Child Sex Abuse Charge Filed Against Third Member of Knights of the Crystal Blade

Robert Roe, 34, has been charged with one count of sodomy on a child in Utah’s 6th District Court. The charge could result in life in prison. Roe, a resident of Castro, Calif., is not yet in custody, and the Sanpete County Attorney’s office is seeking an arrest warrant. Roe is the third member of the Knights of the Crystal Blade, a small religious group that practices polygamy and believes in an impending doomsday, to face sex crime charges.

The Knights of the Crystal Blade, whose followers adhered to Mormon fundamentalist teachings, were identified by court records as believing in a Muslim invasion of the United States and the end of the world. Roe communicated online with the group’s two leaders, John Coltharp and Samuel Shaffer, sharing common beliefs. He then traveled to Utah to be baptized into the group. Afterward, he “married” a 5-year-old girl with family ties to the cult, took her to a motel, and sexually assaulted her, according to court records. The alleged assault occurred on Aug. 28.

The group came to law enforcement’s attention in December when Coltharp and Shaffer hid Coltharp’s children from his ex-wife, prompting an Amber Alert and search that spanned central Utah and areas west of Cedar City. Shaffer and the children were found in a makeshift home made from shipping containers. Last month, Shaffer was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to child rape and abuse charges. He also faces additional charges in Sanpete County, including child bigamy and child kidnapping, for secret marriages he believed were divinely ordained.

Prosecutors allege that Shaffer and Coltharp conducted these marriages before relocating to the compound. Shaffer, who described himself as a prophet, cooperated with authorities during his trial. The case highlights the legal and moral complexities surrounding religious practices that conflict with societal norms and laws. The Knights of the Crystal Blade’s activities reflect a broader pattern of abuse and secrecy, drawing attention to the need for accountability and protection of the vulnerable.

The legal proceedings against Roe and others underscore the challenges of addressing crimes rooted in extremist beliefs. The case also raises questions about the role of religious communities in safeguarding children and the responsibilities of individuals within such groups. As the legal system seeks justice, the broader implications for communities and individuals remain significant.

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