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Born in United States — Polygamous cult / sexual abuse of minors / kidnapping / criminal justice

Samuel Bateman

Religion, sects and spiritual movementsViolent crime and serial killers

Documented profile covering 8 controversies, including “2019–2022: self-proclaimed prophet establishes 'spiritual wives' system including minors” and “2020–2022: systematic sexual abuse of at least ten children, coercion and group sexual acts”.

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Profile No. 1972 · Updated on 13 October 2026

8Documented controversies
6Sources
1Formal charge · all time1 followed by a conviction
2Convictions

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

01

28 August 2022–25 August 2026

August 2022–August 2026: three girls aged 11 to 14 transported in unventilated trailer — state conviction and 24-year sentence

Conviction

During a traffic stop in Flagstaff in August 2022, three girls aged 11 to 14 were discovered inside a closed trailer without air conditioning, ventilation or seat belts, alongside unsecured furniture. An Arizona jury found him guilty of three counts of child abuse in June 2026; on 25 August 2026, he received 24 years in prison to be served after his federal sentence.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Associated PressPolygamous sect leader gets 24 years in prison for child abuse after girls found in trailerNews agencyVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    KNAU Arizona Public RadioSelf-proclaimed prophet sentenced to 24 years after girls found in trailer in FlagstaffBroadcastHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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Case · 7 documented stages

2025–March 2026: federal challenge to conviction — appellate decision recorded as 'affirmed'

Conviction
02

2025–4 March 2026

2025–March 2026: federal challenge to conviction — appellate decision recorded as 'affirmed'

Conviction

The federal appellate case Bateman v. United States, No. 25-6481 before the Ninth Circuit, records a decision marked 'AFFIRMED' on 4 March 2026. The federal conviction was therefore not overturned in that appeal.

State of the evidence
Documented

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit docket via JustiaBateman v. United States of America, No. 25-6481Court recordHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Department of Justice — District of ArizonaLeader of Child Sexual Abuse Ring Sentenced to 50 Years in PrisonProsecutor's statementVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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03

1 April–9 December 2024

April–December 2024: guilty plea followed by 50-year federal sentence and lifetime supervision

Conviction

On 1 April 2024, Bateman pleaded guilty to conspiracies to transport a minor for criminal sexual activity and to kidnap. On 9 December 2024, federal judge Susan M. Brnovich sentenced him to 50 years in prison followed by lifetime supervision.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice — District of ArizonaLeader of Child Sexual Abuse Ring Sentenced to 50 Years in PrisonProsecutor's statementVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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04

2019–September 2022

2019–2022: self-proclaimed prophet establishes 'spiritual wives' system including minors

Conviction

From 2019, Bateman presented himself as a religious prophet and assembled a core following across several states. Federal authorities established that he had accumulated more than twenty 'spiritual wives', ten of whom were minors; some victims were nine years old when brought into the system.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice — District of ArizonaLeader of Child Sexual Abuse Ring Sentenced to 50 Years in PrisonProsecutor's statementVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Department of Justice — District of ArizonaColorado City Man and 10 Members of Polygamist Sect Charged with Illicit Sexual Conduct with Minors, and Related CrimesProsecutor's statementVery high reliability
  3. [3]
    Associated PressPolygamous sect leader gets 24 years in prison for child abuse after girls found in trailerNews agencyVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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05

2020–September 2022

2020–2022: systematic sexual abuse of at least ten children, coercion and group sexual acts

Conviction

The federal case describes a conspiracy involving at least ten underage victims. Through coercion and manipulation, Bateman repeatedly forced them into individual and group sexual activity with him, other adults and other children; he also delivered one victim to an adult man for assault and livestreamed sexual abuse of a child to followers.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice — District of ArizonaLeader of Child Sexual Abuse Ring Sentenced to 50 Years in PrisonProsecutor's statementVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Department of Justice — District of ArizonaColorado City Man and 10 Members of Polygamist Sect Charged with Illicit Sexual Conduct with Minors, and Related CrimesProsecutor's statementVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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06

2020–September 2022

2020–2022: interstate transportation of minors to facilitate criminal sexual activity

Conviction

Bateman and his accomplices moved victims between Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska and other locations to facilitate abuse. On 1 April 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport a minor for criminal sexual activity.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice — District of ArizonaLeader of Child Sexual Abuse Ring Sentenced to 50 Years in PrisonProsecutor's statementVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Department of Justice — District of ArizonaColorado City Man and 10 Members of Polygamist Sect Charged with Illicit Sexual Conduct with Minors, and Related CrimesProsecutor's statementVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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07

August–September 2022

August–September 2022: federal charges of deleting Signal messages and obstructing investigation

Formally charged

A federal grand jury indicted Bateman for destruction or attempted destruction of records, obstruction or attempted obstruction of an official proceeding, and destruction of records in a federal investigation. Prosecutors alleged that he had deleted or ordered deletion of Signal communications to obstruct the investigation.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice — District of ArizonaColorado City Man Arrested on Federal Obstruction of Justice ChargesProsecutor's statementVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Department of Justice — District of ArizonaColorado City Man and 10 Members of Polygamist Sect Charged with Illicit Sexual Conduct with Minors, and Related CrimesProsecutor's statementVery high reliability
  3. [3]
    U.S. Department of Justice — District of ArizonaLeader of Child Sexual Abuse Ring Sentenced to 50 Years in PrisonProsecutor's statementVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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08

November–December 2022

November–December 2022: eight girls kidnapped from state protective custody and taken to Washington

Conviction

Following Bateman's arrest, his underage victims were placed in the custody of the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Bateman subsequently conspired with several followers to kidnap them; eight girls were taken from their placements, driven to California and then Washington State before being found by law enforcement.

State of the evidence
Established by a court
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    U.S. Department of Justice — District of ArizonaLeader of Child Sexual Abuse Ring Sentenced to 50 Years in PrisonProsecutor's statementVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    U.S. Department of Justice — District of ArizonaColorado City Man and 10 Members of Polygamist Sect Charged with Illicit Sexual Conduct with Minors, and Related CrimesProsecutor's statementVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

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