Utah drops case against sect leader

Prosecutors in Utah are dropping charges against a polygamist sect leader who is serving a life sentence in Texas over a separate case.

The Utah Attorney General’s office told The Associated Press that Washington County prosecutors will not seek to retry Warren Jeffs on two charges of rape by accomplice – a 2007 conviction which was overturned last year by the Utah Supreme Court.

The Utah Supreme Court cited improper jury instructions for reversing Jeffs’ conviction.

Paul Murphy, a spokesman for Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, said the Utah Supreme Court provided no guidance that would make another trial possible.

Mr Murphy said Jeffs is already serving a life sentence in Texas and there was little to gain by pursuing the Utah case.