Body cam footage
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00:00There's hands sticking out of the top of the trailer earlier. Let's see them.
00:03How many other people are in the truck?
00:06Any information I give can and we'll be happy here.
00:08How old are you? 11? How old are you? 12.
00:12And you have to let him go.
00:14No, ma'am. You're not going to decide the outcome of this.
00:17We will decide and we'll let you know how everything's going to happen here, okay?
00:21When bystanders report a trailer carrying young girls across Arizona,
00:25law enforcement initiates a traffic stop that unfolds unlike any other.
00:30But what they don't yet realize is they've just interrupted a criminal conspiracy
00:33involving a self-proclaimed prophet.
00:36A 14-year-old, she had a ring on her finger, on her ring finger.
00:40The following is based on official police records.
00:43Please note that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent unless
00:46and until proven guilty in a court of law.
00:49On August 28, 2022, dispatchers in Flagstaff, Arizona, receive an unusual 911 call.
00:55911, where's your emergency?
00:57Hi, I'm currently at Silver Saddle.
01:00And I am watching all these people piling out of a cargo trailer
01:03when they have kids in there.
01:06Uh-oh.
01:06What's going on?
01:07Oh, just people are getting kind of fired up about it
01:09because there's kids involved in this trailer.
01:12Okay, are there any horrible disturbance or anything?
01:15Not yet.
01:15Okay, we're getting the call in.
01:17Do you know approximately how many people were in that trailer?
01:19A lot.
01:20What's a lot, like 5, 10, 20?
01:21Probably 8.
01:23And there's kids and it's got to be hotter and hell in there.
01:25Yeah, I gotcha.
01:26Flagstaff police, Coconino County deputies,
01:29and Arizona Department of Public Safety state troopers
01:31all begin searching for the vehicle,
01:33quickly locate it, and initiate a stop.
01:37There's little thing that's coming out of the right door in the trailer.
01:43Do they have the driver out for it?
01:44Yeah, the driver's over there.
02:03The driver is later identified as 46-year-old Samuel Bateman,
02:07who, unbeknownst to him or the officers at the scene,
02:10is already under investigation by the FBI.
02:13According to court records, Samuel Bateman is a self-proclaimed prophet of the FLDS,
02:18or the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
02:22The records reveal that after claiming himself to be the successor of their former leader,
02:26Warren Jeffs, Samuel began following in his footsteps,
02:30amassing approximately 50 followers and over 20, quote, wives,
02:34many of whom are minors, mostly under the age of 15.
02:38State troopers cautiously approach the truck
02:40and are about to meet several of the girls Samuel calls his wives.
02:45Let's walk up here real quick.
02:57Open the driver's side door.
03:01Hello.
03:16This woman is 24-year-old Naomi Beislein,
03:19who holds her phone with the camera facing outward,
03:22seemingly recording the interaction.
03:24According to court records, she married Samuel in 2020,
03:27becoming wife number 13.
03:29A trooper attempts to open the front passenger door,
03:32but after finding it locked, he knocks on the window.
03:38Hello?
03:41How are you?
03:424101.
03:43I'm good.
03:44How many people are in the trailer?
03:49How many people are in your trailer?
03:54Do you have ID on you?
04:02Do you understand what I'm asking you?
04:04How many people are in the trailer?
04:07I stand on the floor.
04:08This woman would later be identified as 19-year-old Moretta Johnson.
04:13According to the same court records,
04:14Moretta is the daughter of one of Samuel's male followers
04:17and was taken as his wife while she was still a minor.
04:21The documents reveal that in 2021,
04:23she had a baby just seven months after she turned 18,
04:27meaning she almost certainly conceived when she was 17.
04:31Let's get everyone out of the car.
04:33Right now.
04:33Everyone out of the car.
04:44Let's start taking them back to the cars.
04:47Do you guys have IDs?
04:50No.
04:51Come back.
04:52We'll start heading back there.
04:53Come with me.
04:54Come with me.
04:54I'll come.
04:55Don't touch them.
04:55Start walking back there.
04:56They don't need to go in handcuffs.
04:57We need to get them out of here.
04:59Naomi, Moretta, and the two juvenile girls
05:01who emerged from the truck
05:02are taken to stand away from the trailer
05:04as deputies and troopers open the door.
05:14Where are the hands?
05:15Let's see the hands.
05:16Let's get that other door open.
05:18There's hands sticking out of the top of the trailer.
05:21There's a curtain.
05:22There's hands sticking out of the top of the trailer earlier.
05:25Let's see them.
05:26Let's see your hands.
05:27Behind the curtain.
05:30Okay.
05:31Keep your hands up for me.
05:33Go ahead and walk out towards me, okay?
05:35Try not to slip, all right?
05:37Just keep walking.
05:42Is there anybody else inside the trailer?
05:44No?
05:45Perfect.
05:49Thank you, guys.
05:51Just head back there.
05:51According to court records,
05:53two FBI informants gained the trust of Samuel and his followers,
05:57and he allowed them to film him and his wives as part of a documentary.
06:01They first met Samuel when he arrived from Colorado City
06:04in what's described in court documents as
06:06a large SUV packed with women and girls,
06:09the youngest of whom was just nine years old.
06:12Though the authorities on scene are unaware of this investigation,
06:16their actions during this traffic stop
06:18will soon ignite a chain reaction they could have never anticipated.
06:21After Samuel is informed he's being detained,
06:24he's read his Miranda rights and placed in handcuffs.
06:27The three girls from the back of the trailer
06:29are brought to stand with the others
06:30as a state trooper attempts to learn their ages.
06:34How old are you?
06:3614.
06:3614?
06:37How old are you?
06:3811?
06:39How old are you?
06:4012?
06:40You?
06:42How old are you?
06:43Do I have to say?
06:45How old are you?
06:48How old are you?
06:50I don't have to say.
06:51You don't have to say or are you just following her?
06:53I don't have to say.
06:54Okay, okay.
06:55And you?
06:57I don't have to.
06:59Okay.
06:59Well, we're going to identify each and every one of you
07:02before we leave today, okay?
07:04When the trooper notices that Naomi still appears to be recording,
07:08he instructs everyone to set their phones on the hood of the vehicle.
07:11However, the request doesn't go smoothly
07:13as Naomi appears to try propping up her phone
07:16so it can continue recording.
07:19So, instead of playing games,
07:21let's just put them there like I just asked you to.
07:24I need you to write your first name, middle name, last name,
07:27and a date of birth.
07:29Like I said, I need to identify each and every one of you.
07:32The trailer is searched,
07:33ensuring no occupants remain anywhere in hiding.
07:36According to police records,
07:38the trailer contains an empty baby stroller,
07:40a couch,
07:41and a five-gallon bucket equipped with a toilet seat.
07:44The trailer also lacks air vents
07:46or any form of air circulation,
07:47a serious concern in the hot climate.
07:50Does everyone have water?
07:52Anyone, like, needing water or anything?
07:55No.
07:55Are you guys...
07:57Okay, we'll do that as soon as our investigation is done here, okay?
08:01Why children are being transported in a vehicle,
08:04we're getting calls about hands sticking out of a vehicle,
08:08out of the trailer.
08:10So, that is why we're contacting you guys
08:13because it is unsafe for children to be riding in a trailer.
08:17They're not properly seat-belted
08:19and we need to do an investigation
08:21and figure out what's going on, okay?
08:24Do you have any questions?
08:26Yeah, isn't that legal in Arizona?
08:28No, ma'am.
08:29The trooper reassures each of them
08:30that they are just conducting an investigation
08:32and none of the women or girls are in any trouble.
08:35What about him?
08:37At this point, he's detained right now.
08:40That really makes me mad.
08:43I understand that, but like he said,
08:45once we do our investigation, we can figure this out.
08:48We just need you guys to do this.
08:49And you have to let him go.
08:51No, ma'am.
08:52You're not going to decide the outcome of this.
08:54We will decide and we'll let you know
08:56how everything's going to happen here, okay?
08:58Still, Naomi doesn't appear to understand
09:00why Samuel is being detained in the first place.
09:03So, isn't it legal to ride in the back of a truck in Arizona?
09:06Not for a juvenile.
09:08They have to be properly strapped in.
09:11Where's your parents at?
09:13Mom or dad?
09:14Legal guardian?
09:15Mom's here in town.
09:16Mom's here in town?
09:17Yes.
09:18Is this where you guys were going?
09:19Was Fikes at?
09:21But mom's in Fikes at?
09:23Yes, she is.
09:24Okay.
09:24Okay.
09:25And do we have a way to contact mom for her?
09:28Yes.
09:29Okay.
09:29Do you have the phone number?
09:30Yes.
09:31Okay.
09:31Can you give that to me?
09:32I don't have a bed right.
09:33It's on my phone.
09:33Okay.
09:34All right.
09:34We'll get it in just a second.
09:37So, does your mom know where you're at right now?
09:39Yes.
09:40Yeah.
09:40Yes?
09:41Okay.
09:41Will you quit answering for everyone else
09:44and let me talk to each and every one?
09:46How old are you?
09:47You can say I'm fine.
09:49Okay.
09:50So, do me a favor.
09:51When I talk to you, I'll talk to you.
09:53When I talk to someone else, don't answer for them
09:56unless you are a legal guardian of them
09:59and you have a legal privilege to answer for them, okay?
10:04Okay.
10:05They are afraid of talking to you.
10:06Oh, they have no reason to be afraid of me.
10:09The only reason I've had to keep addressing you
10:11is because you keep stepping in
10:13and I need to be able to talk to each and every one of them, okay?
10:17The one in the red dress he's talking to
10:20is basically the ringleader.
10:22She's basically telling them all not to talk
10:24from what I'm getting.
10:27They gave me an angel later first so we can add you,
10:29but she's just kind of...
10:31That is you, right?
10:33Yeah.
10:34Realizing he won't be able to speak with the girls freely
10:36while Naomi is present,
10:38he decides to separate them.
10:40Moretta and Naomi are moved away
10:41from the remaining five juveniles
10:43who are each questioned individually.
10:45One of the Coconino County deputies
10:47speaks with a 14-year-old girl
10:49who doesn't seem to know where they're even heading.
10:52You didn't know where you guys were going to?
10:54You were just riding?
10:55Well, it seemed good.
10:56I got invited to come.
10:57You got invited to come?
10:58Who invited you?
11:00Who's right?
11:00Your friends?
11:01Are they here?
11:03Okay.
11:04You know, what Chris is trying to find out now, too,
11:07is are they willingly in this...
11:10Like, are they sister wives
11:11or are they forced into here and stuff?
11:13Yeah.
11:13Yeah.
11:14Yeah, so that's the biggest thing right now.
11:16I mean, there's nothing illegal
11:18without riding in the trailer.
11:20Yeah.
11:20You know, so...
11:21The juveniles offer conflicting accounts
11:23of where they're headed.
11:25Some say Phoenix, Arizona,
11:26while another girl believes
11:27they're traveling to Tucson.
11:29Are you going down to the church?
11:30No, we were staying down.
11:31No, we were staying down in 50 days.
11:33Three days?
11:34Just for, like, a meeting.
11:36Okay.
11:36Something.
11:37Okay.
11:37The girl tells the trooper
11:38that her mother is part of their group
11:40and is traveling in a separate vehicle
11:42with other adults.
11:43Another young girl confirms this
11:45and explains the reason
11:46they have yet to make themselves known.
11:48Are they just going to continue
11:50or are they going to stop
11:51and call you guys
11:52and try and get a hold of you guys
11:53and ask where you're at?
11:54They already did.
11:56Oh, they did?
11:56They told me I was coming.
11:58Oh, okay.
11:59Okay.
11:59So if parents or guardians
12:02do not come here,
12:03you have to be released
12:05to Child Protective Services.
12:07After speaking with each
12:09of the girls separately,
12:10it becomes clear that not all of them
12:12know exactly where they're going,
12:13how long they'll be gone,
12:15who they're meeting,
12:16or the purpose of their trip,
12:17leaving the authorities uneasy.
12:20Still, each claims to be traveling
12:21of their own free will.
12:23After speaking with Samuel,
12:25a DPS trooper shares
12:26what he's learned with the others.
12:28Are any of these girls,
12:30are you a parent of any of these ladies?
12:33And he's like,
12:34I'm not saying anything.
12:35I said, we're trying to,
12:36we're trying to get this figured out.
12:37I said, are you the parent
12:39of any of the parents?
12:40And he goes, I'll tell you this.
12:42He goes, I am not related
12:43to any of them.
12:44Perfect.
12:45Okay.
12:45But according to court documents,
12:47Samuel once again attempted
12:49to take his own daughter as a wife
12:50and even suggested
12:52he would make her have a child.
12:53Once he told her mother, however,
12:55she moved her and her daughter
12:56out of the house
12:57and got a restraining order against him.
12:59While Naomi and Moretta
13:01wait apart from the other girls,
13:03they realize they've begun
13:04attracting attention
13:05from nearby onlookers.
13:19After speaking with Naomi and Moretta,
13:21the two women agree
13:22to start contacting parents.
13:24But after convening
13:25with other authorities,
13:26one detail leaves the trooper
13:28convinced the girls
13:29are hiding something.
13:43The trooper uses
13:44Moretta's phone
13:45to contact her mother, Julia.
13:47According to court documents,
13:48Julia has at least five daughters,
13:50including two minors,
13:52all of whom Samuel
13:53has taken as wives.
13:55Those same documents reveal
13:56that the FBI obtained recordings
13:58between Julia and her husband,
14:00one of Samuel's followers.
14:02In one of these recordings,
14:03an investigator learned
14:04that one of Julia's daughters
14:05expressed fears
14:06over becoming pregnant
14:07at just 14 or 15 years old.
14:11The male driver,
14:12do you know him?
14:13Yes, Samuel Bightman.
14:15Okay.
14:16I'm quite aware of him.
14:17Okay.
14:17And are you okay
14:19with your daughter
14:22going with him?
14:23Under the circumstances, yes.
14:25The young girl
14:26has his picture on
14:28their phone.
14:29Maybe it's in the sign-up.
14:31Well, yeah.
14:33According to court records,
14:34the FBI informants
14:35secretly recorded
14:36a conversation
14:37between Samuel
14:38and three of his wives,
14:39one of which was a minor,
14:41wherein they recounted
14:42the story of what they called
14:43the Atonement,
14:44which involved Samuel
14:45giving the girls
14:46to his three male followers.
14:48Though the recording
14:49was turned over
14:49to local law enforcement,
14:51Samuel and his male followers
14:52were not arrested.
14:53Now, the authorities
14:54who have him in custody
14:56discuss whether or not
14:57they have enough information
14:58to secure a search warrant
14:59for Samuel's phone.
15:00There can be incriminating
15:02things on there, too,
15:03because you've got
15:05a 14-year-old girl
15:05with a ring on her ring finger
15:07that is hiding it.
15:09That girl took her ring off.
15:13If anything,
15:15we can secure it in evidence
15:17and then try to search warrant
15:19on it and see if the judge
15:21will grant him.
15:22Samuel's phone is confiscated
15:24and secured,
15:24though they can't put it
15:25into airplane mode
15:26without a PIN number,
15:27which he refuses to provide.
15:30Samuel, so you're under arrest
15:31for endangerment, okay?
15:33You're going to go to
15:34the Coconino County Jail
15:35right down the street
15:36here in Flagstaff.
15:38Anyone that you would authorize
15:43as an adult
15:44to drive the vehicle here
15:45or that's coming?
15:47So I believe some of the parents.
15:49Naomi.
15:50Naomi?
15:51I think she's old enough.
15:52Yeah, okay.
15:53The three adult women
15:54who were traveling separately
15:55from the group
15:56finally arrive to take custody
15:57of the remaining girls.
15:59They're later identified
16:00as Maria Barlow-Beislein,
16:02Josephine Barlow-Beislein,
16:04and Brenda Barlow.
16:06So who's related to her?
16:08She's my daughter.
16:09She's your daughter?
16:10She is my daughter.
16:11This one?
16:11Yes.
16:12He asks for each of their IDs,
16:14which they readily provide.
16:16And, uh...
16:17That's custody for that.
16:19Autography.
16:21Yeah.
16:22I am sister.
16:23First sister to her.
16:25Okay.
16:26And, uh, mom?
16:28Where's mom at?
16:29She is not here.
16:30I called her and she said,
16:31yes, I gave you custody.
16:33So I need to talk to her.
16:34Okay.
16:34I can get her off.
16:35Okay, sounds good.
16:36That'll work, too.
16:37And then...
16:37We just need to verify.
16:38Okay.
16:39According to court documents,
16:41Brenda is also one of Samuel's
16:42adult wives,
16:43along with at least three
16:45of her biological sisters.
16:47Who are you taking custody up here?
16:49I'll explain your ID.
16:50These two.
16:50My children.
16:51Okay.
16:51These two?
16:52All nine.
16:52Okay.
16:53According to court documents,
16:54Josephine is also one of Samuel's wives,
16:57along with two of her minor daughters,
16:59the youngest of which was taken as a wife
17:00at just nine or ten years old.
17:03The trooper lets the women know
17:04that once he can confirm their identities,
17:06the girls will be released.
17:08Any questions for me?
17:10What's the deal?
17:11What's the deal?
17:12Yeah, that's...
17:13Okay.
17:14I'll explain this.
17:15So we started getting calls,
17:17911 calls,
17:18about fingers
17:19hanging outside the doors of trailers.
17:22So you can imagine
17:24human beings in a locked trailer
17:26or in a closed trailer
17:28on the roadway.
17:30That is the reports we had.
17:32So the concerned people
17:35were like,
17:36oh my God,
17:37there's people being transported
17:39in a trailer.
17:40Does that sound normal to you?
17:42On the highway?
17:43Okay.
17:44But let me tell you,
17:45at 75 miles an hour,
17:47it's not safe, okay?
17:49Because if they're in an accident,
17:50everyone in that trailer,
17:52which were juveniles,
17:53all juveniles,
17:55would be...
17:55They could roll over.
17:57They could be killed
17:58in an accident, okay?
17:59That is...
18:00Does that not sound kosher to you?
18:02Doesn't matter?
18:04Don't care about the kids as much?
18:06Of course we care about the kids.
18:07Okay.
18:08Well, understand where I'm coming from.
18:10And where I'm coming from
18:12is I have to deal with it
18:14on the highway.
18:15And I have to take care of the children
18:17and notify parents
18:18when I have to tell the parent
18:20that their loved one died, okay?
18:22Do you feel me now?
18:23Yeah.
18:24Okay, perfect.
18:25As long as we're on the same page
18:26and we're not going to have a problem,
18:28that is my job,
18:30is to make sure juveniles are taken care of.
18:32Because if you're not going to take care of them,
18:34we're going to step in
18:35and take care of them, okay?
18:36Okay, I take care of her and I...
18:38Perfect.
18:39I just want to make sure
18:40we're on the same page
18:41and where we're going with this, okay?
18:42Yes, okay.
18:42So he's under arrest.
18:44He's going to jail.
18:46And the children
18:47are going to be released
18:48to their guardians.
18:49Okay.
18:49And then an adult
18:51that is willing
18:52to drive the vehicle, okay?
18:54Okay.
18:54That's where we're at right now.
18:55So hang tight with us.
18:56While running their information,
18:58the trooper receives
18:59an unexpected call
19:00from someone involved
19:01in the federal investigation.
19:03Although it's unclear
19:04who is on the other end of the line,
19:06the caller asks
19:07whether Samuel Bateman
19:08is in custody.
19:09The trooper confirms
19:10that he is
19:11and brings them up to speed
19:12on the situation.
19:14Elders, moms,
19:15had major attitude
19:17and didn't understand
19:19anything that was going on
19:21and just about lost it on her
19:24telling her
19:24these little juveniles
19:26are in the back
19:26of a enclosed in trailer
19:28with fingers sticking
19:29out of the back
19:30and you have the nerve
19:32to come here
19:32and think that we're the problem?
19:36I, by the end of it,
19:38I can tell you she shut up.
19:39Some of the girls
19:40have his picture
19:41on their phone.
19:43And, uh...
19:44They actually shut up
19:45because he's a prophet.
19:47Okay, okay.
19:48No, no,
19:49he won't talk to us.
19:50The caller requests
19:51that he take photographs
19:52of all the women and girls
19:53who were traveling
19:54with Samuel
19:54and he agrees to do so
19:56before hanging up.
19:57When he returns
19:58to his cruiser,
19:59Samuel attempts
19:59to downplay the danger
20:00of traveling with the girls
20:02in the unsecured trailer.
20:03Yes, sir.
20:05You know,
20:05is someone okay
20:06to have...
20:07Can you die?
20:08It is not okay.
20:10It is not okay
20:12to have juveniles
20:13in the back
20:13of a trailer.
20:14Okay, I have a lot
20:15of experience
20:16with death.
20:17And I can tell you
20:18in a bad accident,
20:19there's no restraints
20:21in there.
20:21All that...
20:22All those items
20:23in that trailer
20:24are going to fly around
20:26and people are going
20:27to die.
20:28So,
20:28it's so dangerous.
20:31That is why
20:32juveniles are called
20:33juveniles.
20:34They need guardians
20:35to make good decisions
20:36for them.
20:37And if you are going
20:37to be their guardian,
20:39you need to make
20:39a good quality decision
20:41for them.
20:41After speaking
20:42with one other parent
20:43and confirming
20:44the women can legally
20:45take responsibility
20:46for the minors on scene,
20:48the trooper releases them.
20:49Before they go,
20:50one of the adult wives,
20:51Brenda,
20:52makes a bizarre request.
20:54If he needs something,
20:55he can get it at the jail.
20:57We have a nurse on staff.
20:58Could you ask him,
21:00could you relay the message
21:03to give him some kombucha?
21:04Some what?
21:05Some kombucha.
21:06What's that?
21:07It's like a fermented drink.
21:09It's fine.
21:10We'll get something
21:10to get around.
21:11It's like just something
21:13that's just healthy
21:13from the back.
21:14Okay.
21:15And then,
21:16and then he just has
21:18the pain.
21:21He just has his back
21:22that's totally...
21:23Okay.
21:24We just want to...
21:25In some way...
21:26Yeah, I will relay that
21:27to the nurse at the jail.
21:29Following Samuel's arrest,
21:31the FBI investigation
21:32took a major turn.
21:33According to court documents,
21:35once the family
21:35bailed Samuel out of custody,
21:37he began to inquire
21:38about how to factory
21:39reset his phone.
21:41According to the FBI informant,
21:43the wives picked up a shredder,
21:44which she assumed
21:45was to shred the journals
21:46they kept.
21:47Court records show
21:48that Samuel then began
21:49instructing his wives
21:50to delete his signal account,
21:51which he used to communicate
21:53with his wives and followers.
21:55According to court records,
21:56in September of 2022,
21:58Samuel was arrested
21:59on warrants
22:00related to destruction
22:01of records,
22:02and an FBI raid
22:03was executed
22:04at three of his residences.
22:05The documents state
22:06that following this raid,
22:08nine minor females
22:09were taken into
22:10Arizona DCS custody
22:11until Naomi Biceline,
22:13Moretta Johnson,
22:14and another of Samuel's
22:16adult wives
22:16successfully kidnapped
22:18eight of them.
22:19On December 1st, 2021,
22:21all eight missing girls
22:22were located
22:23in Spokane, Washington,
22:24in a vehicle being driven
22:26by Moretta Johnson.
22:27During this incident,
22:29one of the girls
22:29appeared angry
22:30with authorities
22:31after learning
22:32she may soon be returned
22:33to DCS custody.
22:35We're having a...
22:36Okay, people have lied to us
22:38every frickin' step
22:39of the damn way.
22:40Okay.
22:40Okay?
22:41And so you guys
22:42are lying right now,
22:43every one of you.
22:43I doubt you've ever told truth,
22:45ever, in your life.
22:46And if you guys say
22:47you're not taking her anywhere,
22:49I don't believe you.
22:51I said before,
22:52I said you guys
22:53would say bye
22:54if they do.
22:55Okay?
22:56So,
22:57I already met,
22:58you let them know
22:59if you guys want to
23:00say goodbye,
23:01We had not a f***ing bastard.
23:04Okay?
23:06We're sick of
23:07the f***ing bastard.
23:08Well, in my case,
23:09it's not such an insult.
23:11It's the truth.
23:12So, have a seat seat.
23:14I've got a seat seat
23:14on the way,
23:15they're going to take
23:15trust me,
23:16you guys,
23:16and...
23:17Are you still up
23:18to the seat?
23:18Yes, it's still
23:21following the raid,
23:23seized evidence
23:24along with eventual
23:25testimonies from
23:26many of Samuel's wives
23:27uncovered horrifying details.
23:29According to court records,
23:31multiple group
23:32acts took place
23:33in motels
23:34involving Samuel,
23:35his wives,
23:36the minor children,
23:37and his adult male followers.
23:40The records describe
23:41at least one group
23:42act that took place
23:43in 2020
23:44involving Samuel,
23:46one of his male followers,
23:47two of his adult wives,
23:49Josephine and Naomi,
23:50and two minor girls,
23:52then 17-year-old
23:53Moretta
23:54and her little sister,
23:55who was just 14 years old.
23:57Brenda was among
23:58the wives Samuel
23:59had called to watch
24:00the, quote,
24:01sacred ordinance,
24:02along with at least
24:03one other minor girl.
24:05Per Samuel's instructions,
24:07every participant
24:07was naked.
24:08The documents also revealed
24:10that Samuel required
24:11his male followers
24:12to perform
24:13acts on him as,
24:14quote,
24:15an atonement
24:16for their wicked deeds.
24:18I hope you realize
24:19how wicked you are.
24:21I'm very, very sorry.
24:22We didn't lie to you
24:24about saying goodbye, though.
24:25According to court records,
24:27on April 1st, 2024,
24:29Samuel Bateman
24:30accepted a plea deal,
24:31pleaded guilty
24:32to conspiracy
24:33to transport a minor
24:34for criminal activity
24:35and conspiracy
24:36to commit kidnapping.
24:38He received
24:39two 50-year
24:39federal prison sentences
24:41to be served concurrently
24:42to be followed
24:43by lifetime supervised release.
24:45In exchange
24:46for testifying
24:47against Samuel,
24:48several of his adult wives
24:49were offered plea agreements
24:51that reduced their charges
24:52and potential sentences.
24:54According to court records,
24:55in April of 2024,
24:57Josephine Barlow-Bislein
24:59accepted a plea deal,
25:00pleading guilty
25:01to two counts
25:02of persuading
25:02or coercing travel
25:03to engage
25:04in sexual activity.
25:06She was given
25:06two 180-month sentences
25:08to run concurrently,
25:10plus lifetime supervised release.
25:13According to court records,
25:14in February of 2024,
25:16Brenda Barlow
25:17accepted a plea deal,
25:18pleading guilty
25:19to conspiracy
25:20to commit tampering
25:21with an official proceeding
25:22and was sentenced
25:23to three years
25:24in federal prison.
25:25She was granted
25:26supervised release
25:27on August 14th, 2025.
25:30In December of 2023,
25:32Moretta Johnson
25:33accepted a plea deal,
25:34pleading guilty
25:35to misprision of a felony.
25:37And in August of 2024,
25:39Naomi Beislein
25:40accepted a plea deal,
25:41pleading guilty
25:42to conspiracy
25:43to commit tampering
25:44with an official proceeding.
25:45Moretta and Naomi
25:47were each granted
25:48a sentence of time served,
25:49plus supervised release.
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