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Polygamous sect leader convicted on child abuse charges
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk at WSB-TV (ABC) - News
· June 30, 2026
· 2 min read
The head of a polygamous sect was convicted of state child abuse charges in Arizona. Read more trending news Samuel Bateman was already serving a 50-year federal prison sentence when he was convicted on June 26. The latest conviction, this time on state charges, stemmed from an incident in 2022. ...
Key takeaway Inside the trailer, police said they found three girls between the ages of 11 and 14, a makeshift toilet, a sofa, and camping chairs, The Associated Press reported.
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Category: local ·
Published: June 30, 2026 ·
Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The head of a polygamous sect was convicted of state child abuse charges in Arizona. Read more trending news Samuel Bateman was already serving a 50-year federal prison sentence when he was convicted on June 26. The latest conviction, this time on state charges, stemmed from an incident in 2022. ...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 30, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk at WSB-TV (ABC) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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