Cult leader to appeal sexual abuse conviction

Imprisoned cult leader Wayne Bent plans to appeal his conviction.

Bent has hired an Albuquerque law firm to handle the appeal.

The self-proclaimed messiah and leader of an apocalyptic cult compound in northeastern New Mexico was sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this year.

A jury found that Bent molested teenage followers in what he claimed was a religious ceremony.

A statement on the cult's website claims that there was never any evidence Bent touched the girls inappropriately.