Report of FLDS compound generates attention in S.D.
 
By Patrice St. Germain
patrices@thespectrum.com
 
ST. GEORGE - Custer County Sheriff Phil Hespen said the onslaught of media calls he received Thursday morning was "typical hype" as he fielded telephone calls about members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints church's newest compound in Pringle, S.D.

Hespen said it's not against the law to build a compound and that the people who are living there are quiet people.

"They own a piece of property, that's it," Hespen said. "We've got the Hells Angels that own property here and the Banditos. They've got more felons than that church."

But Hespen said if he was given proof instead of hype that Warren Jeffs - the prophet of the FLDS Church and a fugitive from justice - was there, he would pick him up.

"What if Osama bin Laden was there? Santa Claus may live there," he said. "We deal in proof, in facts. Give me the actual facts instead of hype. Hype sells newspapers."

While Hespen isn't concerned, the 100-acre piece of property purchased in 2003 by David Allred was listed on the building permit as a hunting retreat, the same way the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas - where the church has recently completed work on a temple - started out, said private investigator Sam Brower.

Brower went to South Dakota about a month ago and said there are four decent-sized buildings on the property located in tall pines. Brower said he estimated about 60 to 100 people are living there and saw people in the "traditional garb" favored by members of the FLDS church.

"It's in the middle of nowhere," Brower said of the property.

Bruce Wisan, the court-appointed special fiduciary of the United Effort Plan - the financial arm of the FLDS church - said he heard about the compound several weeks ago and said there are some other issues going on behind the scenes there.

But Wisan said he doesn't believe the property is part of the UEP trust and that the property was purchased by cash donations from followers.

"The trust is all land. The UEP has never had a bank account until I set one up," Wisan said. "But the businesses (in Hildale and Colorado City) contribute heavily to Warren's operations and we are thinking that's were it came from."

At this point, Wisan said, there is no reason to suspect that the property in South Dakota is UEP property. He said he would look at facts and circumstances and take appropriate actions.

As for Hespen, he's more concerned about the upcoming summer months. The county, he said, gets flooded with about 3 million visitors a year.

"We are a little department of 10 people so who cares who owns property - the church, the Hells Angels - it's not against the law," Hespen said. "Some of them are felons and if we see them, we scoop them up. Warren Jeffs - his time will run out just like everyone else."
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published March 10, 2006
 
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