Thanks for the links. Still, I’m not sure it’s happening quite like you say. All the news I found about it dated back to 2005 or early 2006 at the latest. Kinda early for “image-polishing.”
That was just the starter-pack.
You do understand that the trial is still continuing, more lawsuits are being filed? This is happening in both Arizona and in Utah.
Initially, it was expected they'd throw the book at him with sentences of a hundred years or more. And they could easily do it. But he's cooperating and quite pathetic now, having renounced his Prophethood or whatever it was.
Law enforcement, including the federal courts, are not going to tolerate the survival of this cult. Whether they continue overseas or in Mexico (as they did after the initial polygamy ban) isn't at issue here.
There are stories every couple of days in Deseret News. They've done a great job in reporting. Try their search engine (just type in "Warren Jeffs"):
Deseret News Archives
The current charge (for which he will definitely be convicted) is felony rape in the forced marriage of a 14-year-old girl to her 19-year-old first cousin.
Marrying a cousin? Who do they think they are? Rudi Giuliani?
BTW, not only did the man have 70-80 wives, it was reported that when arrested he was consuming chilled beverages?
The death penalty, I think. In Utah, it's probably still a firing squad.