High-ranking polygamous leader Lyle Jeffs will have to wait to find out if he can leave jail pending trial on accusations he helped orchestrate a multimillion-dollar food stamp fraud scheme.
U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart said at a hearing Wednesday that he would consider the request.
Federal public defender Kathryn Nester had argued that Jeffs is being treated unfairly because of his religious beliefs.
Prosecutor Robert Lund said Jeffs can't be trusted because he is openly defiant of civil law, citing polygamous practices that include underage brides.
Jeffs, who runs the day-to-day operations of the polygamous sect on the Utah-Arizona border, is the last suspect still behind bars after 11 people were indicted on charges of diverting at least $12 million worth of federal benefits.