Colorado City polygamist sentenced to probation for marrying teen

Associated Press/April 21, 2007

Kingman, Arizona -- A member of a polygamist sect who pleaded no contest to a child abuse charge for taking an underage wife has been sentenced to one day in jail and three years probation.

Colorado City resident Vergel Jessop will also have to register as a sex offender during his probation. County prosecutors say the judge in Mohave County spared him additional jail time yesterday because his wife has significant medical problems.

Jessop had been charged in August 2005 with sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor. He pleaded no contest to the lesser charge in December.

Jessop's sentencing was the sixth of eight cases involving members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to be concluded. All eight were charged with crimes related to their underaged plural wives.

The F-L-D-S is based in Colorado City and nearby Hildale, Utah.