Mother of Child Brides Unveils Shocking Truths in Arizona Polygamist Abuse Trial

In a harrowing testimony, Julia Johnson, the mother of two underage girls, recounted her experiences during the trial of two men accused of assisting in Samuel Rappylee Bateman’s alleged child sex abuse ring. The trial, held in Arizona, has attracted significant attention due to its disturbing nature.

On Wednesday, Johnson, a former member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said that Bateman acquired four of her daughters through spiritual marriages in 2020. Two of these girls were just 10 and 14 years old when they entered into such relationships with Bateman, which he initiated shortly after marrying another young girl, the nine-year-old daughter of Johnson’s husband, Moroni Johnson.

Johnson testified that Moroni Johnson and co-defendant LaDell Bistline Jr. played key roles in furthering Bateman’s agenda. They allowed Bateman to present himself as a prophet, ushering in a troubling shift in the community’s spiritual landscape following the arrest of Warren Jeffs in 2006. “It was a devastation,” she lamented, referring to the fallout of Bateman’s claims. His assertions led to many marriages occurring outside the community’s traditional structures, and Johnson described these new unions as contradictory to their beliefs.

She expressed disbelief regarding the lack of formal marriage ceremonies that would permit consent. Johnson revealed that she witnessed organized group sexual activities involving adults and minors across various locations, including hotels in Lincoln, Nebraska. The chilling details included a disturbing reenactment of a biblical story that devolved into lewd behavior. According to Johnson, Bateman used sex as a method of punishment, ordering his followers to engage in sexual acts as a form of atonement.

In court, tension mounted as Jacob Faussette, representing LaDell Bistline Jr., challenged Johnson’s credibility through detailed queries about the events she described. Though Johnson struggled with specific details due to the trauma, she maintained clarity about the individuals and the events she witnessed.

Federal prosecutors presented evidence that Johnson communicated via Signal, an encrypted messaging app used by Bateman and his associates to maintain secrecy. The trial also highlighted previous law enforcement awareness of Bateman’s activities, including reports from a film crew that had drawn the attention of the FBI.

Despite police inquiries regarding her children’s safety in December 2020, Johnson felt powerless as other family members assured authorities of their security. Nonetheless, after Bateman’s eventual arrest, she sought to distance herself from her husband’s actions and the oppressive doctrines of their faith, reflecting on the pressures placed on women to conform.

Currently, LaDell Bistline Jr. faces serious charges, including using interstate commerce to entice a minor and transporting a minor for sexual activity. His brother, Torrance Bistline, is also indicted on charges related to evidence tampering and conspiracy. Moroni Johnson pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy charges and is expected to testify next week.

The trial continues, with potentially more revelations to emerge over the course of the next five weeks. The implications of this case extend beyond the immediate legal concerns, raising profound questions about the safety and rights of children within the context of restrictive religious beliefs.