Jurors say Jeffs' influence over teen bride was key
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Posted: 3:47 PM- Jurors said it was the young age of the reluctant bride and a careful reading of the law that led them to their verdict.

Jeffs' influence over then-14-year-old Elissa Wall was key to their decision, two jurors said.

"We all had the opinion he was pretty much her only ticket for getting out of the marriage," said Gerald Munk, 36, a city park employee.

Ben Coulter, 26, a retail employee, added: "He was the only one who could have released her. He ultimately held all the keys to say, you don't have to be in this marriage and there won't be any consequences."

Several jurors said the final argument by Washington County Attorney Brock R. Belnap helped convince them of Jeffs' guilt on two counts of rape as an accomplice.

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