LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs made his first appearance in court Thursday and signaled he will not fight extradition on charges that he arranged marriages between underage girls and older men.

Jeffs, considered a prophet by his legions of followers, appeared in court, in shackles, wearing a blue jumpsuit and flanked by armed guards.

He nodded when a judge asked if he wanted to be extradited to Utah to face charges there. He was not represented by a lawyer.

The 50-year-old leader of the breakaway Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was arrested late Monday in a traffic stop outside Las Vegas.

In Jeffs' first appearance since his arrest, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace James Bixler informed Jeffs of the charges against him, which carry the possibility of life in prison if convicted.

Arizona also has a warrant for Jeffs.

Two prosecutors from the Washington County attorney's office in Utah were in the courtroom. Two prosecutors from that office, Jerry Jaeger and Ryan Shawm, said they planned to take Jeffs immediately.

Arizona also has a warrant for the leader of the breakaway Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who could agree to be transferred or fight extradition following his arrest late Monday in a traffic stop outside Las Vegas.

Utah gets to try Jeffs because the state was determined to have a stronger case against Jeffs and the case involves more serious charges -- two counts of rape by accomplice.

Arizona prosecutors, meanwhile, highlighted some of the difficultites typically associated with polygamy cases, such as getting victims to testify. It's a problem prosecutors in Arizona and Utah have already faced.

Jeffs, whom authorities estimate has roughly 80 wives and 250 children, had eluded law enforcement since being placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list in May.

As the leader of a Mormon sect , Jeffs is said to have 10,000 or so followers. Jeffs also may face charges for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.