Commune cop probe welcomed
 
By Melissa Ridgen
Calgary Sun
 
It's about time the B.C. government launched an investigation into allegations of child abuse at the polygamous Bountiful commune, says the mayor of nearby Creston. Joe Snopek is friends with several of the 1,000 people who live at the commune.

But he feels it's time for the government to act on the complaints.

"It's probably time the government decides one way or the other on the lifestyle they live," Snopek said. "I doubt anything will come of it though because the argument of religious freedom is there to be made."

He counts deposed Bountiful leader Winston Blackmore -- who reportedly has 28 wives and 80 children -- as a friend and said the residents are "great people" who keep to themselves and pose no problem.

"They aren't in our courts, their children are well-behaved. They do business here," said Snopek.

"Creston has a live and let live sort of attitude. You may not agree with what they do but you get used to it."

He has never seen any battered children or girls as young as 13 forced into marriage as some commune defectors claim.

"There might be 16-year-old girls married and pregnant but the argument could be made at least they're being taken care of -- they aren't out on the street. You can find girls younger than that pregnant and on the streets in Calgary."

On Thursday, B.C. Attorney General Geoff Plant announced police would investigate Bountiful.

Blackmore couldn't be reached yesterday and his successor James Oler, didn't return phone calls.

Located 520 km southwest of Calgary, Bountiful is part of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-day Saints, a Mormon breakaway sect.

Although polygamy is illegal under the Criminal Code, B.C. has not prosecuted Bountiful polygamists because of fear of constitutional challenges.
 
CalgarySun.com
Originally published July 24, 2004
 
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