Former Lincoln man pleads guilty in polygamy case

LINCOLN, Neb. — A former Lincoln man has made a plea deal in a polygamy case that made national headlines.

He pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to conspiracy to commit transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity.

Court documents allege that polygamous sect leader Samuel Bateman “claimed” the defendant’s underage daughters as his wives.

The man helped by “encouraging or directing them” to go with Bateman, according to the plea agreement.

“The defendant knew that Bateman would engage in sexual activity with each girl once they were ‘married,'” the document says.

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The man lived in Lincoln from June 2019 to January 2021, court records say.

He made travel arrangement for Bateman, who authorities said came to Lincoln multiple times to engage in illegal sexual activity.

Bateman was the leader of a small polygamous group on the Arizona-Utah border.

He used to be a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The fundamentalists are separate from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which now strictly prohibits polygamy.

Bateman has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His trial is scheduled for Sept. 10.