Indictment Could Force Polygamist Out of Hiding
 
By Paul Foy
The Associated Press
KPHO News 5 - Phoenix
 
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- An indictment charging Warren Jeffs with arranging an underaged polygamous marriage could force the reclusive church leader out of hiding, making him answer a series of civil complaints as well, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said Friday.

Shurtleff said his office has been unable to serve Jeffs with court papers severing his control over a wealthy trust that controls the polygamous border towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz.

Shurtleff's process server was turned away at a Texas ranch where Jeffs is believed to be sequestered. But Jeffs couldn't as easily resist criminal charges, and Arizona is likely to ask Texas authorities to execute an arrest warrant, Shurtleff said.

Shurtleff has brought Jeffs' Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints under increasing pressure amid allegations of sexual abuse, forced marriages and welfare fraud, and Shurtleff applauded Mohave County, Ariz., for finding the evidence to file charges against Jeffs.

"He's going to be held accountable for the charges. That's the bottom line," Shurtleff said. "This sends a message that Warren Jeffs is not above the law."

Once in Arizona's custody, Jeffs will be required to answer an order issued by a Utah court approving a temporary takeover of the United Effort Plan, the church trust estimated to hold $100 million in assets.

Jeffs is the subject of several other civil complaints filed by residents of Hildale and Colorado City. His nephew, Brent Jeffs, claims Jeffs sexually assaulted him when he was a child. Six "lost boys" say Jeffs banished them and other young men from the community. And Jeffs has been found in default by a Utah court for blacklisting another man, Shem Fisher, for failing to live by the church's strict directives.

Linda Kelsch, a spokeswoman for the pro-polygamy group Principle Voices For Polygamy, urged authorities to act with caution against polygamists, charging them only with crimes other than consensual marriages.

"I don't agree with using force (to arrange marriages), and I don't agree with the state forcing these people into isolation because of their beliefs," she said.

Rowenna Erickson, co-founder of the anti-polygamy group Tapestry Against Polygamy, cheered the ruling Friday when reached by phone at her Salt Lake City home.

"Hallelujah. Now if they can just get him," said the former member of the polygamous Kingston clan. "I truly believe it will ripple on back up to Utah, and affect what can happen to these groups."

Tapestry members have been critical of how officials have seemingly given a free pass by officials in Utah and Arizona, but hopes this is a first step in reigning in these groups.

"We felt like it would probably begin with the FLDS," she said.

Ross Chatwin, an excommunicated church member who still lives in the area, said he hadn't heard the news of criminal charges, but they weren't entirely unexpected.

"We've been waiting for this to happen," he said. "I knew it would happen sometime, but I didn't know when."

Chatwin said it was unlikely Jeffs would appear voluntarily to answer criminal or civil charges.

Calls left by The Associated Press on Friday with Rod Parker and R. Scott Barry, attorneys who have represented Jeffs and the church in the past, weren't immediately returned.

Associated Press writers Doug Alden, Debbie Hummel and Travis Reed contributed to this story.
 
KPHO.com
Originally broadcast June 10, 2005
 
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