SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 10, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — FLDS leader and former fugitive Lyle Jeffs appeared in federal court on Monday and pleaded “not guilty” to a charge of failing to appear in court.
The charge stems from Jeffs’ escape from house arrest last year, after police say he used olive oil to slip out of a GPS device. Officials say Jeffs then fled the area despite telling a judge he would remain to face federal charges of food stamp fraud in connection with his bishop duties with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Jeffs and 10 other defendants were accused of misappropriating and misusing food stamps, costing taxpayers an estimated $12 million over a period of years. Of the other defendants, charges were dropped for one and plea deals were offered and taken by the other nine.
On Monday, Jeffs also pleaded not guilty to food stamp fraud before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brooke Wells.
After nearly a year on the run, Jeffs was captured last month in South Dakota after a pawn shop worker told law enforcement officials that the wanted man had come by, trying to sell tools. Arresting officers noted that Jeffs appeared to have been living out of his truck, and did not have much or any financial support from his polygamist community.
Wells ordered Jeffs to remain in jail pending his trial, which is scheduled to begin Sept. 18.
