Willie Jessop
Encyclopedia
William Roy Jessop was a leader in and frequent spokesman for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
(FLDS Church). Jessop should not be confused with William E. Jessop
, the person Warren Jeffs
designated as his successor to the presidency of the FLDS Church.
Jessop was a bodyguard
during the tenure of FLDS Church president Warren Jeffs
. After Jeffs' arrest and the April 2008 raids on the church's YFZ Ranch
near Eldorado, Texas
, Jessop became a frequent spokesman for the FLDS Church. In May 2008, Jessop wrote an open letter to United States president George W. Bush
, requesting that he intervene against the removal of children from FLDS Church families.
In a January 2009 deposition
, Jessop refused to answer 110 questions put to him on the grounds that doing so would violate his Fifth Amendment
rights under the United States Constitution
.
In February, 2011, Jessop left the church, and in April denounced Jeffs. After leaving the church, Jessop continues to live in Hildale, Utah
. In October, a 25-year-old wife of Jeffs fleeing the church sought refuge in his house before being removed by law enforcement.
Jessop has been nicknamed "Willie the Thug," "Fat Willie," "Willie Doughnuts" and "King Willie" by disaffected FLDS Church members. He has been described by police as having "a passion for violence, weapons (legal and illegal) and explosives" and has been said to be "the most serious threat affiliated with the FLDS religion". Police have also suggested that Jessop attempted to intimidate witnesses during Warren Jeffs' 2007 trial.
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is one of the largest Mormon fundamentalist denominations and one of the largest organizations in the United States whose members practice polygamy. The FLDS Church emerged in the early twentieth century when its founding members left...
(FLDS Church). Jessop should not be confused with William E. Jessop
William E. Jessop
William E. Jessop is a leader in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints . In a January 2007 telephone conversation between Jessop and church president Warren Jeffs, Jeffs suggested that Jessop was the rightful leader of the FLDS Church...
, the person Warren Jeffs
Warren Jeffs
Warren Steed Jeffs was the president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints . In 2011, Jeffs was convicted of two felony counts of child sexual assault....
designated as his successor to the presidency of the FLDS Church.
Jessop was a bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
during the tenure of FLDS Church president Warren Jeffs
Warren Jeffs
Warren Steed Jeffs was the president of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints . In 2011, Jeffs was convicted of two felony counts of child sexual assault....
. After Jeffs' arrest and the April 2008 raids on the church's YFZ Ranch
YFZ Ranch
The YFZ Ranch, also known as the Yearning for Zion Ranch, is a community which housed as many as 700 people just outside of Eldorado in Schleicher County, Texas, United States. It is owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints . It is about southwest of San Angelo and ...
near Eldorado, Texas
Eldorado, Texas
Eldorado is a city in and the county seat of Schleicher County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,951 at the 2000 census, but dropped to 1,800 according to a July 2009 estimate.Eldorado is located on U.S...
, Jessop became a frequent spokesman for the FLDS Church. In May 2008, Jessop wrote an open letter to United States president George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, requesting that he intervene against the removal of children from FLDS Church families.
In a January 2009 deposition
Deposition (law)
In the law of the United States, a deposition is the out-of-court oral testimony of a witness that is reduced to writing for later use in court or for discovery purposes. It is commonly used in litigation in the United States and Canada and is almost always conducted outside of court by the...
, Jessop refused to answer 110 questions put to him on the grounds that doing so would violate his Fifth Amendment
Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, protects against abuse of government authority in a legal procedure. Its guarantees stem from English common law which traces back to the Magna Carta in 1215...
rights under the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
.
In February, 2011, Jessop left the church, and in April denounced Jeffs. After leaving the church, Jessop continues to live in Hildale, Utah
Hildale, Utah
Hildale is a city in Washington County, Utah, United States. The population was 2,726 at the 2010 census.Hildale is a twin city to the more well-known Colorado City, Arizona, both of which straddle the border between Utah and Arizona. Hildale is the headquarters of the Fundamentalist Church of...
. In October, a 25-year-old wife of Jeffs fleeing the church sought refuge in his house before being removed by law enforcement.
Jessop has been nicknamed "Willie the Thug," "Fat Willie," "Willie Doughnuts" and "King Willie" by disaffected FLDS Church members. He has been described by police as having "a passion for violence, weapons (legal and illegal) and explosives" and has been said to be "the most serious threat affiliated with the FLDS religion". Police have also suggested that Jessop attempted to intimidate witnesses during Warren Jeffs' 2007 trial.