LAS VEGAS — Pale, timid and speaking in a whisper, captured polygamist leader Warren Jeffs appeared in court Thursday morning and said he would not fight extradition to Utah to face rape charges related to his alleged arrangement of underage marriages.

Informed by a judge of the counts against him and asked how he wished to proceed, Jeffs, 50, replied, "Go ahead and be extradited is fine."

Utah authorities said they expected to transport Jeffs from Las Vegas to St. George quickly.

"It will be within days," said Ryan Shaum, a deputy Washington County attorney who attended the two-minute hearing.

As the "Prophet," or spiritual leader, of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jeffs directs all aspects of the lives of some 10,000 followers, but in court, he seemed meek and frightened.

Story continues

His hands shackled to his waist, Jeffs was escorted into court by a phalanx of court officers and eight SWAT team officers with guns strapped to their legs. He stared straight at Judge James Bixler of the Las Vegas Township Justice Court and did not appear to notice two dozen reporters packed into the courtroom gallery or his brother, Isaac, who sat in the front row of the courtroom.

Jerry Jaeger, a deputy Washington County attorney who was in court to serve Jeffs with the Utah warrant, said he was grateful that Jeffs had waived his right to an extradition hearing, which likely would have delayed the legal process three months.

"I feel like he came across pretty humble," Jaeger said. "He kind of surprised me. He seemed willing to cooperate with the system, and I appreciate that."

An Arizona investigator visited Jeffs at the Clark County Detention Center after the hearing in an attempt to interview him. Gary Engels of the Mohave County Attorney's Office said Jeffs was "cordial enough" during small talk, but refused to answer any questions about the cases. Jeffs volunteered, however, that some of his followers were arranging a private attorney for him.

Jeffs was apprehended Monday night north of Las Vegas during a routine traffic stop. He had been on the run since he was indicted last summer on statutory rape and conspiracy charges in Arizona.

In Utah, he faces two counts of rape as an accomplice for his role in what authorities say was the sexual assault of a teenage girl by an older man Jeffs had forced her to marry. The charges carry sentences of five years to life.

Jeffs was not represented by an attorney during Thursday's hearing. He is required to make an initial appearance in St. George within 48 hours of arriving in Utah and will be offered a public defender at that time.

Jerry Jaeger, another deputy county attorney, said he expects Jeffs will hire an attorney before that hearing.

The arrest warrant presented in court Thursday allows Utah authorities to hold Jeffs without bond until a bail hearing is scheduled. The issue of bail is of great concern to prosecutors in Utah and Arizona, who are worried he would become a fugitive again if released. Jeffs is believed to have access to great sums of money from his followers. He was arrested with nearly $60,000 in cash.

Utah authorities are proceeding with charges before Arizona prosecutors because the St. George counts are more serious and therefore more likely to result in higher bail.

Jaeger said that if Jeffs is held without bail, he could be tried within three to four months, but if he is released, the trial would likely not begin for at least a year.

After the hearing, Isaac Jeffs asked a court officer if he could speak with his brother, but was rebuffed. He left court without responding to reporters' questions.

Outside court, the Utah prosecutors emphasized Jeffs' right to a fair trial, but said they were confident in the evidence from the victim, whose age is being concealed to protect her identity.

"I'm very impressed with her. She's a very brave lady to come forward," Jaeger said.

The FLDS broke with the mainstream Mormon church in the 1890s over the issue of polygamy. Authorities began investigating the group in the last few years after an ex-communicated church member said Jeffs was marrying minor girls to much older men.