Samuel Rappylee Bateman, Child Sexual Abuse, Arizona 2024

PHOENIX, Ariz. – In a shocking turn of events, Samuel Rappylee Bateman, 48, of Colorado City, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for his role in a child sexual abuse conspiracy that spanned several states and victimized at least 10 children.

Bateman, who represented himself as a religious prophet, was the leader of a years-long child sexual abuse conspiracy that began in 2019. He amassed followers in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and Nebraska, and coerced and manipulated the children into participating in individual and group sexual activities with adults and other children.

Some of the victims were as young as nine years old. Bateman also gave one of the victims to an adult male follower to be sexually abused and transmitted live video streams of child sexual abuse to his followers. The victims were transported between states to facilitate the abuse, which continued until Bateman's arrest on federal charges in September 2022.

Following Bateman's arrest, his child victims were placed in the legal and physical custody of the Arizona Department of Child Safety. However, in November 2022, Bateman conspired with some of his followers to kidnap the victims from their custody placements. The conspirators succeeded in taking eight of the girls to California and then to Washington, where they were found by law enforcement and returned to Arizona.

Bateman was charged along with 11 of his adult followers, all of whom have also been convicted of charges related to the child sexual abuse conspiracy. Two of Bateman's co-defendants were convicted at trial by a jury, and the others were convicted by guilty plea. Several other defendants have already been sentenced, and the remaining defendants will be sentenced in the coming months.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation-Phoenix conducted the investigation in this case, and the United States Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. The Arizona Department of Child Safety, Colorado City Police Department, Iron County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Marshals Service, and St. George Resident Agency of the FBI's Salt Lake City Field Office also provided assistance in the matter.

Bateman's sentence is a result of his guilty plea to Conspiracy to Commit Transportation of a Minor for Criminal Sexual Activity and Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping. The case is currently being handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, and the latest updates can be found on their website at http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/.

Bateman's case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting our most vulnerable populations, particularly children. The sentence handed down in this case is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors who worked to bring justice to the victims and their families.

Case Number: CR-22-8092-PHX-SMB, Release Number: 2024-173_Bateman

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-az/pr/leader-child-sexual-abuse-ring-sentenced-50-years-prison