COLORADO CITY — A wide divide was evident as parties provided input during an April 30 hearing for a Colorado City man sent to the Arizona Department of Corrections for sex offense convictions involving two young girls.
Jesse Jessop, 68, previously pleaded guilty, though he maintains his innocence, and his wife, sister and youngest daughter expressed disbelief he committed sex offenses during the sentencing proceeding before Mohave County Superior Court Judge Derek Carlisle.
“He is not that kind of man,” his wife of 47 years said of Jessop. She said she would have left him if she thought any of the allegations and charges lodged against her husband had merit.
Defense attorney Justin Whittenton raised the specter of Warren Jeffs, the former prophet of the controversial Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) polygamist faith, who reigned over the north Mohave County community for years, and is serving extended prison time in Texas.
Whittenton said Jessop lived under the grip of the “systematic manipulation and mind-bending theft under the FLDS regime of Warren Jeffs.”
Unlike Jessop’s family member supporters, Whittenton acknowledged damage done by the defendant.
“My heart goes out to the victims and what they’ve endured,” Jessop’s lawyer said.
“I grew up to understand that I was an object for sexual manipulation,” one victim told the Court. She described great anguish regarding abuse she said she suffered for years, only to be disbelieved and accused of bringing false allegations.
The other victim declined to address the Court.
Prosecutor Leah Nelson said Jessop accepts no responsibility and has blamed his accusers and law enforcement authorities for his legal predicament.
“He harbors a victim mentality and has zero remorse,” Nelson said.
Despite the various claims of innocence by the defendant and supporters, Judge Carlisle said the law requires him to presume Jessop’s culpability, given guilty pleas to 2 charges reduced to attempted sexual conduct with a minor under the age of 15.
Carlisle ordered a 10-year prison term, followed by lifetime probation.
Read more crime and court stories like this by clicking here.
