| Former FLDS member defies religious leader He is refusing to leave the home owned by church | |||
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By Nancy Perkins Deseret Morning News | |||
COLORADO CITY, Ariz. — Ross Chatwin expects to be branded a traitor now that he's publicly denounced the prophet of his former church as an "evil dictator" who needs to be stopped. "This might be stupidity, but I just want to get the ball rolling and help pave the road for others to add to," Chatwin said as he began a press conference in front of dozens of reporters at his Colorado City home Friday. "I'm glad the police are here. I feel like I need them." Officers were on hand to monitor the press conference, as well as a representative of the Utah Attorney General's Office and anti-polygamy activists. Chatwin's press conference follows the excommunication two weeks ago of more than 20 high-ranking men of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, including Colorado City Mayor Dan Barlow and his brother, Hildale City councilman Joe Barlow. Both men resigned from public office the same day and left town. The public discipline, conducted by FLDS church leader Warren Jeffs in front of nearly 1,500 people attending a Saturday church work meeting, included orders for the men to leave their families and homes behind. Chatwin might also be forced to move. The FLDS church owns much of the land and buildings in town under the umbrella of its United Effort Plan, including the house where Chatwin and his family live. "The church gave Ross Chatwin that house because the one he was living in was unfit for his family. They were living in squalor," said Rod Parker, a Salt Lake City attorney who represents the FLDS church, adding the church intends to begin eviction proceedings against Chatwin right away. Evictions are issued when members are excommunicated or voluntarily reject the church, Parker said. Chatwin, who said he wouldn't obey Jeffs' edict to move, also told reporters he's not sure why he was excommunicated from the FLDS church in November. "I think Warren thinks I'm a threat to his power," said Chatwin. "He probably thought I could be a potential rival. That I could talk people into leaving him. That's exactly what I'm doing here today." But Parker said Chatwin knows perfectly well why he was excommunicated. "He was soliciting young girls to be his plural wives," Parker said. "There were also questions about his integrity. He had dozens of broken-down cars all over town and owed people lots of money." Eugene Johnson, father to the two girls Chatwin is accused of seeking out to marry him, said he got a restraining order against Chatwin on behalf of his entire family. "He wanted to have an interview with my two daughters, who were 17 and 15, without me. I found out and I let him know I wouldn't have it," said Johnson. "My one daughter got her own restraint order against Ross when she turned 18." Chatwin insists the girls came to him and his wife for help. "They were scared of the system and of being married to older men," said Chatwin, who is 17 years older than Johnson's 18-year-old daughter. "They (the girls) came to us and wanted to marry us. They wanted it to happen and I said they would have to wait until they were 18. It's all a misunderstanding." The restraint orders, filed Nov. 24, 2003, in Moccasin Consolidated Court, are still in effect. Most residents of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City belong to the FLDS church and practice polygamy. Their unique style of dress, with long hair, sleeves and dresses for women and western wear for men, sets them apart from others when they venture into St. George or other nearby towns to shop. "I support my husband. I'm not going to leave him," said Lori Chatwin, 32, with the couple's six children by her side. "I know a lot of others who have left and they're hurt by it. How can you ask someone to forget a father, or a husband? There's got to be something cold inside you to do that." But that's exactly what's been happening in town, said Ron Barton, an investigator with the Utah Attorney General's office, who attended Friday's event along with anti-polygamy activist Jay Beswick, former polygamist Pam Black and others. "This is the worst kind of violence," said Barton. "My hope is that people would follow Ross Chatwin's lead and have the courage to speak out. We'll protect those who speak out." Chatwin urged others who belong to the FLDS church to talk to their families and be prepared to stay together if Jeffs tries to split them apart. "Those broken hearts will never be healed," he said. "I believe what I'm doing is right. I have no problem with the church continuing, but I don't think I want a Hitler-like dictator up there like Warren." When a reporter asked Chatwin who he thought should lead the FLDS church, Chatwin said, "I don't know." | |||
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deseretnews.com Originally published Saturday, January 24, 2004 | |||
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