LaDell Jay Bistline, Jr., Child Sexual Abuse, Arizona 2024

A Colorado City man was sentenced to life in prison for his role in a child sexual abuse ring that spanned several states and victimized at least 10 children.

LaDell Jay Bistline, Jr., 46, was convicted on October 2, 2024, of one count of Receipt of Child Pornography; one count of Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor; two counts of Persuading or Coercing Travel to Engage in Sexual Activity; two counts of Using a Means of Interstate Commerce to Persuade or Coerce a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity; and two counts of Transportation of a Minor for Criminal Sexual Activity.

The charges against Bistline are based on his participation in a years-long child sexual abuse conspiracy that involved his co-defendant, Samuel Rappylee Bateman, the self-proclaimed leader of a religious sect based in Colorado City.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Bistline delivered two of his own daughters to Bateman to become child ‘brides’ and be sexually abused when the girls were nine and 11 years old.

Bistline and others transported the victims between states, including Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, to facilitate the sexual abuse.

The Phoenix Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted the investigation in this case, and the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution.

Bistline was sentenced by United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to life in prison.

The case number is CR-22-8092-006-PHX-SMB, and the release number is 2025-021_Bistline.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to extend special gratitude to the Arizona Department of Child Safety for its work rescuing and protecting Arizona children impacted by this matter, the Colorado City Police Department, the Iron County (Utah) Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the St. George Resident Agency of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office for their assistance in this matter.

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