Appeal denied for Warren Jeffs

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Texas Court of Appeals in the Third District Thursday denied the appeal of former polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, who is serving a life sentence plus 20 years for sexually assaulting two of his underage brides, ages 12 and 15.

The imprisoned head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was convicted in August of aggravated sexual assault of a child and sexual assault of another child in a national story that brought before the public the practices of the church that taking multiple, young brides is acceptable.

According to the court document , records for the appeal and payment to the court were due by Dec. 7, and neither was done. Jeffs was notified on Jan. 12 that failure to comply with such meant his appeal may be dismissed for want of prosecution if he did not make arrangements for payment of the record and submit a status report regarding his appeal on or before Jan. 23.

According to the court, Jeffs did not respond to the notice, and on Thursday, his appeal was dismissed for want of prosecution.

Jeffs is being held in the Powledge Unit , located west of Palestine.