Self-styled prophet pleads guilty to child rape and abuse in Utah

The Associated Press

7 years ago

Samuel Shaffer in Iron County, Utah, after a search near a remote compound turned up two girls taken by their father to join an upstart sect run by Shaffer that relatives say is based around polygamy and doomsday. (Iron County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

CEDAR CITY, Utah — A self-styled prophet accused of secretly marrying young girls because of his beliefs in polygamy and doomsday is pleading guilty to child rape and abuse charges after Utah police raided his group’s remote desert compound.

The Spectrum newspaper reports Samuel Shaffer faces at least 25 years in prison after agreeing to the Wednesday plea deal in Iron County, where prosecutors said he abused an 8-year-old girl related to a group member.

Prosecutors have said he and a friend called themselves Knights of the Crystal Blade and each believed himself married to two young girls.

The 34-year-old Shaffer also faces child bigamy and other charges in Sanpete County. Prosecutors say girls were abused there before the men left for the makeshift compound raided by police in December.

Shaffer’s attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment.