A self-proclaimed prophet in Arizona has been accused of "marrying" up to 20 women and girls as young as nine, including his own daughter, FBI documents have revealed.
Samuel Rappylee Bateman, 46, was the leader of a small group of polygamist Mormons known as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS).
In 2019, Bateman assumed control of the small group of followers and allegedly "began to proclaim he was a prophet," and declared his intention to marry his own teenage daughter, according to an FBI affidavit seen by the Salt Lake Tribune.
In a series of allegations outlined by the FBI, Bateman married up to 20 women, "many of whom are minors, mostly under the age of 15," and forced them to engage in sickening acts of incest, pedophilic group sex, and child sex trafficking.
In one shocking incident cited in the document, Bateman instructed three male followers to have sex with his daughters, one of whom was just 12, while he watched.
Bateman allegedly claimed the girls had "sacrificed their virtue for the Lord," and went on to say: "God will fix their bodies and put the membrane back in their body."
"I’ve never had more confidence in doing his will. It’s all out of love," he added.
In September this year, Bateman was arrested by local police while transporting underage girls across state lines in a trailer furnished with a couch and a bucket for a toilet.
He was initially stopped after a state trooper saw "children’s small fingers moving in the gap of the rear trailer door" as he pulled up behind the vehicle.’
According to local media, his SUV contained two women and two girls under the age of 15. In the trailer were three girls, all between the ages of 11 and 14 years old.
Following the incident, Bateman was arrested and charged locally with three counts of child abuse, although he later posted bail and was released.
However, he was soon arrested once again by federal agents who charged him with three counts of destroying records after he instructed followers to delete communications sent through an encrypted private messaging system and demanded all women and girls obtain passports.
The FBI have since conducted a number of raids on Bateman’s two homes and placed nine girls into protective custody.
In the warehouse that was raided Tuesday, there was a Post-it note left behind.
Someone wrote in black Sharpie: "Samuel Rappylee Bateman, I am here to do your will."
Under a row of hand drawn hearts, they wrote in capital letters: "I LOVE YOU FOREVER."
U.S. Magistrate Judge Camille Bibles ordered that Bateman remains behind bars while the case winds through the courts. She noted Bateman is a pilot and survivalist who has followers and international contacts who might help with financial or other resources on a moment’s notice. She said she also was concerned about young girls in vulnerable positions.
"Courts have a tremendous interest in protecting people who cannot protect themselves," she said.