Juror Removed in Polygamist Trial

Sept. 25, 2007— -- One juror was removed Tuesday in the trial of a polygamous sect leader accused of sex charges, suspending deliberations on what had been expected to be a day of verdicts, a court spokeswoman said.

There was no immediate explanation for the move.

Warren Jeffs, the president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is accused of two counts of rape by accomplice in the arranged marriage of a 14-year-old girl to her 19-year-old cousin.

Deliberations were supposed to resume Tuesday morning, after jurors told the judge Monday night they were close to a verdict on the two charges but wanted to sleep on the decision. Earlier in the day, they had reported an impasse on one of the two counts, but they returned to work after encouraging words from 5th District Judge James Shumate

"We have had an event with a juror. We are replacing that juror with an alternate," spokeswoman Nancy Volmer said Tuesday morning.

She had no other details.

Jeffs, 51, has led the FLDS church since 2002. Followers see him as a prophet who communicates with God and holds dominion over their salvation; ex-church members say he reigns with an iron fist, demanding perfect obedience from followers.

The young woman in the case, now 21, testified that she pleaded with church leaders to hold off the marriage because of her age but was told her "heart was in the wrong place." She said she sobbed through the ceremony and had to be coaxed to say "I do" and kiss her groom.

The groom, Allen Steed, said the young bride didn't cry or hesitate to kiss him. He said she initiated sex within weeks of the ceremony, waking him after he fell asleep in his clothes. He said he never forced her to do anything.

The Associated Press generally does not identify people alleging sexual abuse.

Each count of rape by accomplice against Jeffs represents a time frame in the marriage. The first count covers April 23, 2001 -- the day of the wedding --