Prosecution Concludes Case in Shocking Fundamentalist Mormon Child Abuse Trial

In a significant federal trial unfolding in Arizona, the prosecution has concluded its case against two men accused of facilitating a child sex abuse ring linked to a fundamentalist Mormon sect. The trial wrapped up on Thursday with a harrowing testimony from a witness who reported being raped by one of the defendants at age 13.

The accused, brothers Torrance and LaDell Bistline Jr., faced an array of charges including the transportation of underage girls for sexual purposes and obstructing justice during an FBI investigation centered on the operation led by Samuel Bateman. Bateman is identified as a self-declared prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is a polygamous sect that has garnered scrutiny for its practices. Between 2019 and 2022, Bateman reportedly accumulated at least 24 wives, with 10 of those marriages involving girls who were minors.

During the trial’s 11th day, federal prosecutor Dimitra Sampson presented chilling evidence through a former child bride of Bateman, referred to in court as D.B. The now-16-year-old detailed a traumatic encounter in which Torrance Bistline allegedly raped her, following orders from Bateman, who told them such acts were divinely sanctioned. “He told me the Lord had told him that I was supposed to be with Torrance,” D.B. stated as she recounted the ordeal on the witness stand.

D.B. revealed that Bateman had previously forced her into sexual acts over 20 times between the ages of 12 and 13, often in the presence of other women in the sect. However, the encounter with Torrance was uniquely framed as “the atonement,” a term Bateman used to justify what were essentially violent sexual assaults. Under cross-examination, Torrance Bistline’s attorney challenged D.B.’s recollection of the incident, highlighting inconsistencies from prior interviews.

In addition, testimonies from other young women under LaDell Bistline Jr.’s care illustrated a grim narrative of manipulation and coercion. These young witnesses described being pressured into marriages with Bateman, fully aware of the ensuing sexual abuse they would endure. It was revealed that Bistline Jr. transported at least three girls back and forth across state lines for these forced unions.

Bateman’s arrest took place in August 2022 under alarming circumstances; authorities found three girls, including D.B., confined in a trailer, unable to use public restrooms at Bateman’s insistence. Following his arrest, prosecutors indicated Bateman attempted to orchestrate evidence destruction by directing both defendants to erase messages pertaining to the abuse from their devices.

Testimony from filmmakers who had documented Bateman’s life and multiple wives further implicated the Bistline brothers. They recounted how Torrance Bistline provided them with a USB drive for safekeeping just before an FBI raid. Law enforcement acknowledged a lengthy investigation into Bateman that started in summer 2022, with university police having previously stopped Bateman with underage girls during reckless driving, only to be instructed by their chief not to pursue an arrest due to ongoing FBI involvement.

As the trial progresses, defense attorneys are expected to make their intentions clear regarding whether the Bistline brothers will testify personally. Closing arguments have been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, marking a pivotal moment in this complex legal saga.