The question of how far a person’s religious rights extend was back at the forefront during the latest hearing in a food stamp fraud case that led to the arrest of several top-ranking leaders in a polygamous sect based on the Utah-Arizona border.
Attorneys for John Wayman and Seth Jeffs conceded Monday that their clients met on four occasions in late July at the direction of religious leaders who take orders from imprisoned sect leader Warren Jeffs, considered a prophet to his followers.
Those meetings prompted authorities to re-arrest Wayman and Seth Jeffs, alleging they violated their supervised release.
Monday’s hearing was scheduled so U.S. District Court Judge Ted Stewart could hear arguments about whether they should be let out again.
Judge Stewart didn’t rule, but seemed skeptical Wayman and Seth Jeffs are capable of putting court orders ahead of instructions from religious leaders.
Stewart said several times that it seems like Wayman and Seth Jeffs are “rationalizing” their actions based on their religion, making him worry about what else they will rationalize.
Twelve members of the sect were arrested and indicted in February on charges of diverting at least $12 million worth of federal benefits. All the defendants have pleaded not guilty to fraud and money laundering charges.