Preserving perversion
 Until state gets tougher, polygamy and abuse will go on in Colorado City
 
Opinions
The Arizona Republic
 
Arizona needs a bang, not a whimper, to deal with the perverse sect of polygamous child abusers living in Colorado City.

The group's "prophet," Warren Jeffs, profits nicely indeed from sect members who reside on property his trust controls, and they do what he says, even if that includes handing over underage daughters as "spiritual" sex toys for old men.

A Utah judge ordered the reclusive Jeffs to answer a civil suit that charges he molested his nephew, Brent Jeffs. According to the suit, a 5-year-old was told that being raped by his three uncles would make him a man.

Another pending lawsuit alleges that adolescent males were ousted from the community because they represented competition to the old men who need three wives, according to cult teaching, to attain the best seats in heaven.

Young brides are the best. Stories about the abuse of underage girls are plentiful.

Polygamy is against the law. But members of Profit Warren Jeffs' Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints receive generous state assistance based on illegally created "families." The Department of Economic Security reports that in fiscal year 2003, $2.3 million in benefits went to Colorado City.

Jeffs pulled 700 cult children out of the Colorado City Unified School District but kept cult members on the payroll. The district bought a private plane but stopped paying teachers on Oct. 18. For two years, it has missed deadlines to account for spending.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne plans to ask the Legislature - again - for authority to take over such "dysfunctional" districts. Last year, lawmakers said no.

Lawmakers did go along with Attorney General Terry Goddard's request for legislation making it easier to prosecute cases of bigamy with underage girls. That went into effect Aug. 25. No one has been prosecuted.

"Child abuse is the most apparent, present and egregious" offense going on in the world of Jeffs, Goddard says. But finding witnesses to testify is tough. The cult has been the only law in polygamous Arizona for 70 years.

Several state investigations are under way. One man, now missing, has been charged with unlawful sex with two minors who were his "wives."

Last month, the state opened an office in Colorado City to help any who want to escape this perverse world. Business is not booming. An anonymous note left under the door reads, in part, "This whole territory was founded by Polygamy. We are Prepared."

A hotline was set up and a billboard erected to offer the phone number to those with "family problems." No calls have been received.

Meanwhile, Jeffs has built a compound in Texas and is constructing a temple. He may relocate and abandon any unneeded cult members to Arizona's underfunded social services.

Then you'll hear the whimper. And long for the bang of justice that never sounded.
 
azcentral.com
Originally published December 16, 2004
 
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