Career
Warren Jeffs officially resigned as president of the church on December 4, 2007, but his status as Prophet is unknown. Nielsen has also served as first counselor to both Warren and Rulon Jeffs. In 2008, Texas authorities indicted Neilson with three counts of bigamy for purporting to marry persons other than his spouse while being legally married.
According to records seized by Texas law enforcement during a raid on the YFZ ranch, Nielsen may have as many as 21 wives.
Neilsen was charged with 3 counts of bigamy. Two wives were in their sixties and one was in her forties.
He received the maximum sentence of ten years. This was in contradiction to the statements of the Texas Attorney General" General’ s Office that this case was about prosecuting underage marriages.
