Polygamous Leader Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse Charges in Arizona
Samuel Bateman, 50, admitted to child abuse charges after girls were found in an unventilated trailer in northern Arizona.
3 reports on this incident · first at Aug 25, 2026, 8:55 a.m. ET
This case is not concluded. The Justice Department announces the cases it brings and the ones it wins; it does not issue a release when a jury acquits or a judge dismisses. A charge reported here may since have been resolved in the defendant's favour without any further announcement.
We last searched for new coverage of this at Aug 25, 2026, 9:09 a.m. ET — checked 2h ago.
Samuel Bateman, 50, has pleaded guilty to child abuse charges, according to kurv.com. The plea comes after the government said Bateman hauled girls through a community in northern Arizona in an unventilated trailer, leading to the discovery of three girls, ages 11 to 14, in the trailer.
Each count carries a mandatory sentence between four and eight years, kurv.com reported. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled, and the court will determine the specific penalty.
The case stems from an incident in which the girls were found in the trailer, as reported by kurv.com.
Earlier reports
Aug 25, 2026, 9:00 a.m. ET
Polygamous Leader Convicted of Child Abuse in Arizona
Samuel Bateman, 50, has been convicted of child abuse charges in Arizona, according to kurv.com. The conviction stems from an incident in which Bateman allegedly transported girls through a northern Arizona community in an unventilated trailer, leading to the discovery of three girls, ages 11 to 14, inside the trailer.
Each count carries a mandatory sentence of between four and eight years, kurv.com reported. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled, and the specific counts on which Bateman was convicted were not detailed in the report.
Aug 25, 2026, 8:55 a.m. ETFirst report
Polygamous Leader Convicted of Child Abuse in Arizona
Samuel Bateman, 50, has been convicted of child abuse charges, according to kurv.com. The government said Bateman hauled girls through a community in northern Arizona in an unventilated trailer, leading to the discovery of three girls, ages 11 to 14, in the trailer. Each count carries a mandatory sentence between four and eight years, as reported by kurv.com. Sentencing is set, though the specific date has not been established in the provided facts.
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- Version 125 Aug 2026, 13:00current
First published.
- Version 125 Aug 2026, 12:55current
First published.
- Version 125 Aug 2026, 13:05current
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