Judge won’t give Lyle Jeffs a separate trial on fleeing count

A federal judge on Thursday denied a motion by former polygamous sect leader Lyle Jeffs for a separate trial on the charge of failing to appear in court. U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart ruled that the same jury will consider that charge, as well as the two counts accusing Jeffs of defrauding the food stamp program, when his trial starts in October. Jeffs’ lawyers had wanted two trials. They argued that a jury considering the fraud and conspiracy counts would make inferences when