Expert: Polygamist leader had child with girl, 15
By WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press
Aug 1, 2011 1:13 PM CDT
Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs, arrives at the the Tom Green County Courthouse for the second day of his sexual assault trial Friday, July 29, 2011, in San Angelo, Texas. Jeffs is charged with two counts of sexual assault of a child at a compound south of the oil and gas town of San Angelo. (AP...   (Associated Press)

A forensic analyst says DNA evidence shows with 99.99 percent certainty that a polygamist religious leader fathered a child with a 15-year-old girl.

Warren Jeffs is head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which believes polygamy bring exaltation in heaven. He faces charges of sexual assault with two underage girls and, if convicted, could go to jail for life.

Amy Smuts, of the Human Identification Center at the University of North Texas, testified Monday that Jeffs' DNA had 15 markers match a DNA sample taken from a girl born to a 15-year-old mother. She said that made her more than 99.99 percent certain Jeffs was the child's father.

FLDS followers believe the 55-year-old Jeffs can speak for God on earth.