Difficulty in prosecution for Jessop trial

Tuesday, the New York TImes reported the difficulties in the trial of an alleged statutory rapist from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

The TImes reported, "A year and a half after the state authorities raided a fundamentalist Mormon ranch here, the first of a half-dozen leaders of the sect has gone on trial on charges that he had sex with an under-age girl who state officials assert was one of several wives assigned to him by church elders."

The problem is that the case fundamentally lies on the evidence of DNA samples from both the girl and Jessop, rather than testimony of the actual girl involved in the case.

The Associated Press reported Wednesday the case rests on allegations that the girl, now 21, was married to Jessop at age 15 and gave birth at 16. "Church records that defense attorneys are fighting to keep out of the trial indicate the girl had previously been married to Jessop's brother before being reassigned to Jessop, who authorities allege has nine wives."

Forensic expert Amy Smuts had testified Monday that the probability of Jessop being the father of the alleged victim's daughter was 99.999998 percent.

The case is also using documents from the countless that were seized when the state raided the Yearning for Zion Ranch--the home of the group in El Dorado, Texas--last year.

According to the Times Jessop faces at least 20 years in prison if he is convicted.