| Jeffs makes FBI's most wanted The FBI hopes increasing Jeffs' status will corner the fugitive | |||
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By Patrice St. Germain patrices@thespectrum.com | |||
ST. GEORGE/SALT LAKE CITY/PHOENIX - Warren Jeffs, the self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has a new claim to fame - hitting the FBI's top 10 most wanted list. Officials announced the news at a joint news conference outside the FBI field offices in Salt Lake City and Phoenix at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. Arizona time), an hour before TV show "America's Most Wanted" aired a profile of the fugitive. The FBI's Keith Bennett, U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton and Arizona's Attorney General Terry Goddard agreed the actions would heighten public awareness and increase chances of his capture. They consider Jeffs armed and dangerous. "We are doing everything we can to track him down," said Tim Fuhrman, special agent in charge of the FBI's Salt Lake City field office. "We just made the determination that this is the next step that we can take as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to potentially result in the apprehension of Mr. Jeffs." By putting him on the top-10 list, the reward goes from $60,000 to $100,000. The list also is distributed worldwide, putting head shots of Jeffs everywhere on a list that also includes terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. Jeffs is wanted on charges filed in both Arizona and Utah. Last year, Jeffs was charged by a grand jury in Arizona with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor, one count of conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor, and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Jeffs also was charged with rape as an accomplice in Utah in April. Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith attended the press conference and said after the announcement that he was pleased with the exposure, Jeffs was receiving because it puts more eyes and ears out for Jeffs. Smith also said that there was united front in this effort between local, state and federal agencies to bring Jeffs into custody. "We now have national exposure and people all over the country will recognize him," Smith said. "We are gathering favorable intelligence from expelled members (of the FLDS church) and we get closer to Jeffs each day and it's only a matter of time before he is caught." Sam Brower - a private investigator who is doing case preparation for the Lost Boys, a group of young boys expelled from the FLDS church - said he thinks it's a good thing that the FBI has placed Jeffs on the top 10 most wanted list. "It will become more of a priority with the FBI and other law enforcement and involve more resources," Brower said. Brower, who was on the "America's Most Wanted" show Saturday night, said he has heard reports of Jeffs' sightings in the Colorado City and Hildale areas. But, he said, there has never been confirmed sightings and he believes Jeffs may be in Texas. But finding Jeffs - even with the FBI's $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction - may be difficult. Seth Jeffs, Warren Jeffs' younger brother, is facing jail time for charges in Colorado and still has not spoken to authorities about his brother's whereabouts. In addition, Colorado City police officer Mica Barlow, 36, and James Allred, 58, the assistant postmaster of the Hildale/Colorado City Post Office, are being held in Florence, Ariz., as material witnesses following a court appearance in April. Brower said he believes eventually someone will give up Warren Jeffs' location. "It's sort of like the mob. You keep doing it enough, somebody may eventually give up the information," Brower said. The number of Jeffs' follower's ranges from 6,000 to 10,000, most of which live in the twin cities of Hildale and Colorado City, which was previously called Short Creek. Jeffs has not been seen by anyone outside of the FLDS community for nearly two years. He is believed to have safe houses in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, South Dakota and in Canada. The FLDS church is also building a compound in Eldorado, Texas. Arizona Republic reporter Mike Cronin and Associated Press writer Doug Alden contributed to this report. | |||
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TheSpectrum.com Originally published May 7, 2006 | |||
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