A woman believed to be one of the 20 wives of a polygamous sect leader jailed in Arizona faces charges for allegedly sending threatening emails to child welfare workers in a bid to get her two daughters released from state foster care.
The indictment of Josephine Barlow Bistline marks the fourth woman associated with self-declared prophet Samuel Bateman to face federal charges. Three of Bateman’s wives were previously charged with kidnapping and impeding a foreseeable prosecution after eight girls associated with the sect fled from foster care.
An attorney representing Bistline, did not immediately return a call Wednesday seeking comment.
Samuel Bateman is facing federal and state charges, including child abuse, obstructing a federal investigation and aiding in kidnapping girls who were placed in the state child welfare agency. His trial is set for 2024.