Utah prosecutors dropped charges Wednesday against a polygamist sect leader serving a life sentence in Texas in a separate case.
Warren Jeffs had been found guilty of rape by accomplice — a 2007 conviction that was overturned last year by the Utah Supreme Court, which cited improper jury instructions by the trial judge.
“As a result of the conviction in Texas, we decided not to bring him back to Utah for a re-trial,” said Brian Filter, senior deputy attorney for Washington County.
Jeffs, 55, is the ecclesiastical head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was sentenced to life in prison in August on charges of sexually assaulting two of his underage brides.
Washington County prosecutors said they filed the motion to dismiss Wednesday since Jeffs, 55, is in prison —Â he will be 100 before his eligible for parole — and Elissa Wall, the victim, decided she didn’t want to push forward.
“Because Jeffs is facing a sentence in Texas and his victim Elissa didn’t want to go any further, we determined it was best not to pursue this case,” said Deputy Washington County Attorney Brian Filter.
Fifth District Judge James Shumate signed the motion in a short hearing Wednesday morning.