One of the leaders of a polygamous church in Hildale, Utah faced a federal judge Wednesday after spending nearly a year on the run.
Attorneys for Lyle Jeffs told U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart that Jeffs has memory problems and requested a delay of trial. Jeffs is a bishop for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and is the brother of Warren Jeffs – the church’s proclaimed leader who sits in a Texas prison for marrying underage girls.
Lyle Jeffs is facing charges of conspiracy, money laundering and failure to appear in court. It stems from a larger investigation into a food stamp fraud case from other members of the church. Steward did not rule on the request Wednesday. Currently, Jeffs is scheduled for trial September 18.