He also faces first-degree felony child rape charges, stemming from his relationship with one of his wives, who was 13 when he married her. No trial date has been set. The mere fact that Green's case got to court was a victory for those who for years have sought to draw attention to what they say are the evils of polygamy. It is only the beginning. For years, nobody heard us or paid attention to us about polygamy. . . .
Polygamists generally are secretive and live in insular, church-centered communities.
He said he wanted to crusade against what he saw as the prejudice against polygamy, which so-called fundamentalist Mormons believe is the only way to achieve celestial reward. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints disavowed polygamy in 1890. Green remains free on bail and has vowed to appeal the verdict. He says he'll fight his case on constitutional grounds of religious freedom. His outspokenness, and now the guilty verdict, may drive polygamists further underground, some say.