian and writer Ken Driggs said. Theyve got family ties and marriage ties and a culture deeply rooted in their faith.There was no mass exodus in 2007 after Jeffs was convicted on Utah sex assault charges. As he spent almost five years in various jails, Jeffs continued to spiritually direct the faith, counsel followers and lead Sunday services by phone.Jeffs legal grip on the church remains strong.Last week, the Utah Department of Commerce reaffirmed Jeffs as the head of the corporations that make up the FLDS after a church bishop unsuccessfully sought to seize control.Commerce officials said William E. Jessop ultimately failed to prove he was ordained by the previous prophet to control the church.