A judge has ordered polygamist leader Warren Jeffs to give a deposition in an ongoing sexual abuse lawsuit against him, even while he is imprisoned for a different sex crime.
According to FOX 13, Judge G. Michael Westfall rejected the argument brought on by the United Effort Plan Trust, the former real-estate arm of the Fundamentalist LDS Church, saying he was “a bit perplexed” by the objections.
Jeffs, who is currently imprisoned in Texas for child sex assault related to underaged “marriages,” is being sued by a woman only known as “R.H.” in court documents. She alleges she was repeatedly abused by Jeffs and others within the Fundamentalist LDS Church. She is suing Jeffs, the church and the UEP.
The trust objected to Jeffs giving a deposition because of rumors he had a mental breakdown while in prison. R.H.'s attorney Lance Milne pointed out there is no evidence of Jeffs’ deteriorating mental state.
“They’ve set forth no doctor’s note, report, he hasn’t been examined by a physician and rendered incompetent to testify and I think the judge saw right through that,” Milne told FOX 13′s Ben Winslow outside of court.
In previous videotaped depositions obtained by FOX 13, Jeffs refused to answer questions, citing his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. The UEP’s attorney said that Jeff’s refusal to answer questions could be used against the trust in court. Westfall said he would address that issue when it comes. Westfall did agree to delay Jeffs’ deposition until attorneys could depose R.H. Her attorney said R.H. knew the lawsuit would be tough.
“She’s brave enough to come forward and file this lawsuit and we’re looking forward to moving forward with her claims and prosecuting her claims,” Milne said.