Sam Bateman, a leader of a polygamist sect, presented his defense in court, portraying himself as a compassionate and affectionate parent.
Bateman, who is already serving a lengthy 50-year federal prison sentence for orchestrating a child sex abuse ring, is currently facing additional legal challenges in Coconino County, Arizona, where he is charged with three instances of child abuse, per recent court documents.
These allegations derive from claims that Bateman, prominently featured in the Netflix documentary Trust Me: The False Prophet, jeopardized the safety of three children by confining them in a sealed cargo trailer on a highway. This vehicle reportedly lacked essential safety features such as seatbelts and ventilation systems, as detailed by the Arizona Daily Sun.
In this trial, which commenced on June 23, Bateman opted to act as his own legal representative, receiving assistance from public defender Daniel Hartman-Strawn in an advisory capacity.
In court, as documented by Hidden True Crime, Bateman asserted, “I am a kind and loving father, that’s just who I am. I am very kind and gentle, and I do not willingly harm anyone. I don’t even spank my children.”
What is Sam Bateman on Trial For?
Prosecutor Eric Ruchensky noted in pre-trial filings obtained by the Arizona Daily Sun that the trial is focused on very specific endangerment allegations.
“The allegations in this case,” he wrote, “relate to the narrow fact pattern of victims traveling in an unsafe trailer that posed a danger.”
He added that he hoped to avoid bringing in Bateman’s religion as a member of Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) before establishing his own polygamous sect. Both sides also agreed to keep the documentary out of the trial, the news outlet reported.
Oxygen reached out the prosecutor’s office for additional comment, but did not receive an immediate reply.
Sam Bateman Already Serving Federal Sentence for Running Child Sex Abuse Ring
Bateman is already serving a 50-year sentence after he pled guilty in 2024 to federal charges of conspiracy to commit transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona.
Federal prosecutors accused the polygamist sect leader of operating a “years-long child sexual abuse conspiracy” that allowed him to abuse at least 10 children.
“In 2020 and 2021, Bateman’s followers gave their minor daughters and wards to him as child ‘brides’ to sexually abuse,” prosecutors wrote. “The victims were as young as nine years old. Through coercion and manipulation, Bateman regularly forced his victims to participate with him in individual and group sexual activities with adults and other children.”
He also gave one minor, according to authorities, to another adult male follower to sexually abuse.
Prosecutors also alleged in an earlier statement that Bateman often traveled “across state lines” to collect his “wives.”
Christine Marie Weighs in on Sam Bateman’s Latest Trial
Bateman was brought down, in part, by the efforts of Christine Marie and Tolga Katas. The couple managed to infiltrate Bateman’s polygamist sect after moving to the FLDS community of Colorado City, Ariz., recording Bateman and his victims under the guise that they were creating a documentary to spread his message.
Marie and Katas then provided their recordings, which serve as the basis of the Netflix documentary, to the FBI.
In one November 2021 conversation, Marie captured Bateman talking about an Atonement in which he gave three of his wives—including one minor—“to his three male followers,” according to a probable cause affidavit.
Marie said she planned to attend Bateman’s current trial in a TikTok video filmed on her drive down to Flagstaff and asked for people to send their “prayers and positive energy” to the victims who will be testifying.