Wife of Polygamist Sect Leader Faces Justice for Obstruction Charges

An Arizona woman linked to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has been sentenced to house arrest and probation for her involvement in concealing the activities of Samuel Rappylee Bateman, the leader of a child sex ring. Donnae Barlow, who is one of Bateman’s more than 20 wives, played a role in protecting him from an FBI investigation.

Bateman, a self-proclaimed prophet who ascended after the imprisonment of Warren Jeffs, married several minors between 2019 and 2022. Barlow allegedly engaged in group sexual activities with Bateman and other wives, including child brides as young as nine, according to court documents obtained during an FBI investigation. Following Bateman’s arrest in August 2022 on child endangerment charges, Barlow, along with others, attempted to delete incriminating messages and hide evidence.

In a particularly troubling incident, Barlow assisted in the abduction of eight of Bateman’s nine child brides from the custody of the Arizona Department of Child Services. They were found a few days later at an Airbnb in Spokane, Washington. In exchange for her guilty plea to conspiracy to commit tampering with an official proceeding, prosecutors dropped kidnapping charges against her.

During her sentencing hearing held in Phoenix, sociologist Mari Loring testified about Barlow’s coercion by Bateman, emphasizing that she believed she was saving the girls from state abuse. “Samuel Bateman gives new meaning to the term ‘emotional coercion,’” Loring stated in front of U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich.

Barlow has spent 20 months in prison awaiting her sentence and has been diagnosed with severe PTSD and Stockholm Syndrome. Loring explained that Barlow grew up in an environment where obedience to male leaders was paramount, extending to inappropriate relationships and sexual acts with minors.

Barlow endured significant personal trauma, having been married and impregnated by an uncle against her will, resulting in her daughter suffering from a rare terminal condition. Her attorney, Sandra Hamilton, advocated for Barlow’s release to allow her to spend more time with her child, who is now four years old.

Although she cannot recall participating in the sexual activities orchestrated by Bateman, Barlow acknowledged her involvement. Her psychological issues have led to a dissociative state where she often relies on others to recount her experiences.

In a reflective moment, Barlow expressed a desire to learn more about life outside prison walls. “I understand that I made a huge mistake,” she remarked, sensing a broader world awaiting her. Judge Brnovich, diverging from the prosecution’s request for three years in prison, opted for time served, coupled with six months of house arrest and three years of probation. She is also required to engage in educational and life skills programs and is prohibited from contacting Bateman or any victims.

Bateman, who pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy charges involving the transportation of a minor for sexual activity and kidnapping, is set to be sentenced on October 28. Initially facing 52 felony counts, a plea deal will reduce the charges significantly. The proposed punishment recommends a term of 20 to 50 years in prison.

In July, three of Bateman’s wives were sentenced, with Marona Johnson and Leia Bistline receiving two years in prison followed by probation. Meanwhile, Brenda Barlow, Donnae’s sister, received a three-year prison sentence for her role in planning the kidnapping.