Polygamist leader Jeffs guilty of child sex assault

Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs has been convicted on child sexual assault charges.

Update at 6:12 p.m. ET: Jeffs, who acted as his own attorney during the trial, apparently will continue to represent himself in the penalty phase, his standby attorney, Deric Walpole, said afterward, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.

Prosecutors said they would need about two days to present evidence for sentencing.

The verdict comes a day after Jeffs regained control of the corporations that make up the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint, which claims at least 10,000 members nationwide. The FDLS is an offshoot of mainstream Mormonism. Unlike the established Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, its followers believe that polygamy brings exaltation in heaven and that Jeffs is God's earthly spokesman.

The Tribune has more on the internal power struggle.

Update at 5:57 p.m. ET: The jury of 10 women and two men deliberated for more than three hours and immediately began sentencing proceedings, AP says.

Prosecutors used DNA evidence to show Jeffs fathered a child with a 15-year-old girl and played an audio recording of what they said was him sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl. They also played audio recordings in which Jeffs was heard instructing young women on how to please him sexually.

AP says Jeffs stood stone-faced when the verdict was read.

Original post: Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs has been convicted on child sexual assault charges stemming from a 2008 raid at his Texas compound.

The 55-year-old head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was charged with assaulting two underage girls he had taken as so-called spiritual wives. He faces up to life in prison.

Earlier details here.