Three women linked to a polygamist group waived preliminary hearings Monday morning on child sex-abuse charges.
Weber County Attorney Reed Richards also amended charges against the women before 2nd Circuit Judge Brent West. The three defendants are now scheduled to enter pleas on the felony charges Oct. 28 in 2nd District Court.Sharon Kapp, 36; Jennifer Shreeve, 25; and Amy Partridge, 27, all of Ogden, have each been charged with two second-degree felony counts of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 and sexual exploitation of a child. Kapp has also been charged with a third-degree felony count of dealing harmful material to a minor.
The three women and the alleged leader of a group known as "Sisters" were arrested in August after investigators raided their homes and removed nine children. Richards said Monday that the children have since been returned to the homes but are being monitored by the Utah Division of Family Services.
Arvin Shreeve, who prosecutors say led the Ogden polygamist group, is scheduled to enter pleas to two first-degree charges of sodomy on two girls under the age of 14 and two counts of sexual abuse of two other girls under the age of 14.
The county attorney said Monday that he hopes he can resolve the cases against all four of the defendants to prevent the children from having to testify at trial.