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| The HOPE Organization has received a Creative Ministries of Presbyterian Women Thank Offering grant to fund a 2-year "Jump Start" life-skills program for children in the Hildale/Colorado City/Centennial Park communities. Read our press release Read our program flyer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Breaking News | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Here's the latest on what's happening. These news articles are listed in chronological order. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Morning Book Discussion Held At Bellville Library Branch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WMFD TV - North Central Ohio Originally published June 1, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Morning Book Discussion Group at the Bellville Branch of the Mansfield-Richland County Public Library meets once a month to discuss various books. Tuesday, they met to talk about the book, "Escape" by Carolyn Jessop. Bellville Library Branch Manager Carolyn Applegate said the book is about the fundamentalist church and the polygamist relationship in marriages. Applegate said it's a very relaxed discussion group who are very easy to talk to and everyone gets a chance to speak their mind about a book. She said they've got about 16 members currently, and may start a second discussion group if more people are interested. You can contact her at the Bellville Library Branch at 419-886-3811. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Meet U.S. Senate Candidate John Dougherty | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Jim Nintzel Tucson Weekly Originally published June 1, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investigative reporter John Dougherty, one of four Democrats running for U.S. Senate this year, will be at Hotel Congress from 7 to 9 p.m. this Thursday, June 3. Here's the release from Dougherty's campaign:
U.S. Senate Democratic candidate John Dougherty takes his campaign to unseat John McCain to Tucson Thursday to rally Southern Arizona supporters at the Hotel Congress in Tucson.Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hope’s many forms | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mountainfilm wraps, "Bag It" ties for Audience Choice Award | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Katie Klingsporn Associate Editor Telluride Daily Planet - Telluride, Colorado Originally published Tuesday, June 1, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On Monday morning at the Palm Theatre, Prudence Mabhena, the subject of the documentary "Music by Prudence," took the stage alone in her wheelchair. The audience had just finished watching the film, which tells how Prudence, who was born in Zimbabwe with a severe disability and abandoned by her parents, has overcome tremendous challenges to become a musician. And when Prudence opened her mouth and sang "Amazing Grace" — her voice a mixture of strength and pain and beauty — her spirit became a palpable thing, cutting through the darkness and resonating to the balcony with each note. The performance was but one bright spot in the 2010 Mountainfilm Festival, which offered many versions of hope to its audience — along with what is at stake if things don’t change. "I hope it affects you," Festival Director David Holbrooke told the sun-soaked crowd at the festival’s closing picnic on Monday. "I know from the first time ... it has affected me. I hope it has an impact, because that’s what we try to do." This year’s festival filled the box canyon with stories of indomitable spirit — of taking a leap for personal freedom and finding beauty in a garbage heap and rehabilitating a devastated piece of land — with four days of films, presentations and speakers. And in the end, it was a pair of films with local connections that won the hearts of the viewers. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| When Filmmakers Become Their Stories | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Peter Shelton VIEW TO THE WEST The Watch - Telluride, Colorado Originally published June 3, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Some documentary films advocate unapologetically for change. Gasland, for example, which screened last weekend at Mountainfilm. Josh Fox’s personal journey of discovery through the natural-gas fields of Pennsylvania (his home state) and west to the Rocky Mountains is a forthright indictment of an industry largely unregulated, and stubbornly secretive, when it comes to the air and water pollution it creates. (In one harrowing scene, a Colorado man instructs his wife to dial "91", and then let her finger hover over the final "1", while he lights the stream from their kitchen faucet on fire.) Fox’s film is designed to stir outrage and action. Bag It is another one. The movie starts with the "paper or plastic" dilemma at your supermarket and swoops into an investigation – a surprisingly entertaining and gentle-spirited investigation – of all things plastic and their effects on our bodies, our babies and our fellow creatures. Bag It ends with simple recommendations for changing what has until now been unconsciously destructive behavior – bringing your own reusable bags to the grocery is just one. But what about documentaries that, inadvertently perhaps, alter the realities of their protagonists? Mountainfilm screened a couple of films this year that begged the question: What responsibility do artists bear for their often vulnerable human subjects? Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FLDS Member Heads to Court 6/6/10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Elias Hernandez CBS 7 News - KOSA - Odessa, TX Originally broadcast June 6, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Angelo, Texas - The trial for a FLDS sect member accused sexual assault and bigamy will begin tomorrow. 37-year-old Abram Harker Jeffs pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault with a child and one count of bigamy back in May. Jeffs is one of 12 FLDS members who face grand jury indictments because of evidence seized during a raid on the YFZ Ranch in April 2008. See photo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fundamentalist Polygamist Women Breaks Silence | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Throckmorton P. Turdblossom Spooftimes News Originally published June 8, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Polygamist women from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Eldorado, Texas have broken their silence on the recent situation with their church. Due to accusations from a young female member who alleged sexual and spousal abuse of her many other young women and children, over 400 were removed from their central Texas compound. The children were later returned, but the memory of the incident still resonates within the community after two years. Mothers of some of those children opened their mouths today to speak about the charges. Mary Smith Smith Smith, who moved to the Texas town from the polygamous home in Colorado City, Arizona, was the spokesperson for the group. "We wish to issue a brief statement and will not take any questions. "First, I was married at age thirteen to my husband. He was 23 years older than me. I did not have a problem with this. Because of being married at that age, I did not have to worry about dating, not getting asked out to my prom, not having a boy give me his class ring or leather jacket, getting pinned in the back seat of a Toyota, or any other of those quirky, adolescent experiences. Our way is much better. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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District Courts Calendar co.tom-green.tx.us Last Updated on: June 8, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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When: Wed Jun 9 10am – 5pm Where: SCHL. CO. CRIMINAL TRIAL #6 - JUDGE WALTHER 1002 The State of Texas VS Abram Harker Jeffs Jury Trial E.Nichols/A.Goodwin/S.Goodman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carolyn Jessop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| :Tuesday, June 8th: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Georgia Center for the Book Originally published June 8, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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7:15 P.M., Decatur Library Auditorium
Two years ago we presented the young author of the best-selling true story Escape, who vividly recounted her dangerous, courageous and successful escape with her eight children from a forced polygamous Mormon marriage. Now Carolyn Jessop returns with a new book written with Laura Palmer, Triumph: Life After the Cult: A Survivor’’s Lesson. In this book, she talks about her life in recent years and what she has learned since re-joining a non-fundamentalist society. Jessop’s voice is a distinctive one as she relates her growth as a woman re-gaining her self-confidence in spite of the heart-wrenching events that have befallen her. See photo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carolyn Jessop Tells of Life After Cult | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Good Day Atlanta WAGA Fox 5 TV - Atlanta, Georgia Originally broadcast June 8, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carolyn Jessop tells of her life after the FLDS cult - in "Triumph." In 2003 she gathered her eight children and escaped in the middle of the night and detailed her story in the 2007 memoir "Escape." Then in April 2008 she came back into the spotlight when the state of Texas staged a surprise raid on the Yearning for Zion ranch and called on her an expert in helping officials understand the culture of the cult. Book signing at the Georgia Center for the Book Tuesday night in Decatur. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sexual assault of child trial set to begin today | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 8, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAN ANGELO, Texas — Abram Harker Jeffs, 39, a member of the polygamist Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, goes to trial today on charges of sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison. Jeffs’ trial will take place in Eldorado. Jeffs has also been indicted on a first-degree bigamy charge. Eric Nichols of the Texas Attorney General’s Office will head the prosecution, as he has done for the previous FLDS criminal trials. San Angelo attorney Stephanie Goodman will represent Jeffs. Fifty-first District Court Judge Barbara Walther will be the presiding judge. Walther has presided over all of the FLDS criminal trials so far. Jeffs is among 12 FLDS members who have been indicted and the sixth to face prosecution to date. Four more men have trials scheduled through December. Three FLDS men have undergone trial, and two have pleaded no contest. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anti-polygamy case gives rise to all kinds of family forms | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Daphne Bramham Vancouver Sun Originally published June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forrest Glen Maridas is a polyamorist who believes that it is her constitutionally guaranteed right to freely express her sexuality in any form that that might take. Maridas is 34, American and a full-time counsellor at a university, although she's currently on maternity leave. She's lived with Canadian Russell Osborne since May 2005 and he's sponsoring her for immigration as a common-law spouse under the family classification. Maridas and Osborne and their two young children live in a home in Edmonton with Drew Thompson and Katy Furness. For the past two years, Maridas has been in "an intimate and conjugal relationship" with Thompson, a caregiver, self-defence instructor and "spiritual counsellor." "Russell and Katy's relationship with one another -- as well as myself with Katy and Drew to Russell's relationship to one another -- are roommates and friends," says Maridas. Maridas generally sleeps with Russell, but when "sleep schedules" permit, she and Drew sleep together, often with the baby. "On more rare occasions, Drew, Katy and myself sleep together or Drew, Russell and myself sleep together at night." Drew and Russell do not have a sexual relationship, which is described as a triad or a "polyamorous V." But all of the adults are free to date outside the family. "Being bisexual assisted in having a psychological framework for the ability of multiple relationships to make sense," says Maridas. She also says that within their family, "there is not a ranking system that some polyamorists follow of primary, secondary, etc. relationships." Maridas explained all of this in an affidavit filed Tuesday in B.C. Supreme Court. It was one of six filed by the Canadian Polyamory Advocacy Association, which is intervening in the case to determine whether the anti-polygamy law is valid. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Film Follows Teen Exiles from Polygamous Sect | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sons of Perdition explores polygamy, prairie dresses, and what it means to live in exile. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Becky Garrison Interview Sexuality/Gender Religion Dispatches - San Francisco, CA Originally published June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sons of Perdition, a documentary that premiered at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival, follows the story of a group of teenage boys who have left the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints (FLDS), a polygamous Mormon group, and tracks their struggles in exile from their homes and families.
Many first learned of the FLDS when the sect came into the media spotlight following leader Warren Jeffs’ arrest (and eventual conviction) as an accomplice to rape. Pictures of young women in "prairie dresses" were splashed on TV and the media rushed to try to explain who these people actually were. Were they Mormons? Were they a cult? I had planned an interview with the film’s directors, but before I met them I went to RD contributor Joanna Brooks, a Mormon writer and scholar, to help me get some context. She described the FLDS sect as "the most extreme of several fundamentalist Mormon polygamous groups," distinguished by their focus on a "prophet" who plays an extremely commanding role in the life of the community. As she explains it, while fundamentalist LDS and mainstream LDS share a common history, scripture, and basic theology, the LDS church banned polygamy in 1890 and the groups who continued the practice split off early on. Consequently, she explains, "many of their beliefs reflect the general state of Mormon doctrine at that time—before the modern LDS church grew into the global church it is today." In addition, while polygamy as a doctrine has not been entirely abolished in mainstream LDS (some modern orthodox LDS followers believe there will be polygamy in the afterlife), for fundamentalist and FLDS folks, because polygamy has been rejected by mainstream Mormonism and punished by the state, it has become the defining and central expression of faith. At the Tribeca Film Festival, I sat down with directors Tyler Measom and Jennilyn Merten for an in-depth discussion about their documentary. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trial Begins for 6th FLDS Member Charged | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Reported by: ConchoValleyHomepage.com KTAB Abilene Originally published Wednesday, June 09 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAN ANGELO – The trial of the sixth FLDS member charged with child sexual assault began this morning in Eldorado, Tex. Abram Harker Jeffs pleaded "not guilty" at his pre-trial hearing last month to child sexual assault in relation to underage marriage. Several hundred people are expected for the beginning of jury selection today in the Schleicher County Memorial Building. Evidence used by prosecutors from the state attorney general's office was seized during the raid at the Yearning For Zion ranch two years ago. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Polygamist group man faces trial in West Texas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Associated Press Dallas Morning News Originally published June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jury selection has begun in the trial of a 39-year-old member of a polygamist group who faces a charge of sexual assault of a child. Abram Harker Jeffs is the sixth man to answer charges related to alleged underage marriages since authorities raided the Yearning For Zion Ranch in 2008. Five others have already been sentenced to prison. Church documents seized at the ranch in Eldorado indicate Jeffs married a 15-year-old daughter of the ranch's presiding elder in 2005. He pleaded not guilty, but if he's convicted, Jeffs faces up to life in prison. He has also been charged with bigamy but will be tried on that later on. In all, a dozen members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints were indicted following the massive raid. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jury pool for FLDS trials drying up in Schleicher County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAN ANGELO, Texas — ELDORADO — Schleicher County appears to be running low on prospective jurors in the ongoing criminal trials of polygamists from the YFZ Ranch. For the trial of Abram Harker Jeffs, 39, which got underway this morning with jury selection, one of the names on the list of prospective jurors was Lehi Barlow Jeffs, who already has been convicted of child sexual abuse in a previous trial and sentenced to eight years. Abram Harker Jeffs, a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is charged with sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. A little more than 100 potential jurors reported to the court this morning out of the summonsed 325. Some have been summoned more than once. "First time or second time?" a woman asked a fellow member of the jury pool. The fellow member said second. "Me too," the woman said. Two of the criminal trials of FLDS members have been held in Schleicher County: Raymond Merril Jessop was tried in October and November 2009, and Allan Eugene Keate in December 2009. At both trials, more than 100 people showed as potential jurors after summons went out to about 300 people. Lehi Barlow Jeff’s name was on the jury list. He was convicted of sexual assault of a child and bigamy after a plea of no contest in April and sentenced to eight years in prison for each charge with the sentences to be served concurrently. He did not appear as a potential juror. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arizona seeks dismissal of charges against FLDS leader Warren Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Aaron Falk Deseret News Originally published Wednesday, June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — The Mohave County attorney has filed a motion to dismiss the charges against FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. In the motion filed Wednesday, Mohave County Attorney Matthew Smith outlines a number of reasons for asking the court to dismiss two felony counts of sexual conduct with a minor. Jeffs has "already served more jail time in Arizona that he would receive even if he was convicted of all crimes charged," the document states. Mohave County's decision would also speed up matters in Texas, where Jeffs faces more serious charges. Among the other reasons cited in the document: Jeffs has had significant medical problems while in the Mohave County Jail and officials believe he should be transferred to another facility; some of the state's witnesses no longer desire to testify in the Arizona case; it would be "impractical and unnecessary to spend taxpayer money" on the case. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arizona drops charges against FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs to facilitate Texas prosecution | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dave Hawkins Special to the Standard-Times San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAN ANGELO, Texas — Polygamous church sect prophet Warren Jeffs could arrive in Texas for prosecution much sooner than expected. Jeffs, 54, will no longer be prosecuted in Arizona where he has been awaiting trial since February 2008. Mohave County, Ariz., Attorney Matt Smyth filed a motion Wednesday to dismiss sexual misconduct with a minor charges against the former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). Arizona poured well more than 1,000 man hours into the investigation and prosecution of Jeffs and case dismissal comes with disappointment. "I would say it is with a lot of regrets," Smith said. "We certainly wanted to have our day in court here in Mohave County, but I have to give a lot of respect to what the victim’s wishes are." Smith explained that the victims understand that Jeffs has already spent more time in jail in Mohave County than he could be ordered to serve if convicted on both counts and given the maximum sentence. He said neither of the victims, Elyssa Wall nor Susie Barlow, wants to go through the pressure of additional trials under those circumstances. "They know that Mr. Jeffs is wanted very badly in Texas and is facing more serious charges there, which are cases directly linking him to births by underage kids with DNA evidence," Smith said. "Those are some of the considerations that have gone into this." Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Judge dismisses Ariz. charges against Warren Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By FELICIA FONSECA (AP) Google News Originally published June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — A Mohave County judge on Wednesday dismissed all Arizona charges against polygamist leader Warren Jeffs. Judge Steven Conn granted a prosecutor's motion to dismiss the four charges of sexual misconduct with a minor with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled on the same set of facts. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said the two alleged victims in the cases no longer want to proceed with prosecution in Arizona. In his motion filed earlier Wednesday, Smith said Jeffs has already served more time in Arizona than he would receive upon conviction, more serious charges are pending against Jeffs in Texas, and Jeffs has had significant medical problems while jailed in Kingman. "It would be impractical and unnecessary to spend taxpayer money on this defendant under all the above mentioned circumstances," Smith wrote. Jeffs' attorney, Mike Picarretta, said he appreciates Smith "fulfilling his ethical duties and dismissing all remaining prosecutions" against Jeffs. The court ordered the sheriff's office to transport Jeffs back to Utah, where his 2007 convictions on two counts of rape as an accomplice are on appeal. He was sentenced to two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison for the charges, which involved Jeffs' role in the marriage of an underage follower to her husband. Smith noted that Texas has started extradition proceedings, but Conn said Arizona had only temporary custody of Jeffs until the charges against him were resolved. Any such proceeding must be initiated with Utah, not Arizona, Conn said. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Video Courtesy of KSL.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ariz. Charges Dismissed Against Polygamist Leader Warren Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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News: Justice KSAZ Fox 10 - Phoenix Originally broadcast Wednesday, June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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KINGMAN, Ariz. - Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith has filed a motion to dismiss child molestation charges against polygamist leader Warren Jeffs. He's citing the fact that two of his victims no longer want him to be prosecuted. They also say he's experienced medical problems while in the Mohave County Jail. Judge Steven Conn granted the motion Wednesday to dismiss the four charges of sexual misconduct with a minor with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled. Smith says that Jeffs has already served more time behind bars in Arizona than he would have served under a conviction. Jeffs has been jailed in Kingman since Feb. 2008. Jeffs is a leader in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They have a major presence in Colorado City and Texas. In Texas, Jeffs is charged with sexual assault and bigamy. Extradition proceedings to Texas have already begun. In the meantime, Jeffs will be transferred to a Utah prison. He was convicted there in 2007 for being an accomplice to rape, and is currently appealing his two consecutive 5-year prison terms there.
Statement by Attorney General Terry Goddard "I'm disappointed in the circumstances that caused the Mohave County Attorney to dismiss the case against him. Fortunately, my office has already spoken with the Texas Attorney General's Office and has been assured that Mr. Jeffs will be prosecuted there to the fullest extent of the law." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warren Jeffs sees Arizona rape charges dropped | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Dennis Wagner The Arizona Republic Originally published June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arizona criminal charges against Warren Jeffs were dismissed Wednesday by Yavapai County prosecutors, and a defense attorney said the polygamist sect leader's Utah rape conviction is under review because of possible false statements by the government's key witness. In a superior court filing, Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith moved to drop two indictments for rape as an accomplice because victims no longer wish to pursue the case, in part because Jeffs has served more time in jail pending trial than he would get if he is convicted. Smith also noted that the state of Texas, which has filed more serious rape charges against Jeffs, is seeking to extradite him for trial. Jeffs is considered the leader and prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a sect with outposts on the Colorado-Utah border and Texas. He was accused in Arizona of overseeing the arranged marriage of a minor girl to an adult male, resulting in statutory rape. He previously was convicted of similar charges in Utah, and received sentences of five years-to-life in prison. Michael Piccarreta, Jeffs' defense lawyer, said he believes Arizona prosecutors dismissed charges because Elissa Wall of Colorado City, the chief accuser against Jeffs, allegedly made false statements. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arizona charges dismissed against polygamist sect leader | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By the CNN Wire Staff CNN Originally published June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (CNN) -- A judge dismissed charges against polygamist leader Warren Jeffs on Wednesday after the Mohave County, Arizona, prosecutor requested they be thrown out, citing "much more serious charges" against Jeffs in Texas and the desire of his alleged victims that he "face these more serious charges as soon as possible." Jeffs, the leader and "prophet" of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, had been awaiting trial in Arizona on four charges of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor. He was indicted in Texas in 2008 on a felony charge of sexual assault of a child. The indictment accuses Jeffs of assaulting a child "younger than 17 years of age and not legally married to the defendant" in January 2005. The FLDS first became known to many when Jeffs was arrested during a routine traffic stop in August 2006. At the time, Jeffs was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. The FLDS is a 10,000-member offshoot of the mainstream Mormon church. Its members openly practice polygamy at the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado, Texas, and in two towns straddling the Utah-Arizona state line: Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona. Critics of the sect say young girls are forced into "spiritual" marriages with older men and are sexually abused. Sect members have denied that any sexual abuse takes place. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Judge dismisses all Arizona charges against FLDS leader Warren Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Aaron Falk Deseret News Originally published Wednesday, June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — A Mohave County judge has dismissed all Arizona charges against FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. Judge Steven Conn dismissed the four charges of sexual misconduct with a minor after prosecutors filed a motion Wednesday requesting the dismissal. The charges were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled. The court ordered the sheriff's office to transport Jeffs back to Utah, where his 2007 convictions on two counts of rape as an accomplice are on appeal. He was sentenced to two consecutive terms of five years to life in prison for the charges, which involved Jeffs' role in the marriage of an underage follower to her then-19-year-old cousin. Mohave County Attorney Matthew Smith noted that Texas has started extradition proceedings, but Conn said Arizona had only temporary custody of Jeffs until the charges against him were resolved. Any such proceeding must be initiated with Utah, not Arizona, Conn said. In Wednesday's motion, Smith outlined a number of reasons for asking the court to dismiss two felony counts of sexual conduct with a minor. Jeffs has "already served more jail time in Arizona than he would receive even if he was convicted of all crimes charged," the document states. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mohave County dismisses charges against polygamy leader | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By DAVID BELL Today's News-Herald - Lake Havasu City, Arizona Originally published Wednesday, June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Mohave County Attorney’s Office has dropped all charges against Warren Jeffs, the leader of a polygamous religious sect who spent more than two years in a Mohave County jail awaiting trial. Superior Court Judge Steven Conn granted the motion requested by Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith to dismiss the charges against Jeffs Wednesday. In the filing, Smith said, "Some of the state’s witnesses no longer desire to testify in the State of Arizona" and that Texas has a stronger case against Jeffs. In Texas, Jeffs is facing charges of sexual assault on a minor and bigamy. In his filing, Smith says that Texas has initiated extradition. The charges are the result of a 2008 raid on a Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints compound in Eldorado, Texas. Smith’s filing also stated that Jeffs "has already served more jail time in Arizona than he would receive even if he was convicted of all crimes charged." In February, 2008, Jeffs was booked into Mohave County Jail on six counts of sexual conduct with a minor, a class-6 felony, four counts of incest, a class-4 felony, and one count of conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor, a class-6 felony. Previously, the County Attorney’s Office dropped all charges except for the remaining two counts of sexual conduct of a minor that were dropped Wednesday. Jeffs was previously convicted in Washington County, Utah, in 2007 on charges of rape as an accomplice in the arranged marriage of a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. He was sentenced in Utah to serve two consecutive terms of five years to life. Today’s News-Herald’s attempts to contact Smith via telephone and e-mail Wednesday were not successful. Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson, R-Dist. 3, who has campaigned for more than a decade for reform in the polygamous FLDS communities of Colorado City, Ariz. and Hildale, Utah, said the dropping of charges in Arizona is likely to put the county in a bad light. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charges against polygamist leader Warren Jeffs dismissed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By: Christopher Sign By: Associated Press KNXV-TV ABC 15 - Phoenix Originally published Wednesday, June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KINGMAN, AZ - A Mohave County judge on Wednesday dismissed all Arizona charges against polygamist leader Warren Jeffs after a prosecutor said continuing with the charges would be "impractical." Judge Steven Conn granted Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith's motion to dismiss the four charges of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor. "It doesn't surprise me at all," said Flora Jessop who escaped the polygamist lifestyle two decades ago. "Arizona has taken a back seat to anything having to do with the prosecution of these people." The charges stemmed from two arranged marriages between teenage girls and their older male relatives. They were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled on the same set of facts. Smith said the two alleged victims in the cases no longer want to proceed with prosecution in Arizona. "I guarantee you these victims, both of whom I've spoken with, would like to see him tried," said Jessop during a phone interview shortly after the charges were dropped. In his motion filed earlier Wednesday, Smith said Jeffs has already served more time in Arizona than he would receive upon conviction, more serious charges are pending against Jeffs in Texas, and Jeffs has had significant medical problems while jailed in Kingman. "It would be impractical and unnecessary to spend taxpayer money on this defendant under all the above mentioned circumstances," Smith wrote. Jeffs' attorney, Mike Picarretta, said he appreciates Smith "fulfilling his ethical duties and dismissing all remaining prosecutions" against Jeffs. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeffs charges dismissed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Local News FOX 11 Tucson Originally broadcast June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Polygamous sect leader warren Jeffs will be released from jail in a matter of days. Jeffs had been held in Arizona since February 2008. He's accused of arranging "spiritual marriages" between teenage girls and older men. Wednesday afternoon a Mohave county judge granted prosecutors' motion to dismiss all charges against Jeffs *with prejudice.* That means he can never be tried for the same charges again. Jeffs still must serve two consecutive sentences out of Utah for rape as an accomplice, and could face charges in Texas. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warren Jeffs coming back to Utah | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Reported by: Brent Hunsaker ABC 4 News Originally broadcast June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - A Mohave County, Arizona judge dismissed the last of the charges against Warren Jeffs and ordered him returned to Utah. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith told the judge in a "motion to dismiss" that the two victims in these cases "no longer desire to proceed with prosecution in the State of Arizona..." Smith admitted that trial would have been a waste of time and money. The Judge in the case had already said Jeffs had served more jail time than he would receive if convicted. Though Jeffs will come back to Utah, he likely will not stay long. Texas authorities already has a fugitive warrant for his arrest. Once here, they will immediately ask for his extradition. Jeffs may wish he'd stayed in Arizona. In Texas he is not charged with be an accomplice to child rape, but with the rape itself. The charges carry a possible sentence of life in prison. What's happening to Warren Jeffs is the legal equivalent of jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. See photo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warren Jeffs factbox | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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USA Daily Telegraph - London, England Originally published June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A judge in Arizona has dismissed several charges of sexual misconduct with a minor against Warren Jeffs, convicted former leader of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints cult. Here is are some facts about Jeffs:
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| Schleicher jury pool running dry | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ELDORADO — Schleicher County appears to be running low on prospective jurors in the ongoing criminal trials of polygamists from the YFZ Ranch. For the trial of Abram Harker Jeffs, 39, which got under way Wednesday morning with jury selection, one of the names on the list of prospective jurors was Lehi Barlow Jeffs, who already has been convicted of child sexual abuse in a previous trial and sentenced to eight years. Some who answered the jury call were there for the second time. Jeffs, a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is charged with sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. By 6 p.m., the court had 30 people it was ready to go to the next stage of the selection process. Selection continued well into the evening and will probably take up part of today. The court needs to give the prosecution and defense 36 people to choose from so that the prosecution and defense can use 11 strikes each to whittle down that group to 12 jurors and two alternates. General voir dire — which lead prosecuting attorney Eric Nichols defined for prospective jurors as "a fancy term for jury picking," a Latin term meaning to tell the truth under oath — began in the afternoon. Nichols and defense attorney Brandon Hudson asked in general about such things as people’s affiliation with law enforcement, members of the FLDS and FLDS businesses, social service organization and whether people are related to each other on the jury panel. They also asked the potential jurors whether they could disregard what they have heard about the case from the outside if seated as a juror. "Can anybody not take what they’ve heard and put it in a box and put it on a shelf?" Nichols asked. About 20 hands went up signaling that they could not. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| County drops charges against Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Utah to take custody; Texas seeks extradition | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Thursday, June 10, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KINGMAN — After more than two years, the Mohave County prosecutor dismissed the two remaining criminal cases filed against Warren Jeffs. Jeffs, 54, the self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colorado City, had been charged with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor in two 2007 Arizona cases. He had been charged with being an accomplice of two men who had sex with two underage girls, which allegedly took place in 2002 and 2003 in the polygamist communities of Colorado City and Hildale, Utah. The first case involved an underage girl between May 1 and June 30, 2002, and between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15, 2002. The second case involved another underage girl on Aug. 31, 2003 and in September 2003. Superior Court Judge Steven Conn had set Jeffs’ trial to begin in the first case on Nov. 2. The second trial was to be set after the completion of the first trial. Conn, who granted Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith’s to dismiss the current charges, previously dismissed four counts of incest filed against Jeffs. Smith moved to dismiss the remaining charges, saying that the two victims no longer desired to proceed with prosecution because Jeffs already served more time in Arizona jail than if he had been convicted of all four charges. Smith also said the state of Texas had more serious charges filed against Jeffs that alleges Jeffs is a "direct perpetrator of the crimes" and the victims in Texas want him to face those crimes as soon as possible. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas will prosecute FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs after Arizona drops its charges | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Edward Lane Wichita Falls Law Enforcement Examiner Originally published June 10, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Texas case against polygamous church sect prophet Warren Jeffs suddenly looms even larger than it did before after Arizona officials decided to dismiss their charges Wednesday, according to a recent article in the Wichita Falls Times and Record News newspaper. Jeffs has been awaiting trial in a Mohave County, Arizona jail since February 2008 for alleged crimes which occurred in that jurisdiction. Jeffs, as the former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints(FLDS) is obviously the "big fish" among all the defendants charged in the polygamous sect trials. The Texas investigations were launched by Wichita Falls native Gregory Abbott, who is currently the Attorney General for the State of Texas. Abbott's AG personnel along with many Department of Public Safety troopers, including several from the Wichita Falls office, raided the FLDS compound at the YFZ Ranch, near San Angelo, Texas. With the dismissal of the Arizona charges, prosecution of the group's leader will be dependent on the Texas Attorney General's office and other Texas prosecutors. Two previous FLDS sect members were convicted by Texas juries and sentenced to heavy prison time for their role in the activities behind the walls of secrecy which surrounded the mysterious YFZ Ranch. Merrill Leroy Jessop was recently convicted and sentenced to 75 years in the Texas penitentiary by a jury near San Angelo, Texas, for crimes committed at the YFZ Ranch, also as a result of the work by Gregory Abbott's office. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arizona Authorities Drop Case Against Warren Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ayinde O. Chase - AHN News Editor All Headline News - West Palm Beach, Florida Originally published June 10, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mojave, AZ, United States (AHN) - Arizona authorities have dropped the charges against polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs. The reason, Jeffs has already served more time in prison awaiting trial than he would have done if convicted. Additionally Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith says that the two alleged victims in the cases no longer want to proceed with prosecution in Arizona. Jeffs who was accused of sexual misconduct with a minor can't have the same set of charges be refiled since they were dismissed with prejudice. Jeffs however was sentenced to two five-year terms in a Utah prison for his role in a spiritual marriage that involved an underage girl and her teenage cousin. Furthermore, Texas authorities have already begun extradition proceedings for Jeffs. He faces charges in that state of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and bigamy based on his marriages to two underage girls at the FLDS' Yearning for Zion ranch at Eldorado. Jeffs is the former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alleged victims in Jeffs' AZ cases back dismissal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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KSL 5 TV Originally broadcast June 10, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A Mohave County judge granted a prosecutor's motion Wednesday to dismiss the four charges of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor. The charges stemmed from two arranged marriages between the then-teenage girls and their older male relatives. The women's attorney, Roger Hoole, says they agreed with the dismissal so that Jeffs could be brought to trial in Texas on more serious charges. He says the women expressed appreciation to the Mohave County attorney and a county investigator for their work on alleged sex crimes arising from underage spiritual marriages. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sheriff wants no more of Warren Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dave Hawkins Special to the Standard-Times San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 10, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KINGMAN, Ariz. — Sheriff Tom Sheahan said he’s working to return Mohave County jail inmate Warren Jeffs to Utah after Superior Court Judge Steve Conn dismissed charges against the polygamous church prophet Wednesday at the request of the county attorney’s office. Sheahan said he understands the reasons for ending prosecution of the prophet and former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but is disappointed that Jeffs, 54, will not be convicted in Arizona. Sheahan said it’s not clear how swift Jeffs’ return will be, but he hoped he’d be transported back to Utah by the end of this week. The sooner the better, the sheriff said. "He’s been a problem inmate since we had him," Sheahan said. "Mr. Jeffs was a handful from day one with his self-inflicted hunger strikes." Prayer-related fasting rituals resulted in force-feeding Jeffs with use of tubes on several occasions during his 28-month-long confinement in the county jail in Kingman. Isolation of Jeffs within the jail and extra security assigned for transports to court hearings made him more than twice as expensive to incarcerate as other inmates, according to Sheahan. Details of Jeffs’ return to Utah will not be made public for security concerns. Jeffs was convicted of two counts of rape as an accomplice in Utah and was given consecutive five years to life prison terms. Dismissed in Arizona are two counts of sexual conduct with a minor, though Jeffs was not accused of any direct sexual misconduct. He was, however, prosecuted under the theory that he facilitated spiritual unions that allowed men to have illegal sexual relations with underage "celestial brides." Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brent Hunsaker - Arizona drops charges against Warren Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Reported by: Brent Hunsaker ABC 4 News Originally published June 10, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warren Jeff's attorneys have reason to celebrate. They fought a battle of attrition against the Mohave County Attorney and won. Jeff's followers in the FLDS group have reason to celebrate. The dropping of charges in Arizona is a kind of vindication. They might even call the conviction on two counts of rape as an accomplice in Utah an aberration. Jeff's foes have reason to celebration. Sure, there will be no trial in Arizona. But the battle was so drawn out (mostly by Jeff's attorneys) that he served more time in jail waiting for a trial than he would have if convicted on the remaining charges. (That's from the judge folks, not me.) What's more, Texas is now free to extradite And that's why the dismissal of charges in Arizona is not good news for Warren Jeffs. Sources tell me the Kingman jail was relatively comfortable -- much more comfortable than the jail in little Schleicher County, Texas. Also, the Texas charges are much more serious. He's not charged with being an accomplice, he's charged with the rape itself -- of being the groom in a marriage with an underage bride. The maximum sentence is life. The Texas Attorney General has been handling all the cases so far against other FLDS men. And so far, he's 5-for-5 with two plea bargains and three jury convictions. The sentence on the last conviction was 75 years. Warren Jeffs could end up spending the rest of his life in a Texas prison. See photo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Polygamist Leader Warren Jeffs Goes Free in AZ, But Still Doing Time and Facing Charges in Two States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Caroline Black CBS News Originally published June 10, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (CBS/AP) All charges against polygamist leader Warren Jeffs have been dismissed by a Mohave County judge after a prosecutor said continuing with the charges in the state of Arizona would be "impractical." Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith's motion to dismiss the four charges of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor was granted Wednesday. According to Smith, the two alleged teenage victims who claimed Jeffs played a role in the arranged marriages with their older male relatives no longer want to proceed with prosecution in Arizona. In his motion to dismiss, Smith wrote, "It would be impractical and unnecessary to spend taxpayer money on this defendant under all the above mentioned circumstances." The former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has already spent more time in an Arizona jail than he would receive if convicted, and Jeffs has had significant medical problems while there. However, this does not mean that Jeffs, who was at one time on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, will go free. See photo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| More than 100 jurors questioned as Jeffs trial continues in Schleicher County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 10, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ELDORADO — About half of the 102 potential jurors have undergone individual questioning in the trial of Abram Harker Jeffs. Jeffs, a member of the polygamist Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is charged with sexual assault of a child. "I believe you indicated that you could not consider the full range of punishment?" Stephanie Goodman, one of Jeffs’ attorneys asked a prospective juror. The woman she spoke to indicated that she could not. The punishment will depend on the facts of the trial. Sexual assault, usually a second-degree felony, is punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. However, an enhancement says that if the defendant was not allowed to marry, purporting to marry or living with the victim in the appearance of being married, the offense becomes a first-degree felony, punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. The enhancement was added by the Legislature in 2006. Jurors also must be able to consider probation as a punishment, which the jury could recommend if the sentence has prison term of less than 10 years. Probation has been where many potential jurors draw the line. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jury selection process focuses on sect members | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 10, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ELDORADO — Members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints found themselves unexpectedly put on the spot when they answered a call for jury selection Thursday on the second day of the trial of fellow sect member Abram Harker Jeffs. Jeffs is charged with sexual assault of a child. Willie Jessop, an FLDS spokesman, said the FLDS potential jurors were given subpoenas outside the makeshift courthouse in Eldorado to testify before a pending Schleicher County grand jury. "What kind of impression does it make to give them all subpoenas?" Jessop said. "It’s an intimidation tactic to keep the FLDS out of the court proceedings." Jury selection in the Jeffs trial continued into a second day Thursday. One prospective juror who was a member of the FLDS was told by 51st District Judge Barbara Walther that he had to answer lead Prosecutor Eric Nichols’ questions to be a juror, but that if he pleaded the Fifth Amendment to any of the questions, such as who his parents were and when he had lived on the FLDS Yearning for Zion Ranch, then he would not be able to serve on the jury. The lawyers have addressed a host of issues in choosing jurors, taking between five and 10 minutes per potential juror, interviewing more than 100. One woman was undergoing a tragedy and said she would not be able to focus on the trial. "She had tears in her eyes," said Stephanie Goodman, one of Jeffs’ attorneys, protesting the woman’s ability to be a good juror. Another man said he lived close to the FLDS Yearning for Zion Ranch. Being a neighbor, he said, would influence him too much. "I’ve seen everything that goes on there," he said. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abram Harker Jeffs Trial Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Eldorado Success myeldorado.net Originally published Thursday, June 10, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Thursday, June 10, 2010 10:00 a.m. Jury selection continues Thursday morning with lawyers questioning a panel of potential jurors they were examining before court recessed Wednesday evening. Thursday, June 10, 2010 2:00 p.m. Jury selection continues following a lunch break. Prospective jurors, sent home the night before, have been called back as the voir dire process continues. Thursday, June 10, 2010 5:00 p.m. Potential juror interviews continue with 80 of 102 interviews complete. Another panel of prospective jurors has returned as voir dire continues. Thursday, June 10, 2010 9:45 p.m. A panel of 30 prospective jurors has been selected. Summons are being sent out to other Schleicher County citizens in hopes of finding six more jurors. Court over for the night. Start again at 9:30 a.m. Friday. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Court calls back potential jurors for Jeffs' trial | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 11, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAN ANGELO, Texas — The 51st District Court has yet to seat a jury in the sexual assault trial of Abram Harker Jeffs, choosing Friday morning to call back more than a couple dozen people who had been excused from the original jury summons list and to begin the process of calling another 100 people for jury duty. The decision came after retaining only 30 of the 102 potential jurors. The court needs 36 people so that the prosecution and defense attorneys can each strike 11 people from the group and have a 12-person jury with two alternates. "This is an awkward situation," said Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints spokesman Willie Jessop. Jeffs, a member of the FLDS, is charged with sexual assault of a child. Jessop said he resents the state calling the alleged crime anything more than sexual assault since he said the state will at times charge someone 17 or younger as an adult if that person has committed the crime, but that person would be called a child if a victim. "They ought to keep it a child instead of floating it to sensationalize the public," Jessop said. According to the Texas penal code, a child "means a person younger than 17 years of age," a definition which lead prosecutor Eric Nichols presented to potential jurors in general questioning on Wednesday. The defense and prosecution finished individual questioning at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Potential jurors called back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 11, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAN ANGELO, Texas — Jury selection will go into a fourth day in the trial of Abram Harker Jeffs in Eldorado after the court failed to seat a jury Friday. Everyone took the afternoon off Friday when it became clear the court wouldn’t be able to create the minimum 36-person cluster needed from those who were present. Jeffs, 39 and a member of the polygamist Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is standing trial on charges of first-degree sexual assault against a child and first-degree bigamy, both felonies. He faces five to 99 years in prison and a $10,000 fine on the sexual assault charge. The case against him is based largely on evidence seized during the April 2008 state raid on the YFZ Ranch near Eldorado, where Jeffs was a resident. On Friday morning, after two days of vetting the jury pool, the court began to call back more than a score of people who had been excused from the original jury summons list and started the process of calling another 100 people for jury duty. The decision came after only 30 of the 102 potential jurors called were found suitable. The court needs 36 qualified jurors, from which prosecution and defense attorneys can each strike 11 people, leaving a 12-person jury with two alternates. "This is an awkward situation," said Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints spokesman Willie Jessop. The defense and prosecution finished individual questioning of jurors about 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Potential jurors were asked whether they could put aside what they’ve heard about the trial outside the courtroom, whether they had personal tragedies that would interfere with judgment, and whether their personal moral, religious and philosophical beliefs would get in the way of a disinterested decision. "Who am I to cast the first stone?" one potential juror asked. Jeffs has elected to be tried and, if found guilty, sentenced by the jury rather than the judge. About half of the potential jurors said they could not consider probation as a punishment if Jeffs is found guilty. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Justice still can be served | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Opinions The Arizona Republic Originally published June 11, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Justice is elusive in Arizona's secretive polygamous community, but those attempting to enforce the law there should not give up. The dismissal of all Arizona charges against Warren Jeffs, the so-called prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is a reminder of how difficult prosecuting these cases can be. The multistate polygamous sect that Jeffs heads has no connection with the mainstream Mormon Church. Jeffs' group preaches that plural marriage is necessary to reach heaven and that so-called "spiritual marriages" of underage girls to older men are common. Recently, laws against sexual conduct with a minor have been used to go after those who participate or arrange these marriages. But, in the 1950s, a raid on the polygamous enclave by Arizona authorities failed miserably as images of children being torn from their mothers' arms won sympathy for the polygamists. For decades after that, the twin polygamous communities of Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah, practiced their perversions in obscurity. But about 10 years ago, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard and Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff decided to try again. Instead of raids, they established a presence in the communities and tried to build trust so that witnesses would be willing to testify. Some prosecutions were won, including a 2007 conviction in Utah against Jeffs. He was sentenced to two consecutive terms of five years to life. The case is being appealed to the Utah Supreme Court. In Arizona, several cases against Jeffs fell apart because witnesses would not testify. In the two indictments on charges of rape as an accomplice, dismissed Wednesday, victims no longer wanted to cooperate, according to Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith. Prosecutors have long faced difficulties getting court testimony from the child brides, who are taught to follow a doctrine that denies their right of self-determination. Other members of the sect are similarly disinclined to talk. Texas is trying to extradite Jeffs to stand trial there in connection with his marriage to a minor. A 2008 raid on Jeffs' ranch in Texas, like the 1950s raid in Arizona, allowed the sect to play on public sympathies, but it did result in convictions of some men for sexually assaulting children and bigamy. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lujan makes campaign stops in Kingman, BHC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Friday, June 11, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KINGMAN — An Arizona representative was in Kingman and Bullhead City on Thursday campaigning to be the next state Attorney General. David Lujan has been a state Representative from District 15 since 2004. He also worked four years for then-Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano. He prosecuted identity theft, foreclosure and mortgage fraud and consumer fraud targeting seniors. Lujan said as the state’s highest level prosecutor he would enforce the recently passed immigration law but said the law is not the solution. He would focus on going after drug cartels, money laundering rings and other criminal syndicates. The law also would discourage witnesses from coming forward to help law enforcement in fighting crime. He said he would ask the federal government to step up in securing the border. He also is an attorney with the Defenders of Children, a nonprofit organization that protects children from child abuse. The organization had an office in Mohave County’s building in Colorado City. "The issues of Colorado City are issues I am very familiar with," he said. Lujan said he proposed a bill that would include children under the age of 18 in an incest law that currently only applies to adults. Prosecutors had to drop incest charges last year against Warren Jeffs because the current law does not apply to children. He said Republican legislators have done nothing to help pass his law. He also said Jeffs’ defense attorneys have dragged Jeffs’ criminal case out for more than two years to wear down the victims. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abram Harker Jeffs Trial Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Eldorado Success myeldorado.net Originally published Friday, June 11, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Friday, June 11, 2010 9:30 a.m. Court resumed Friday morning. An additional round of jury summons are being distributed by Schleicher County Sheriff's Deputies in hopes of finding enough prospective jurors to complete a 36 person panel. Currently there are 30 members selected. Once a 36-person panel is finalized, the prosecution and defense will each get to strike or eliminate individuals in order to end up with 10 jurors and 2 alternates. Friday, June 11, 2010 11:30 a.m. Court recessed until Monday morning while additional jury summons are issued. 28 members of the original jury pool who were excused for funerals, doctor appointments and other reasons, are being called back in, along with 10-12 residents of the YFZ Ranch who failed to respond to the original jury summons. Judge Walther said an additional jury summons will be sent out if Texas statutes allow. A panel of 30 potential jurors was sworn in and told not to discuss the case or read newspapers or watch any news reports about the case. They were told to return Tuesday, June 15th at 10 a.m. at which time Judge Walther hopes an additional six members are selected to add to the panel. The prosecution and defense will each then be allowed to strike members from the panel, leaving 12 jurors and 2 alternates to hear the case. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The evidence against polygamist prophet Warren Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Reported by: Brent Hunsaker ABC 4 News Originally broadcast June 12, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Warren Jeffs remained in jail in Kingman, Arizona, Friday evening. Now that a judge there has dismissed the last of the charges against him, the prophet of the largest polygamist group in North America is awaiting transfer back to the Utah State Prison where he is serving two, consecutive sentences of 5-to-life for being an accomplice to rape. How long he will stay in Utah is open for debate. Texas authorities want him to stand trial for child rape. A conviction there could guarantee that Jeffs would spend the rest of his life in prison. No Texas warrant has been received by the Utah Department of Corrections, but with stakes high, members of Jeff's legal team have already sent notice they will fight extradition. How strong is the Texas case against Jeffs? "Very strong," answers Carolyn Jessop. She was once married to polygamist leader Merril Jessop who was a counselor to Jeffs and runs the Texas ranch. She has been following the Texas case very closely since it is alleged that Merril Jessop gave his 12-year old daughter to Warren Jeffs as a "spiritual wife." "A lot of these girls were hurt," said Jessop who still confessed shock her ex-husband would give up a little girl to supposedly be raped by Jeffs. "I realized Merril had the ability to commit some really horrific crimes. I naively assumed he might protect his daughters when it came to that level of abuse." "When I left, Warren was marrying girls as young as 14," Jessop continued. "I didn't think he'd take it below that. But when I realized he'd married my step-daughter who had barely turned 12 ... it's heartbreaking." Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Strange Legal Trip of Polygamist Warren Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Hilary Hylton / Austin TIME Originally published Saturday, Jun. 12, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Five years ago, Warren Jeffs was charged with sex crimes resulting from the polygamous marriages he arranged for his followers in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). Jeffs then began a circular journey through the jailhouses and courtrooms of the west. This week, the self-styled prophet awoke to the promise of a change of scenery — but not a change of fortune. An Arizona judge dismissed the original charges against Jeffs, the very charges that had catapulted him into national headlines. But the dismissal has only cleared the way for Texas authorities to get their hands on him to face even more serious charges. "Extradition proceedings against Warren Jeffs have commenced," Lauri Saathoff, a spokesperson for Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott told TIME.
Jeffs has already spent more time in an Arizona county jail cell than he would have spent in prison if found guilty of the original charges: arranging and performing marriages between two underage girls and their older male relatives, thus being an accomplice to sexual misconduct with minors. The prosecutor in the case said the two victims no longer wanted to pursue the charges, making a prosecution impractical. Jeffs' attorney, Mike Picarretta, hinted at "irregularities" and said the cases would have been dropped years ago had they involved someone less well-known than his client. (See pictures of families excommunicated by Warren Jeffs.) Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeffs case | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Opinion The Spectrum Originally published June 14, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At first, the news was somewhat shocking when Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith announced that the state had dropped charges against Warren Jeffs, the spiritual leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Jeffs, who was found guilty of charges of rape as an accomplice in Utah, saw the case dropped when Smith said the victim no longer wished to pursue the case and that even if convicted Jeffs already had spent more time in an Arizona jail than what the maximum sentence would be if he were found guilty. In that light, it makes sense. Why put the Arizona taxpayers through any more expense to try a man who had already served enough time in prison to pay for any crimes he might be convicted of? Jeffs will not walk out of the Arizona jail a free man. He will, according to his attorneys, be returned to Utah, where he was sentenced to serve from five years to life in prison. The state of Texas is also working to extradite him to face more serious charges there, stemming from incidents alleged to have taken place at the FLDS compound in Eldorado. Even the most adamant law-and-order advocate would see this as not only a judicious decision, but a wise one as well. Jeffs has served his time in Arizona, and the state has avoided not only the expense of a high-profile criminal trial but spared taxpayers the added expense of the extraordinary security that was sure to accompany Jeffs throughout the trial process. Here in Washington County, each time Jeffs was brought to court it required extensive security measures - from SWAT teams on the ridge overlooking the courthouse to flying Jeffs in on a helicopter to avoid any potential security breaches along the road. The decision by the Arizona prosecutor was the right thing to do in the name of justice as well as protecting taxpayers from undue expense. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Costly room and board for Warren Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sheriff Sheahan: Expense to county about $120,000 while FLDS leader was in custody | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Monday, June 14, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KINGMAN — The cost to house Warren Jeffs in Mohave County Jail for more than two years is well more than six figures. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith dismissed the charges Wednesday against Jeffs, 54, the convicted leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colorado City, Ariz. He had been charged with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor in two 2007 Arizona cases. He was charged with being an accomplice of two men who had sex with two underage girls in 2002 and 2003 in the polygamist communities of Colorado City and Hildale, Utah. Smith said the two-year case cost about $10,000 for relocating the victims and travel costs for witness interviews. That does not include the cost for his prosecution and his office’s investigator Gary Engels’ time. Jeffs already served more time in county jail than he would have served if he had been convicted of all four charges. "Our victims did get tired of the defense tactics and suffered much personal loss over these cases," Smith said. Sheriff Tom Sheahan said the cost to the county to house Jeffs at the jail was about $120,000 for 720 days of being in custody. The cost also includes added security when corrections officers took Jeffs across the street to court hearings. Sheahan expects Jeffs to be taken back to the Utah prison within a week. The jail costs also included several medical issues, including Jeffs being taken by air to a Las Vegas hospital. Jeffs was involved in several hunger strikes while in custody, which included being force-fed by more expensive liquid food. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abram Harker Jeffs Trial Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Eldorado Success myeldorado.net Originally published Monday, June 14, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Monday, June 14, 2010 12:30 p.m. Court resumed Monday with attorneys sifting through a new panel of prospective jurors. Approximately 50 of them were empaneled before the court recessed for lunch. Court will reconvene at 1:30 p.m. as lawyers try to find six more jurors to add to current 30-person panel. Once 36 jurors are chosen, Each side will be allowed to strike 11. That will leave a final panel of 12 jurors and 2 alternates. Monday, June 14, 2010 5:30 p.m. Judge Walther denied a prosecution motion to move the Abram Jeffs trial out of Schleicher County. Assistant Attorney General Eric Nichols offered the motion after four hours of jury selection added only one potential juror to a panel of 30 already seated. The attorneys for both sides renewed their efforts to select additional jurors for the panel. If and when 36 jurors are chosen, Each side will be allowed to strike 11. That will leave a final panel of 12 jurors and 2 alternates. Monday, June 14, 2010 7:30 p.m. A panel of 36 prospective jurors has been selected in the the Abram Jeffs trial. The two legal teams then withdrew to review the jurors they want to strike. Court resumes at 10 a.m. on Tuesday when the final panel of 12 jurors and 2 alternates will be seated and the trial gets underway. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jury to be seated today for Abraham Jeffs' trial | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 14, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ELDORADO — Attorneys made their choice of jury members Monday evening and plan to seat the jury this morning in the trial of Abram Harker Jeffs. The state has charged Jeffs, a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, with sexual assault of a child. 51st District Judge Barbara Walther had summoned more potential jurors when the previous panel of potential jurors were not enough. "We have impaneled two juries, despite people who thought it would never happen," lead prosecutor Eric Nichols said about two previous criminal trials against FLDS men while he made his case to move the trial to another county. "The good citizens of Schleicher County have done their part." Nichols’ motion to move the court came while he argued that after calling 325 people as jurors, only 31 people were found eligible and that there wasn’t much chance that they would find the remaining five jurors needed from the 37 people who had come from a second pool of 100 people called. "There is no reason to simply cut loose the people we have today," defense attorney Brandon Hudson said to the contrary. Walther denied the state’s motion, so the individual questioning continued. Earlier that day, during general "voir dire" which literally means, "to tell the truth," defense and prosecution asked about relationships to those involved with the trial, biases for or against the FLDS, whether people would have trouble with the defendant not testifying, and, regarding the crime itself, the range of punishment. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AG candidate sees role as educator, protector | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published June 15, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KINGMAN - Protecting and educating the residents of Arizona about fraud and ID theft is the main reason why Democrat David Lujan is running for attorney general this year. Lujan is a former assistant attorney general and worked under both Janet Napolitano and current Attorney General Terry Goddard. "Both Napolitano and Goddard have done an outstanding job protecting the state and its citizens. I plan to continue that service," Lujan said. His main concern is educating Arizonans, especially seniors, of some of the tricks unscrupulous people are using to get their hard-earned money. Some of the latest include mortgage fraud and organizations posing as charities. "The economy is hard enough without people having to worry about predators trying to steal their money," he said. "Arizonans should never have to worry about losing their homes, savings or peace of mind to a thief, especially in these trying economic times." Lujan especially wants to reach out to residents who live in rural areas such as Mohave County. "I want to take this outside of Maricopa County, to the big rural areas and work with the local law enforcement to prevent and track down some of these crimes," he said. Lujan is familiar with working with rural law enforcement. As a member of Defenders of Children, he has worked extensively with Mohave County law enforcement and other departments on helping the residents of Colorado City and Hildale, Utah, combat both adult and child abuse. He has also helped train more than a 1,000 attorneys and law enforcement officers in the signs of abuse and co-authored a guide to child protection services. "It's not surprising that the charges (against Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints leader Warren Jeffs) were dismissed. When they lost the witnesses, they lost the case," he said. It's hard to get witnesses to testify about the abuse they may have seen or experienced, Lujan said. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jury finally seated in trial of Abram Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 15, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SAN ANGELO, Texas — After about four days of jury selection, the longest thus far in the criminal trials of the Schleicher County men who are members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a jury has been seated in the trial of Abram Harker Jeffs. The state of Texas has charged Jeffs, an FLDS member, with sexual assault of a child. "By the oath you have just taken, you have become officers in this court," 51st District Judge Barbara Walther, who has presided in all of the criminal trials against Schleicher County FLDS men, said to the eight women and six men who compose the jury of 12 jurors and two alternates. The prosecution, lead by Eric Nichols, said that the state would prove that on or about May 12, 2006, Jeffs, who Nichols said was about 35 at that time, conceived a child with a girl of about 15, whom Jeffs had married in a "celestial" or "spiritual" marriage through the FLDS when she was 14 and when Jeffs had a previous legal marriage in another state. Brandon Hudson, a defense attorney, countered in his opening remarks that Jeffs was 34 at the time, and he told jurors that the documents and evidence that the state will use should be inadmissible. "They are all out of court hearsay," Hudson said of the evidence. "Their witnesses will be pieces of paper." Hudson said one witness has received $25,000 from the state, and he said that other law enforcement officers have a motive because they were a part of a raid on the Schleicher County Yearning for Zion Ranch that belongs to FLDS members. Hudson said the raid, which produced the documents that the state will use in court, was the result of what has now been deemed a hoax phone call from a woman claiming abuse. "What has taken place is a war here in Schleicher County," Hudson said, "And Mr. Jeffs is here because of it."
------ This is a developing news story. More developments will be reported as information becomes available. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Polygamist leader Jeffs sent to Utah from Arizona | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By FELICIA FONSECA The Associated Press Houston Chronicle Originally published June 15, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs has been transported from a Kingman jail to a state prison in Draper, Utah, nearly one week after the charges he faced in Arizona were dismissed. Mohave County sheriff's spokeswoman Trish Carter said Jeffs was flown safely to the prison just outside Salt Lake City on Tuesday morning under high security. He had been jailed in Kingman since February 2008. Utah Department of Corrections spokesman Steve Gehrke said a medical team was assessing Jeffs, who was involved in several hunger strikes and had to be force-fed while in custody. Corrections staff will further assess Jeffs to best determine where he will be housed, Gehrke said. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith dropped the Arizona cases against Jeffs last week, saying the two alleged victims no longer wanted to proceed with prosecution. Jeffs had been facing four counts of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor, stemming from two arranged marriages between teenage girls and their older male relatives. A judge granted Smith's request Wednesday and ordered that Jeffs be moved to Utah, where his 2007 convictions on two counts of rape as an accomplice are on appeal. Jeffs faces more serious charges in Texas, and his attorney has said he would fight any attempt at extradition to that state. Jeffs was indicted on charges of sexual assault of a child and bigamy, months after authorities raided the Yearning for Zion ranch at Eldorado in April 2008. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FLDS leader Warren Jeffs back in Utah State Prison | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Aaron Falk and Associated Press Deseret News Originally published Tuesday, June 15, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UTAH STATE PRISON — Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs is back in Utah. Jeffs arrived at the prison Tuesday just before 11 a.m., said Department of Corrections spokesman Steve Gehrke. Jeffs was transported from Kingman, Ariz., where, early last week, Mohave County prosecutors dismissed four charges of sexual misconduct with a minor. The dismissal was expected to speed up criminal proceedings in Texas, where Jeffs faces more serious charges. He had been jailed in Kingman since February 2008. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith dropped the Arizona cases against Jeffs last week, saying the two alleged victims no longer wanted to proceed with prosecution. Jeffs had been facing four counts of being an accomplice to sexual conduct with a minor, stemming from two arranged marriages between teenage girls and their older male relatives. A judge granted Smith's request Wednesday and ordered that Jeffs be moved to Utah, where his 2007 convictions on two counts of rape as an accomplice are on appeal. Jeffs faces more serious charges in Texas, and his attorney has said he would fight any attempt at extradition to that state. Jeffs was indicted on charges of sexual assault of a child and bigamy, months after authorities raided the Yearning for Zion ranch at Eldorado in April 2008. Jeffs, the leader of the FLDS Church, commands followers who live in the twin communities of Colorado City and Hildale, Utah. The FLDS practice polygamy in arranged marriages, a tradition tied to the early theology of the mainstream Mormon church. Mormons denounced the practice in the 1890s. Gherke said Jeffs would undergo a standard evaluation before prison officials decide where he will be housed. Corrections officials are unsure how long Jeffs will remain in Utah. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Video Courtesy of KSL.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jury seated in trial of Abram Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense tells panel evidence will be flawed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 15, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAN ANGELO, Texas — The outcome of a war is at stake. So said defense attorneys in the trial of Abram Harker Jeffs on Tuesday after a jury was seated. The state of Texas has charged Jeffs, a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, with sexual assault of a child. "What has taken place is a war here in Schleicher County," said Brandon Hudson, a defense attorney for Jeffs. "And Mr. Jeffs is here because of it." In his opening statement, lead prosecutor Eric Nichols said the state would prove that on or about May 12, 2006, Jeffs — who Nichols said was about 35 — conceived a child with a girl of about 15. Nichols said Jeffs had married the girl in a "celestial" or "spiritual" marriage through the FLDS when she was 14 and when Jeffs had a previous legal marriage in another state. Hudson countered in his opening remarks that Jeffs was 34 at the time of the alleged offense. Birth and driver’s license records showed Jeffs’ birth date to be May 19, 1971. The girl’s birth date was shown by similar records to be Nov. 13, 1990. Hudson told jurors the documents and evidence the state will use should be disregarded. "They are all out-of-court hearsay," Hudson said of the evidence. "Their witnesses will be pieces of paper." Hudson said one witness has received $25,000 from the state, and he said other law enforcement figures have a motive because they were a part of a raid on the Schleicher County Yearning for Zion Ranch that belongs to FLDS members. Hudson said the raid, which produced the documents the state will use in court, was the result of what has now been deemed a hoax phone call of a woman claiming abuse. Hudson confirmed that with Texas Rangers Danny Crawford and Nick Hanna. Crawford and Hanna said they were on the YFZ premises not only to search for the woman claiming abuse and her abuser, but also to execute another search warrant to secure evidence and keep FLDS members from destroying evidence that might be used in criminal cases. "They’re changing their story," FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop said. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Read the San Angelo Standard-Time's article about Willie Jessop FLDS Spokesman lashes out at trial dated June 15, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abram Harker Jeffs Trial Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Eldorado Success myeldorado.net Originally published Tuesday, June 15, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tuesday, June 15, 2010 11:15 a.m. A panel of 12 jurors and two alternates, consisting of five men and nine women was seated this morning in the Abram Jeffs case. The charges against him were then read, including Sexual Assault of a Child and Bigamy. At that point, Jeffs entered a plea of Not Guilty and the trial began with the prosecution offering its opening arguments. Tuesday, June 15, 2010 12:20 p.m. Court recessed for lunch moments ago. Following the opening arguments by Assistant Attorney General Eric Nichols and Defense Attorney Brandon Hudson, the state began presenting its case. Texas Ranger Danny Crawford was first on the stand. He was a DPS investigator at the time of the 2008 YFZ Raid. Crawford showed overview photos of the ranch and explained how evidence was collected and secured. Trial is to continue this afternoon. Tuesday, June 15, 2010 3:55 p.m. A short break has been called in the case. Texas Ranger Danny Crawford continued testifying this afternoon about evidence collected at the YFZ Ranch. He was followed by Texas Ranger Nick Hanna who testified about DNA evidence. Defense attorney Brandon Hudson objected to the evidence, calling it "fruit of the poisoned tree." Judge Walther overruled Hudson and allowed the DNA samples and swabs to be admitted into evidence. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeffs transported to Utah prison | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Erin Taylor Kingman Daily Miner Originally published June 16, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KINGMAN - After more than 720 days in custody and an estimated expense of $120,000, polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs is no longer an inmate at the Mohave County Jail. Jeffs, 54, was transported Tuesday morning to the Utah State Prison in Draper where he is currently serving out two five-years-to-life sentences following a 2007 conviction there on rape accomplice charges. Charges against Jeffs were dropped locally last week when Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith chose to no longer go forward with the case. Smith said the decision was based on a number of factors, including the fact that Jeffs had already spent more time incarcerated here than he would have been sentenced to if successfully convicted. Jeffs was facing four counts of sexual conduct with a minor for allegedly arranging the marriages of two underage girls to members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which is based in Colorado City. He had been housed in the Mohave County Jail since February 2008. Sheriff Tom Sheahan said it cost about $120,000 to keep Jeffs in jail, including costs associated with medical treatment and added security. Jeffs went on religious fasts several times which required medical intervention. Smith said it cost about $10,000 in travel and other fees to prosecute Jeffs, although that figure does not include time spent by prosecutors working on the case. Jeffs still faces outstanding charges in Texas, including a first-degree felony charge of sexual assault of a child. Jeffs' attorney, Michael Piccarreta, said he is working to overturn his client's conviction in Utah based on what he cites as false evidence presented at that trial. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeffs officially transferred to Utah | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By JIM SECKLER Mohave Daily News Originally published Wednesday, June 16, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KINGMAN — Warren Jeffs’ two-year stay in Mohave County came to an end early Tuesday morning. The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office flew Jeffs around 7 a.m. to the Utah State Prison near Draper to finish out his 10-year prison sentence following his 2007 conviction on Utah charges. He arrived in Utah about two hours later. Jeffs had been in Mohave County Jail since February 2008, MCSO spokeswoman Trish Carter said. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith dropped the remaining Arizona charges last week against Jeffs, 54, the former leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colorado City. He had been charged in Mohave County with four counts of sexual conduct with a minor in two 2007 Arizona cases. He was charged with being an accomplice of two men who had sex with two underage girls in 2002 and 2003 in the polygamist communities of Colorado City and Hildale, Utah. Four counts of incest were dropped last year. Jeffs is serving a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted in Utah in 2007 of two counts of rape as an accomplice. He also is charged with felony sexual assault of a child under 17 and aggravated sexual assault in Schleicher County, Texas, after a raid by law enforcement officers at the Yearning for Zion ranch compound in Eldorado, Texas, in April 2008. The state of Texas expects to extradite Jeffs from Utah to face those charges. Jeffs’ Arizona attorney, Mike Piccarreta, filed probably his last motion Friday in Mohave County Superior Court opposing any extradition to Texas due to "constitutional infirmities" that may occur in the Texas justice system. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prosecution lays groundwork in Jeffs trial | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 16, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAN ANGELO, Texas — Using evidence and witnesses, prosecutors in the trial of Abram Harker Jeffs laid groundwork this morning in its effort to demonstrate that Jeffs fathered a child to an underage girl. Jeffs, a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is charged with sexual assault of a child. Opening arguments were heard Tuesday after more than four days of jury selection in Eldorado. "I was responsible for recovering the DNA evidence" from a company that retains DNA evidence in North Carolina, said David Boatright, the chief of criminal investigations division for the Attorney General of Texas. Boatright said he picked up the sample, which had been stored there since April 2008, on May 11, 2010, and gave the samples to the University of North Texas to be analyzed. Kelly Walker, an investigator for Child Protective Services, identified a picture of a thin-haired child dressed in blue as a photograph of the child allegedly fathered by Jeffs. She said that the child looked to be between one year and 18 months old at the time when the picture was taken, around the time of the state raid at the FLDS Yearning for Zion Ranch in Schleicher County. Defense attorney Brandon Hudson questioned Walker about the raid on the YFZ Ranch, which began after authorities received what is now believed to have been a hoax call from a woman claiming abuse at the ranch. "Why were there 10 CPS agents for one woman and one man?" Hudson asked Walker in reference to the forces arrayed in searching for the woman who placed the call. Walker said they were prepared to interview minors. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prosecution lays groundwork in Jeffs trial | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 16, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAN ANGELO, Texas — ELDORADO — DNA analysts testifying for the state of Texas in the trial of Abram Harker Jeffs, a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, testified Wednesday there is more than a 99 percent probability that Jeffs fathered a child with an underage girl. Jeffs, 39, is charged with sexual assault of a child in connection with an FLDS "celestial marriage" alleged to have taken place on the sect’s YFZ Ranch near Eldorado. The crime is alleged to have occurred since the enactment of an enhancement by the Legislature, and Jeffs is facing 5 to 99 years in prison. The evidence against him largely proceeded from a raid on the ranch two years ago. The FLDS has repeatedly challenged the evidence because it was seized under a search warrant generated by a 911 call later found to be a hoax. The DNA samples "were not taken to any valid search order," defense attorney Brandon Hudson argued Wednesday. Among other issues, he said, "it violates the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution." More than 400 children were taken from the ranch during the April 2008 raid, and the state took cheek swabs for DNA at that point. An appellate court overturned the decision to remove the children from the ranch. "The only part that was overturned was the detention of the children," 51st District Judge Barbara Walther, who is presiding over the trial, said in response to Hudson’s position on the evidence. She said the higher court allowed for there to be further investigation of child abuse. Hudson said that because the detention was overturned, the evidence gained during the detention should be rejected. Attorneys for the FLDS have challenged the evidence before without success. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense challenges DNA swabs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Experts: Jeffs likely fathered girl with minor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 16, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ELDORADO — DNA analysts testified Wednesday that there is more than a 99 percent probability that Abram Harker Jeffs, a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, fathered a child with a girl who the state claims was sexually assaulted by Jeffs. Jeffs, 39, is charged with sexual assault of a child in connection with an FLDS "celestial marriage" alleged to have taken place on the YFZ Ranch. The crime is alleged to have occurred since the enactment of an enhancement by the Legislature, and Jeffs could face five to 99 years in prison. FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop said the big bomb of the day was testimony from a Child Protective Services worker who took the stand earlier Wednesday morning. "Today was the most brutal day in court we have faced. ... What they finally conceded is that what (law enforcement personnel) were doing was establishing security for CPS’ warrant," Jessop said about the April 2008 raid on the FLDS Yearning for Zion Ranch in Schleicher County. The raid was begun after law enforcement received what is now believed to have been a hoax call from a woman claiming abuse at the ranch. "They took every little girl from 7 to 17 years at midnight and told law enforcement and ranch residents they had an order to do it," Jessop said. "... They tore children from their mothers. ... It’s a perfect example of the definition of genocide." Jessop referred to a definition of genocide as the severe persecution of a minority group. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abram Harker Jeffs Trial Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Eldorado Success myeldorado.net Originally published Wednesday, June 16, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wednesday, June 16, 2010 11:00 a.m. Investigator David Boatwright with the Attorney General's Office Special Crime Unit testified first Wednesday. He said he flew to Birmingham, NC to pick up DNA samples from LabCare lab and took them to North Texas University. CPS investigator Kellie Walker testified next and said that she interviewed the alleged victim at the YFZ Ranch during the 2008 raid. She also saw the victim board a bus leaving the ranch without her child. Walker said she later accompanied the victim and her child when she went for DNA testing. District Attorney's Office Investigator Diane Wilson was on the stand moments ago testifying. Her testimony also involved DNA testing and/or chain of evidence issues. She witnessed the collection of victim's and the victim's child's DNA sample. Wednesday, June 16, 2010 3:50 p.m. A hearing was held outside the presence of the jury concerning the testimony of two DNA experts. Judge Walther ruled that the two women were qualified as experts during a Daubert hearing at a prior trial. She said she would allow their testimony without another hearing. The jury then returned and DNA expert Amy Smutts, with North Texas Health Science Center, told the jury what DNA is and explained that half a person's DNA comes from mother and half from father. She said she tested Abram Jeffs' DNA. The victim and her child each had two DNA tests. They were tested by DNA technician Farah Plopper. Farah Plopper testified that there is a 99.9998 probability that Abram Jeffs is the father of the alleged victim's child. Court then recessed for a brief break. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rangers offer ranch raid testimony as defense objects in trial of FLDS member | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 17, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAN ANGELO, Texas — ELDORADO — Unmanned drones, infrared goggles and squeezing through holes in the wall to get inside vaults: All were elements of stories that Texas Rangers shared Thursday in the trial of Abram Harker Jeffs, drawing from their experiences during the raid on the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Yearning for Zion Ranch in Schleicher County. Jeffs, an FLDS member, is charged with sexual assault of a child. His trial is in its seventh day in Eldorado. Rangers also spent a good part of the day testifying as to the validity of documents seized in the raid as prosecutors entered them into evidence, drawing more objections from Jeffs’ defense team. "These were taken as a result of illegal search and seizure," defense attorney Brandon Hudson said about documents that the Rangers identified as having come from the ranch. He referred to the April 2008 raid on the ranch, which the state said was sparked by what are now believed to have been hoax phone calls of a woman who claimed she was abused at the ranch. Hudson made objections to the dozens of folders of documents, pictures and digital media devices, so much that he asked the court to let him state his objection as "trial objection No. 1." Jeffs’ defense also has protested as irrelevant and prejudicial items such an all-white suit with Jeffs’ name on it and a picture of a day planner, both of which the state said would establish that Jeffs did in fact live on the YFZ Ranch. "The relevance portion is extremely weak," Hudson said. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abram Harker Jeffs Trial Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Eldorado Success myeldorado.net Originally published Thursday, June 17, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Thursday, June 17, 2010 10:45 a.m. Court began this morning with the announcement that one of the defense lawyers will be attending a funeral so court will end at 3 p.m. today. DPS Criminal Investigative Division Agent Dan Collins testified about evidence he gathered during the YFZ raid. DPS CID agent Tracy Kensing also testified about evidence collection. Texas Ranger John Vance testified next. He also spoke about documenting, securing and storing collected evidence, including computers and other records from building #18, the home of Abram Jeffs. It was noted that evidence from each building searched at the YFZ was taken to a central evidence storage trailer, located at the southwest corner of the temple yard. Next, Texas Ranger Jesse Valdez testified about his involvement in the YFZ search, beginning April 3rd and continuing through April 9, 2008. He identified Abram Jeffs as the man in a photo taken from building 18. At that point defense attorney asked for a conference with the judge and the jury was sent out of the room. Hudson objected to a collage of photos showing Abram Jeffs in what appeared a wedding photo, as well as a group of pictures showing children. Judge Walther over ruled Hudson and the photos were admitted as evidence. Hudson restated his objection three more times only to be over ruled on each occasion and the jury was called back into the room. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense continues to challenge evidence in Jeffs trial | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 18, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAN ANGELO, Texas — ELDORADO — The defense for Abram Harker Jeffs attacked an expert witness for the prosecution during Friday’s trial proceedings, asking her whether she received compensation from the state of Texas for her testimony. Jeffs, a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is charged with sexual assault of a child. The prosecution alleges that Jeffs consummated an illegal marriage with an underage girl who gave birth to his child. "If she believed she would be paid, I think it is relevant to her motives and bias," Hudson said in reference to Rebecca Musser, a former FLDS member testifying for the state about whether certain documents in evidence qualify as FLDS church records. The defense’s questions regarded whether she knew she would be reimbursed $25,000, mostly to reimburse her for child care expenses she incurred since April 2008 for times she was helping the state. The contract, signed May 28, said she would receive the money, and Musser said she had received $4,500 of that money thus far. Hudson also asked why the total she requested, $24,423, was rounded up to $25,000. Musser said she didn’t understand Hudson’s question: "Did you have the belief that you would be reimbursed for these expenses?" and Hudson repeated the question about half a dozen times. 51st District Judge Barbara Walther said she examined tax records to check whether Musser had claimed child care payments, which Musser said cost $100 a day to $350 a day after September 2009, and Walther said she found nothing there of interest to the defense. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FLDS TRIALS: Witness' ties to state cited | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ex-sect member has received funds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 18, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ELDORADO — The prosecution has nearly rested after the eighth day of the trial of Abram Harker Jeffs, a day during which the defense attacked an expert witness about whether she has received money from the state of Texas for her testimony. Jeffs, a member of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is charged with sexual assault of a child. "If she believed she would be paid, I think it is relevant to her motives and bias," defense attorney Brandon Hudson said of Rebecca Musser, a former FLDS member testifying for the state about whether certain documents qualify as FLDS church records. The defense’s questions regarded whether she knew she would be reimbursed $25,000 — mostly for child care since April 2008 — for times she helped the state. The contract, signed May 28, said she would receive the money, and Musser said she has received $4,500 of that money. Hudson also asked why the total she requested, $24,593 was rounded up to $25,000. Musser said she didn’t understand Hudson’s question: "Did you have the belief that you would be reimbursed for these expenses?" Hudson repeated the question about half a dozen times. Judge Barbara Walther of the 51st District Court said she examined tax records to check whether Musser had claimed child care payments, which Musser said cost $100 to $350 a day after September 2009, and Walther said she found nothing there of interest to the defense. Musser testified as to what it was like growing up in an FLDS community, and she said she had intricate training in church doctrine. "Every area of our lives was defined by the church," Musser said. "If it happened and was recorded on Earth, it would happen in heaven, or they would not be able to gain salvation," Musser said. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abram Harker Jeffs Trial Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Eldorado Success myeldorado.net Originally published Friday, June 18, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Friday, June 18, 2010 12:47 p.m. The court went back into session to put Texas Ranger Danny Crawford back on the stand to go through more evidence taken from the ranch. The trial began approximately at 9:00 a.m with witness Les St. James a computer forensic investigator. His job is to use special programs to extract evidence from digital files from computers and thumb drives. The evidence folders shown to him consisted of photos of Abram Jeffs with children and a woman. Also some folders of printouts where submitted. The defense managed to have one photo removed from the evidence. The photo depicted a young pregnant girl in a yellow dress, the victim. Next on the stand was Sgt. Wes Hensley, an investigator with the AG office. He testified he was the custodian of the previous evidence of photos and other documents taken from digital files. He also described to the jury his job of documenting and preserving the evidence for the state and defense. At 11:12 a.m. the jury was sent out for lunch. State witness Rebecca Musser was called to the stand. The defense asked her questions regarding the State of Texas Contract to pay her $25,000. The defense asked questions about day care, travel and other expenses. Musser told the defense she received $4,500 reimbursement from the state for travel and food expenses to date. She has not received any of the $25,000 from the state to date. Defense attorney Brandon Hudson asked Musser if she told anyone prior to May 2010 about asking for help with child care. The contract was made by the state on May 28, 2010. Musser said she did not understand the question. Musser said she spoke to her child care provider. The jury is to be back from lunch at 1:30 p.m. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| County jury expenses may be augmented | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Suzanne Adams Kingman Daily Miner Originally published June 20, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KINGMAN - The County Board of Supervisors will consider a $29,000 request from the Mohave Superior Courts to cover ongoing jury expenses Monday. The Board will consider transferring the money out of the county's contingency fund and into the court's jury expense fund. The Board will also consider awarding the pre-construction services bid for the new Moccasin Justice Court building near Colorado City to CORE Construction Services for $30,000. The Board will also consider approving intergovernmental agreements with Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Bullhead City, Colorado City and the Wikieup area for flood control improvements. The Board meets at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the County Administrative Building, 700 W. Beale St. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prop 8, Mormonism, and the Other Fight for Alternative Marriage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| While the LDS church did all it could to make sure Prop 8 passed, one group of Mormons worked for LGBT rights | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Holly Welker Culture Religion Dispatches Magazine - San Francisco, CA Originally published June 21, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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8: The Mormon Proposition, a documentary polemic detailing the involvement of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in support of California’s Proposition 8 opened nationally on June 18. The general storyline will be familiar to anyone who followed the 2008 controversy — and watched as Californians voted to amend the state constitution so that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." [see also Joanna Brooks' "8: The Mormon Proposition Gets it Right" – Eds.] But while the details of the story can still astonish, more surprising is what the film misses on two key topics: Mormon beliefs about the afterlife, and polygamy.
The cost of Mormon homophobia Director Reed Cowan, who grew up Mormon and gay in Utah and served an LDS mission, documents the LDS Church’s efforts to ban gay marriage, as well as its efforts to screen its involvement in that fight. He makes the case that the LDS Church approached the issue according to a template used successfully to fight gay marriage in Hawaii in the 1990s. Specifically, well aware that it is viewed overall with more suspicion than respect, it formed a coalition with churches and organizations who had better images, then bankrolled the coalition’s work. By the time the California Supreme Court ruled on May 15, 2008 that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, the fight to amend the constitution was already well underway — thanks to the money and effort of the LDS church. Petitions bearing over 1.1 million signatures (400,000 more than necessary) were submitted to the state’s election division in the spring, and on June 2, 2008, two weeks before a single legally binding gay marriage was performed in the state of California, Proposition 8 qualified for the November 4, 2008 ballot. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David Lujan's focus: Economic security, public safety | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Opinions The Arizona Republic Originally published June 21, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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David Lujan talks about his campaign for the Democratic nomination for Attorney General.
1. As you complete your service as a legislator, what do you view as your biggest accomplishments? Serving as the leader of a unified Democratic caucus that fought to bring back KidsCare health insurance for 40,000 Arizona children; getting legislation passed to protect victims of identity theft and domestic violence; and working with Attorney General Terry Goddard to stop abuses occurring in the polygamous community of Colorado City. 2. Why are you running for attorney general? Arizonans are struggling during these difficult economic times, becoming victims of businesses that take advantage of them during their most vulnerable times and living in fear because of drug cartels and other violent criminals that are making Arizona the kidnapping capital of the nation. As your attorney general, I will make the economic security and public safety of Arizonans my top priority. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prosecution, defense rest in Jeffs' trial | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 21, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ELDORADO — The prosecution and defense have rested in the case of Abram Harker Jeffs after a full day of presenting sacred documents of the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to jurors who will deliberate today on his guilt or innocence. Jeffs, 39, an FLDS member, has been charged with sexual assault of a child. "You’ve heard all the evidence you’re going to hear" for the guilt or innocence phase of the trial, 51st District Judge Barbara Walther told jurors before dismissing them for Monday evening. Jurors looked at documents sacred to the FLDS throughout Monday afternoon as the prosecution tried to place Jeffs and the alleged victim at the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Schleicher County at the time of the alleged offense. The alleged assault of the 15-year-old girl when he was 34 allegedly occurred around May 12, 2006. "I think this is the first time the jury has laid eyes on a priesthood record," lead Prosecutor Eric Nichols told Texas Ranger Danny Crawford while Crawford was on the stand testifying to what each document was and what it said as the redacted documents were projected onto a screen for the jury. Law enforcement personnel seized the documents from the YFZ Ranch in April 2008. Law enforcement officials have said the April 2008 raid began as a result of what has now been determined to be a hoax phone call of a woman who claimed abuse at the ranch. That raid resulted in the removal of more than 400 children, which an appellate court reversed and had the children returned, and the seizure of hundreds of documents from the ranch temple, temple annex and residences. Some of the excerpts from the documents described the shape of the land, plans for building homes and a dairy, and physical descriptions such as a gravel pit. Other documents, variously described as priesthood records, bishop records and family group records, had references to Jeffs being present on the YFZ Ranch for meetings and receiving special blessings, such as being a temple builder — one that constructs the temple, or a temple worker — one who performs duties inside the temple. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abram Harker Jeffs Trial Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Eldorado Success myeldorado.net Originally published Monday, June 21, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Monday, June 21, 2010 12:20 p.m. The jury was not called back into the courtroom Monday morning as the prosecution and defense went over evidence to determine what may be introduced into evidence in front of the jury. One such piece of evidence that the jury may get to see is a photo of Abram Jeffs with his brother FLDS prophet Warren Steed Jeffs. Richard Jessop Barlow, who was subpoenaed but failed to appear last Friday, showed up today. He was questioned outside the presence of the jury about taking certain evidence from a safe during the 2008 raid. He exercised his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and was released by the prosecution. Other evidence was reviewed and redacted and admitted into court. Court recessed at noon. The jury is due back at 1 p.m. Monday, June 21, 2010 3:10 p.m. The jury returned to the courtroom Monday afternoon missing one member of the 14-person jury (12 jurors and 2 alternates.) It is common knowledge in Eldorado that the father of one of the jurors passed away over the weekend. Texas Ranger Danny Crawford was on the stand testifying as a number of documents and a photo were entered into evidence. It appears that the prosecution is attempting to establish a time line that would place Abram Jeffs at the YFZ Ranch when the alleged victim's child was conceived. A group photo taken Dec 2, 2004 at the YFZ Ranch school house was entered into evidence. It was captioned "Laborers with First President." The photo depicted a group of men and boys, including Abram Jeffs, Warren Jeffs, Wendell Nielsen and Frederick Meade (Uncle Fred) Jessop. A legal marriage certificate had been entered previously for the October 18, 1993 marriage of Abram Jeffs to Elizabeth Steed (his first marriage). Today, a celestial marriage certificate for the same marriage was also entered into evidence. A FLDS census record for Colorado City, AZ dated 2003 showing the names of Abram Jeffs and Elizabeth Steed Jeffs was entered. Other records including baptismal records, Abram Jeffs designation as a Temple Worker and Temple Builder at the YFZ, as well as other church ordinances were entered into evidence. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dem Senate candidate visits Havasu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By NATHAN BRUTTELL TODAY’S NEWS-HERALD - Havasu, Arizona Originally published June 22, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Dougherty thinks Lake Havasu City is tired of its current state government and is hoping they’re ready for a Democratic candidate for the Senate. Dougherty, a former investigative journalist, made a campaign stop Monday for the opening of the Lake Havasu City Democratic headquarters. Dougherty is looking to unseat Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., this November and hopes his journalism experience, covering McCain, Warren Jeffs in Colorado City and other prominent Arizona names, will give him an edge over the other three Democratic candidates in the August primary. "All of these issues combined put me in a rare position as a candidate to have a strong overview of what’s going on in Arizona on a deep level on multiple topics," Dougherty told the dozens of attendees Monday. "The second thing was, as McCain ran further to the right, after his flip-flopping presidential campaign, he tried to outdo (former congressman) JD Hayworth. And JD Hayworth is pretty hard to outdo on the right. I felt McCain had basically abandoned his leadership role completely in the last couple of months as he’s done that. ... So I talked to top Democratic Party leaders and there was no one, I felt, with sufficient experience in Arizona to give McCain or Hayworth a strong challenge in the fall." Dougherty is focusing on renewable energy, which is his campaign’s centerpiece, immigration reform and campaign finance reform. "We need a renewable energy-based economy. And the sooner we accept it and embrace it, the better. It’s going to save us money, provide for more jobs, protect the environment and it will be good for our children and our economy," he said. "If we deny doing this, we’re going to fall behind and not be the dominant nation in the world at the end of this century." Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'The Cove' co-producer shares her success story, beginning in Marblehead | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Charlene Peters/cpeters@cnc.com CNC The Daily News Transcript - Needham, MA Originally published June 22, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marblehead — The seaside town of Marblehead was where Olivia (Reeves) Ahnemann got her big break, working as an intern, then as assistant editor for a local travel magazine, Outbound Traveler, published by Jay and Carmi-Zona Paris of Marblehead. "Through them I was introduced to a documentary producer, Jack McDonald, who was making a film for PBS," she says. The producer knew the Carmi’s and rented space from the publishers. They helped with the research for his film, to which Ahnemann ended up working as associate producer on a one-hour segment of a six-part PBS series of a film called "Legendary Lighthouses of the South Atlantic." It is through that connection that Ahnemann remains grateful that she spent fourth grade through high school and then a few years after college living in Marblehead. Once the PBS research was completed, through word of mouth she secured freelance assignments for a local company in Cambridge, as well as WGBH, where she worked on a Nova Science Series. She also worked for a Somerville production company, Powderhouse Productions. "Their big client was Discovery," she says. Through good fortune, she produced a film for them on the Discovery Channel, freelanced for different cables stations and small production companies on network television, working for six years — and then she met her husband, Michael, through a Marblehead friend, Kenmore Commoss. Then, six years ago, when her husband had to re-locate to Colorado for his job, Ahnemann considered the move to be the death of her career. "Colorado is not known for its vibrant film community," she says. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deliberations in polygamist's West Texas trial | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Associated Press Dallas Morning News Originally published June 22, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The West Texas jury in the sexual abuse trial of a man from a polygamist group raided by authorities in 2008 is set to begin deliberations. Both sides wrapped up presentation of evidence late Monday in the Eldorado (ehl-doh-RAY'-doh) trial of Abram Harker Jeffs. Deliberations were expected to begin Tuesday. The 39-year-old Jeffs has been accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old he allegedly married in a Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ceremony when he was 34. He faces up to life in prison if convicted. Jeffs is the sixth FLDS man to answer charges since the April 2008 raid on the group's compound. The five others have all been convicted or pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison.
___ Information from: Standard-Times, http://www.sanangelostandardtimes.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FLDS member found guilty of child sexual assault | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 22, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ELDORADO — After being sent out to deliberate at 10:45 a.m., a Schleicher County jury returned a verdict of guilty for Abram Harker Jeffs at 11:40 a.m., less than an hour. Jeffs, 39 and a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was charged with sexual assault of a child. He is the latest in a series of men from the YFZ Ranch, an FLDS community near Eldorado, to be prosecuted on child sexual assault charges since the state raided the ranch two years ago. "In this case, we don’t have a car wreck or a snowstorm," lead Prosecutor Eric Nichols said for his closing arguments, alluding to examples he used to explain different kinds of evidence to the jury. "In this case, we have a child." The state alleged that Jeffs assaulted a girl with whom he was in an FLDS "spiritual" or "celestial" marriage on May 12, 2006, when Jeffs was 34 and already legally married and when the girl was 15. Nichols referred to evidence from two DNA tests and documents that were seized from the FLDS Yearning for Zion Ranch in Schleicher County during the April 2008 raid that resulted in the state getting hundreds of documents while taking more than 400 children from the ranch. The latter decision was reversed by an appellate court and the children were returned. "You don’t have to believe it just because they tell you," defense attorney Brandon Hudson said. Hudson has objected and told the jurors that they shouldn’t give any weight to the evidence that was gathered as a result of the raid and that the raid violated his client’s rights because the seizure was based on what law enforcement personnel have concluded was a hoax phone call from a woman claiming she was being abused on the ranch. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jury Finds FLDS Member Guilty of Child Sexual Assault | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Reported by: Laura Kellerman KTAB News - Abilene, Texas Originally broadcast June 22, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It took less than an hour for a Schleicher County jury to find FLDS member Abram Harker Jeffs guilty of sexual assault of a child. He is the sixth to be prosecuted since the YFZ Ranch raids two years ago. The others were all convicted or pleaded guilty and are serving sentences. Jeffs was charged in connection with the underage marriage to a 15-year-old girl when he was 34 at the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado. He faces up to life in prison when sentenced. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Polygamist Abram Harker Jeffs convicted of sex assault of a child in West Texas trial | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Associated Press Deseret News Originally published Tuesday, June 22, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ELDORADO, Texas — A West Texas jury has convicted a member of a polygamist group of sexual assault of a child, a charge stemming from his alleged marriage to an underage girl. Attorney general's spokesman Jerry Strickland says the verdict was returned in Eldorado Tuesday morning, just hours after deliberations began. Thirty-nine-year-old Abram Harker Jeffs was convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old he allegedly married in a Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ceremony when he was 34. He faces up to life in prison when sentenced. Jeffs is the sixth FLDS man to answer charges since the April 2008 raid on the Yearning For Zion Ranch. The five others have all been convicted or pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FLDS TRIAL: Jeffs guilty; new phase begins | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jury hears testimony for sentencing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 22, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ELDORADO — Jurors in the trial of Abram Harker Jeffs heard a storm of testimony from Child Protective Services workers and a clinical psychologist Tuesday in the punishment phase of Jeffs’ trial after finding him guilty of sexual assault of a child. The jury took less than an hour to reach its verdict. Jeffs, 39 and a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, faces two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 for a second-degree felony. Or he could face five to 99 years or life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if an enhancement applies that would make the crime a first-degree felony. The enhancement says that if the alleged victim is prohibited from marrying, purporting to marry or living with under the appearance of being married to the defendant, the crime becomes a first-degree felony. The state alleges that Jeffs assaulted a girl with whom he was in an FLDS "spiritual" or "celestial" marriage on May 12, 2006, when Jeffs was 34 and already legally married, and when the girl was 15. Sgt. Les Palmer testified to having found a deleted picture of the victim pregnant in a yellow dress. 51st District Judge Barbara Walther had prohibited the prosecution from showing the picture in the innocence-or-guilt phase of the trial because it might have connoted another abuse situation. Department of Public Safety officer Jack McCrea testified that Jeffs had once sped over 65 mph with a child in the passenger seat without a seat belt. Also, a Department of Family Protective Services worker described seeing the victim during a raid two years ago on the Yearning for Zion Ranch, an FLDS community near Eldorado. The raid resulted in the state recovering hundreds of documents while taking more than 400 children from the ranch. The latter decision was reversed by an appellate court, and the children were returned. "She was visibly pale, very flat emotionally," said Ruby Gutierrez, the worker. "My heart went out to her." Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abram Harker Jeffs Trial Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Eldorado Success myeldorado.net Originally published Tuesday, June 22, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tuesday, June 22, 2010 10:45 a.m. The Abram Jeffs case has gone to the jury following closing arguments by the prosecution and defense teams. Tuesday, June 22, 2010 11:40 a.m. GUILTY -- Jurors took less than an hour to find Abram Harker Jeffs guilty of Sexual Assault of a Child and Bigamy. Court is in recess until 1 p.m. at which time the penalty phase of the trial is set to get underway. Tuesday, June 22, 2010 3:40 p.m. CPS worker Ruby Guiterrez was called to the stand first by the prosecution as the penalty phase of Abram Jeffs trial got underway this afternoon. She testified about things she saw during the 2008 YFZ raid. She was followed by Utah psychologist Larry Beall, who was also called on the state. His testimony continues at the time of this update. Tuesday, June 22, 2010 4:47 p.m. Judge Walther called for a short break moments ago and the jury was sent from the courtroom. Dr. Larry Beall, a Utah psychologist, remains on the stand in the trial's penalty phase. He has been examined by prosecutor Eric Nichols and cross-examined by defense attorney Brandon Hudson. It is unknown how long it will be before the judge calls the proceedings back into order. Neither is it known how late she plans to go into the night. Jeffs could received up to 99 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BILL THOMPSON: Deny platform to FLDS spokesman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Letters San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 22, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bill Thompson, San Angelo
Why do Standard-Times reporters seem compelled to give Willie Jessop the opportunity to deflect attention away from the heinous nature of the crimes certain male members of the FLDS are being tried for? Jessop is using our local media to draw the public’s and potential future jurors’ focus away from the fact that grown male subjects devised a way to justify (at least to themselves) their systematic and repeated sexual assault of young girls. Jessop loves to complain about the injustices being heaped upon him and the FLDS members he is here to keep in line. He loves to claim that his rights are being trampled, that he and his cult are victims of religious persecution. Jessop’s indignation becomes more extreme with each successive trial and more desperate with each successive conviction. Yet reporters find it necessary to give him a degree of relevance or legitimacy by reporting his warped perception of events. In arguing that the state is violating FLDS members’ religious freedom, Jessop effectively is saying that adult men sexually assaulting young girls is an acceptable lifestyle as well as an acceptable outcome for the young girls unfortunate enough to be brought up at the FLDS compound. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Farmstead Artisan Cheese Now Available From FinneyFarm.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEBWIRE Originally published Tuesday, June 22, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Contact Information Jennie Pipkin Webmaster Progressive Web Services 435-616-1123 wahmjennie@gmail.com A new website is making it easier than ever for specialty cheese lovers to buy cheese online. www.FinneyFarm.com is the official website and online store for farmstead cheese maker Winford Barlow from Hildale Utah. The site debuted in October of 2009 and has had amazing success. Winford has had custmers as far away as France tell him; "THIS is good cheese" "Good cheese, REAL good cheese, is more of an art than a science" says Winford Barlow, owner, manager, cow milker, and farmstead artisan cheese maker at Finney Farm in Hildale Utah. Winford not only personally milks his 20 "show-quality" brown swiss cows with the highest standards of sanitation at his Hildale Farm, but his wife Carolina processes that milk into stone-pressed cheese within 12 hours after the cows are milked. Winford is particular about the quality of the milk "you can only get good cheese from good milk" he says, "milking the best cows, feeding them the best grain, and focusing on the highest milk quality ensures the quality of our cheeses" he says. Carolina makes a wide variety of specialty, artisan cheeses from Paresan, Gruyure, Mozzarella, to Cocoa Cheddar and the classic Sharp Cheddar. Most varieties are available to anyone looking to buy cheese online at www.FinneyFarm.com. Winford also keeps a blog at; www.finneyfarmblog.com where cheese fans can leave comments or ask questions. WebWireID118849 Read more about Winford Barlow in the middle part of this 2003 article by John Dougherty | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prosecution rests in punishment phase of Jeffs trial | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 23, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAN ANGELO, Texas — ELDORADO — The prosecution has rested its case in the punishment phase of the trial of Abram Harker Jeffs. Jeffs, a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has been found guilty of sexual assault of a child. Before the trial, he elected to be sentenced by the jury if found guilty. "Do they document this so-called spiritual or celestial marriage?" lead prosecutor Eric Nichols asked about records testified to by Sgt. Wes Hensley, a co-case agent in the case against Jeffs from the office of the Attorney General of Texas. "Yes sir," Hensley said. The documents reported that Jeffs had five marriages altogether, two of them at the FLDS Yearning for Zion Ranch in Schleicher County and three of them out of state. The defense has repeatedly objected to the documents, saying they were obtained through illegal search and seizure since they were seized from an April 2008 raid of the ranch which state officials said was prompted by what has now been determined to be a hoax call from a woman claiming abuse at the ranch. "Overruled," said 51st District Judge Barbara Walther, her uniform response to defense objections related to the search warrants. Walther ruled that the search warrants, which she signed, were legitimate at hearing in 2009. Nichols also went through documents that contained language about the separateness of "places of refuge," such as the ranch, and documents that contained accounts of FLDS trainings that Jeffs underwent to demonstrate a supposed spirit of isolation and secrecy. A state expert witness in clinical psychology in testimony described such processes as unhealthy. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FLDS TRIALS: Jeffs gets 17 years in assault | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 23, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ELDORADO — ELDORADO — Abram Harker Jeffs smiled at his defense council, and one of his attorneys blew a sigh of relief from his puffed cheeks. Jeffs had just been told his sentence for sexual assault of a child: 17 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, the lowest first-degree felony sentence yet for a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. "For crimes that occur at the YFZ Ranch, they will be held accountable," lead Prosecutor Eric Nichols said Wednesday after 51st District Judge Barbara Walther read the jury’s sentence, referring to the FLDS Yearning for Zion Ranch in Schleicher County. Nichols said Schleicher County has done its duty in presiding over three trials. "The trials have been a tremendous burden on this county," Nichols said. FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop said Nichols was sore because he didn’t get "as stiff a sentence" as he wanted, compared with the 75-year and $10,000 fine sentence an FLDS member received for the same charge out of Tom Green County. "I think it was easily exploited in Tom Green County," Jessop said, claiming that the FLDS presence was sensationalized. Floyd West, a rancher in Schleicher County who has attended every day of court, said he is a neighbor to the YFZ Ranch and is disappointed with the sentence. "I felt it was a slap on the wrist," West said. "I felt like he should have gotten a lot more." Because of an enhancement that makes the second-degree felony of sexual assault of a child a first-degree felony, Jeffs could have received five to 99 years or life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abram Harker Jeffs Trial Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Eldorado Success myeldorado.net Originally published Wednesday, June 23, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wednesday, June 23, 2010 1:00 p.m. FBI Special Agent John Broadway was the first to testify Wednesday morning as the penalty phase of the Abram Jeffs trial continued. Broadway explained that FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs was on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive's List before his capture near Las Vegas in 2006. Attorney Generals Office investigator Sgt. Wesley Hensley testified concerning Priesthood records found in Merril Jessop's office that described Abram Jeffs' five spiritual marriages. It was noted that one of his wives had previously been married to his father, Rulon Jeffs. At that time her mother also married Rulon Jeffs. By the time the woman married Abram Jeffs she had already been his step-mother and step-sister. Defense attorney Brandon Hudson cross-examined Hensley about photos that had been entered into evidence. Hudson raised questions about whether Utah Private Investigator Sam Brower had taken photos for the State and whether Brower was on the State's payroll. A photo album, previously entered by the State, was brought up by the defense. It contained photos of Abram Jeffs' home life, including vacations and a photo of his legal wife cutting his hair. Wednesday, June 23, 2010 2:15 p.m. The State rested in the penalty phase of the Abram Jeffs trial. Judge Walther then called a short recess for lunch after which the defense is due to make its case. Wednesday, June 23, 2010 4:55 p.m. Jurors are now deliberating the fate of Abram Jeffs. The state rested its case a little after noon today and the defense spent a the rest of the day trying to persuade the jury to grant their client probation. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Watch the Eldorado Success video of the press conference after the sentencing of Abram Harker Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blackmore says polygamy lawyer should step down over political donations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Canadian Press The Hook - Rights + Justice The Tyee - Vancouver, B.C. Originally published June 23, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Polygamist leader Winston Blackmore says the lawyer who will argue against this country's polygamy laws in a court reference case this fall should step aside over political donations made to the Liberal government. The name of the lawyer, George K. MacIntosh, and his law firm appear on Liberal party donor lists for tens of thousands of dollars in contributions during the past five years. MacIntosh, who has not been available for comment, was nominated by the B.C. attorney general's ministry and appointed by the court to be what's called an amicus in the case, arguing against the government's position to uphold the polygamy ban. Blackmore says the political donations "smell bad" and MacIntosh should quit, just as a special prosecutor in an investigation involving former solicitor general Kash Heed did earlier this week following similar revelations. Attorney General Mike de Jong notes it was up to the court to confirm MacIntosh's appointment, and he says lawyers have the same right as everyone else to make political contributions. Blackmore, one of the leaders of the polygamous community of Bountiful, B.C., plans to boycott the hearings after the B.C. Supreme Court rejected his request for government funding. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abram Harker Jeffs Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Assault of a Child | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statement from Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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News Release Attorney General of Texas Greg Abbott oag.state.tx Originally published Thursday, June 24, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"A Schleicher County jury sentenced Abram Harker Jeffs of Eldorado to 17 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony in the state of Texas.
"A total of 12 YFZ Ranch-related defendants have been indicted on sexual assault of a child, bigamy or other charges. Six defendants have been convicted on felony charges and sentenced to prison. The other six defendants are awaiting trial. All prosecutions are being handled by the Office of the Attorney General, which is working in cooperation with 51st Judicial District Attorney Steve Lupton." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FLDS member gets 17 years for child sexual assault | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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KEYE TV Austin Originally published June 24, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A West Texas jury sentenced Abram Harker Jeffs to 17 years in prison on a charge of child sexual assault. Tuesday it took jurors less than an hour to find Jeffs, 39, guilty. But Wednesday, after hearing testimony in the punishment phase, it took them more than two hours to arrive at their decision. Jeffs is accused of fathering a child by a 15-year-old girl at the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Yearning for Zion (YFZ) ranch near Eldorado. The victim was 16 years old when she gave birth to a son in 2006. "The state of Texas thanks these juries for their service in effort to insure that crimes of this nature are going to be addressed, and that crimes that occur at the YFZ Ranch here in Schleicher County, for those crimes people will be held accountable," Lead Prosecutor Eric Nichols said. "This violates everything this nation was founded on. It's violated just about every constitutional right we have for the state, the government to come and decide what religion it's going to tolerate and which ones it's not, and not keep the facts to the individual," Willie Jessop, FLDS spokesperson, said. The jury's sentence also stipulates no parole, and that Jeffs is not to be allowed to stay out of prison throughout an appeals process, if his attorneys appeal the sentence. See photo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas sentences FLDS polygamist Abram Harker Jeffs to 17 years in prison | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Edward Lane Wichita Falls Law Enforcement Examiner Originally published June 24, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A Texas jury sentenced FLDS polygamist Abram Harker Jeffs to seventeen years in the penitentiary for sexually assaulting a 15 year old girl behind the walls of the YFZ compound. Three years ago the nation's attention and news media were riveted on the Yearning for Zion fortress when Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott ordered his troops to invade the headquarters of the FLDS sect after reports of alleged sexual abuse of children. Abbott, a Wichita Falls, Texas native, acted in the concert with personnel from Child Protective Services offices in Wichita Falls and across the state to stop the alleged sexual abuse of underage girls. Texas Rangers, many from Wichita Falls, also participated in the raid which has now resulted in the conviction and sentencing to prison of five polygamists. The longest sentence thus far against one of the polygamists was 75 years in the penitentiary was against Merrill Leroy Jessop on March 22. Abram Harker Jeffs was convicted Tuesday for sexually assaulting the 15-year old girl who he claimed was his "celestial wife". The role of women in the FLDS society is explained by Carolyn Jessop, who escaped from her forced marriage to Merrill Jessop. She later wrote a book about her spine-tingling departure from the sect entitled "Escape". She was forced at age 18 into an involuntary marriage with Merrill Jessop who was age 50 at the time. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colorado City couple allege power company practices reglious discrimination | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Phoenix News AZFamily Originally published June 24, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COLORADO CITY, Ariz. -- 3TV's Mike Watkiss has learned that a federal civil rights lawsuit is about to be filed alleging housing discrimination against the twin communities of Hilldale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., and the area's water and power company. The lawsuit being filed on behalf of Ron and Jinger Cooke alleges that the company has engaged in reglious discrimination. The couple say they have been denied power and water at a home they own in Colorado City because they're not members of the FLDS Church. 3TV has reported extensively about the Cookes' plight over the last couple of years. Ron Cooke was disabled in a work-related accident several years ago. The Cookes allege that because they are not members of the FLDS Church and because of Ron's disability they have been discriminated against by the two cities and their water and power company. The Cookes and their three children are living in a trailer while waiting for the utilities to be turned on. State officials are looking at the Cookes' case and other similar allegations. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs fighting extradition | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Reported by: Brent Hunsaker ABC 4 News Originally broadcast June 24, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| POINT OF THE MOUNTAIN STATE PRISON, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Warren Jeffs won't be going to Texas without a fight. In prison on Thursday, he was given a "waiver of extradition" which he refused to sign. That means he will have a hearing on extradition before a Utah judge in the next 30 days. Legal experts tell ABC 4 the only grounds to deny extradition is "mistaken identity." In other words, Warren Jeffs would have to somehow prove that he is not the person named in the three Texas fugitive warrants. Recently, Mohave County, Arizona dropped its charges against Jeffs and returned him to the Utah Department of Corrections. Jeffs is serving two consecutive sentences of 5-years to life in Utah. In 2007 he was convicted in St. George of being an accomplice to the rape of a child. In Texas, he's charged with rape for supposedly marrying girls as young as 11. The Texas Attorney General has filed four felony counts against Jeffs. If convicted, Jeffs might never return to Utah again, instead spending the rest of his life in a Texas prison. See photo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Sons Of Perdition,' Exiles From Jeffs' Church | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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NEAL CONAN, host Talk of the Nation National Public Radio Originally broadcast June 24, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The documentary Sons of Perdition follows three young men who run away and live in exile from polygamist Warren Jeffs' church, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The runaway boys — Joe, Bruce and Sam — face many challenges, compounded by their almost complete lack of knowledge about the world.
Directors Jennilyn Merten and Tyler Measom talk about life for young people in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. NEAL CONAN, host: The voice of the notorious Warren Jeffs permeates a new documentary called "Sons of Perdition." Jeffs, who's now in prison, is the self-described prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a polygamist group that's established communities in several places, probably the best known though in Colorado City, Arizona - dubbed The Crick by its inhabitants. Life in this strict religious community has no room for dissenters. And the movie follows the lives of three teenage exiles: Joe, Bruce and Sam, all runaways slowly getting used to life outside The Crick. It's not an easy transition, as Joe explains. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colorado City couple allege power company practices religious discrimination | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Phoenix News AZFamily Originally published June 25, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COLORADO CITY, Ariz. -- Attorney General Terry Goddard announced Friday that his office has filed a lawsuit against the twin communities of Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah, as well as Hildale-Colorado City Utilities, Twin City Water Authority, and Twin City Power for alleged violations of the Arizona Fair Housing Act. The lawsuit being filed on behalf of Ronald and Jinger Cooke alleges that the company has engaged in religious discrimination. The couple say they have been denied power and water at a home they own in Colorado City because they're not members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 3TV has reported extensively about the Cookes' plight over the last couple of years. Ronald Cooke was disabled in a work-related accident several years ago. The Cookes allege that because they are not members of the FLDS Church and because of Ron's disability they have been discriminated against by the two cities and their water and power company. The Arizona Attorney General's Civil Rights Division concluded that there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendants discriminated against Ronald Cooke by not providing water and other utility services because of his religion and by not accommodating his disability. The Cookes and their three children are living in a trailer while waiting for the utilities to be turned on. State officials are looking at the Cookes' case and other similar allegations. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goddard files lawsuit for Fair Housing Act | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Christina Stymfal KOLD News 13 Tucson Originally broadcast June 25, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PHOENIX (KOLD) - Attorney General Terry Goddard announced his office filed a lawsuit against the Town of Colorado City, Arizona, the City of Hildale, Utah, Hildale-Colorado City Utilities, Twin City Water Authority and Twin City Power for alleged violations of the Arizona Fair Housing Act. Goddard's Civil Rights Division concluded that there is reason to believe that the defendants discriminated against Colorado City resident Ronald Cooke by not providing water and other utility services because of his religion and by not accommodating his disability. Cooke used to belong to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Read the Arizona Attorney General Civil Rights Division's Discrimination Lawsuit filed against the City of Hildale, Town of Colorado City, and the utility, water and power companies dated June 25, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brent Hunsaker - New picture of Warren Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Reported by: Brent Hunsaker ABC 4 News Originally published June 25, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It has been years since we've seen FLDS leader and convicted accomplice to rape, Warren Jeffs. And since a picture is worth a thousand words, here's the one they took of Jeffs as he was processed a few days ago into the Utah State Prison at Point of the Mountain. To my eye, he looks a lot older. (Prison will do that to you.) But Jeffs really doesn't appear to be all that much thinner. I remember when he showed up in Judge Shumate's courtroom in St George looking both thin and out-of-it. Judge Shumate was so alarmed that he ordered a full mental and physical evaluation of the polygamist prophet. After that, Jeffs seemed to bounce back just in time for his trial. I am told that while he was in the Mohave County, Arizona jail he was frequently force-fed through a tube in his nose. In fact, for a long time I am told that the tube was kept in even when he wasn't fasting -- saving wear and tear on the nose. So ... I was just wondering: What's that mark below Jeff's right nostril? Could it be caked blood from the feeding tube? Are they also using the tube at the Utah State Prison to keep him alive? I'm just asking. See photo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Silverdocs: A Conversation with Sons of Perdition Filmmakers Jennilyn Merten and Tyler Measom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Alix McKenna Arts Desk Washington City Paper - Washington, DC Originally published Jun. 25, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) is one of the largest polygamist sects in the country. In their film Sons of Perdition, Jennilyn Merten and Tyler Measom follow three teenage boys who fled life on the repressive FLDS settlement. After leaving, the boys are viewed as damned by their former neighbors, disowned by their families and forbidden from returning home. Merten and Measom also take us into a community of young runaways who are remarkably resourceful and supportive of each other. Sons of Perdition will be showing at Silverdocs in Silver Spring this Saturday. The screening will be at 9:30 P.M. At AFI Silver Theater 2.
WCP: Tell us a bit about your backgrounds and how you came to make this film. TM: We both came from a Mormon background and we both left the church. Now mind you, the Mormon church is different from the FLDS church, but it still has a lot of the same tenets. That was kind of why the story resonated with us. I have polygamy in my DNA. My great-great-great grandfather was a polygamist. The story of these kids wasn’t anything secret. It was in the news, but they kind of treated it more as, you know, these kids have nowhere to live and they can’t see their moms and dads, which is, tragic, but we knew that there was something a little deeper. There’s the thinking you’re going to Hell topic. That’s kind of what brought us into the story. JM: When we started working on the film, I was doing my PHD in American studies at the University of Utah, and was really interested in groups that have gone out into the desert to form alternative societies. And I was doing some commercial work with Tyler. When we heard about the story, we just felt, like Tyler said, that this was our story writ large, and there was this really interesting spiritual journey and an intellectual journey. It was a two-person team. We didn’t have funding. We didn’t necessarily have resources. We just did it. WCP: Are there a lot of these kids living in Utah? TM: There are estimates of up to a thousand of them. They mostly were in Saint George, although they were spread all over the place. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FLDS trial jury pools dry up | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Matthew Waller San Angelo Standard-Times Originally published June 26, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAN ANGELO, Texas — Whether Schleicher County has become jury pool-challenged is an open question, but the results of six court decisions that came out of the April 2008 raid on its YFZ Ranch might make it the preferred venue for defense attorneys. The jury pool in Schleicher County has taken a hit from three criminal trials of members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in less than a year, and the number of potential jurors that have shown up has progressively dwindled. For each trial, 300 or more have been called. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Schleicher County has a population of 2,731 people, and of those the Schleicher County estimates about 2,030 meet the qualifications for potential jurors, county staff have said. "The only way your exempt is if you’re on the jury panel itself within the past six months," said Brenda Mayfield, the county elections administrator. The jury pool was at 2,596 at the end of the first criminal FLDS trial, that of Raymond Merril Jessop in November 2009. Jeffs was convicted of second degree child sexual assault and sentenced to 10 years in prison and an $8,000 fine. Jurors had a sentencing range of 2 to 20 years in that case. The one trial held in Tom Green County took place in March and landed Merril Leroy Jessop a sentence of 75 years and a $10,000 fine. Jessop was found eligible for the 2006 enhancement to a first-degree felony, giving the jury a sentencing range of five to 99 years. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disabled Man Says Polygamists Cut Off Water & Power, Thinking Him 'Tool of the Devil' | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By TIM HULL Courthouse News Service - Pasadena, California Originally published Tuesday, June 29, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PRESCOTT, Ariz. (CN) - A disabled man claims members of the polygamist Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints denied him water and electricity to drive him out of church-controlled Colorado City, Ariz., believing that "nonmembers are apostates and tools of the devil." Ronald Cooke says he needs the utilities to run his breathing machine and clean his catheters after he was hit by a truck and left "severally disabled." In his federal complaint, Cooke claims that Hilldale-Colorado City Utilities, which he says is controlled by the polygamist sect, has for years refused to provide electricity and water to his home, forcing him and his family to live in a "cramped, cold travel trailer" powered by a propane generator. Cooke says the lack of utilities has exacerbated his medical condition. Cooke was raised in the polygamist sect but left the rural town on the Arizona-Utah border when he was 18, according to his complaint. He returned to the town in 2007 to be near family and friends. He applied to the United Effort Plan, a Fundamentalist Latter-day Saints housing cooperative that owns many of the houses in Colorado City, and began moving his family into an unfinished house that had been abandoned by its former owner. Cooke says he was soon targeted by church members who "misuse and affect the availability of utility services ... as a method of preserving religious domination" over the town. The defendants told him he had to get new permits and inspections to get utilities, and said the "system was overextended," Cooke says. But the utility provided water and electric services to other unfinished homes without new permits, and Colorado City issued no new building permits between 2005 and 2009, according to the complaint. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reporting as Senate preparation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investigative work is great training for office, hopeful says | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Andrea Kelly Arizona Daily Star - Tucson, Arizona Originally published Tuesday, June 29, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former investigative journalist John Dougherty says his years of digging up facts and records to cover stories about government and corruption have prepared him to be Arizona's next U.S. senator. In a speech Monday at a Democrats of Greater Tucson luncheon, Dougherty said his work uncovering the Keating Five scandal; former Gov. Fife Symington's real estate troubles, which later led to his resignation; sexual-abuse allegations against Warren Jeffs at his polygamist community; and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's alleged abuses of power were "fantastic training to move into the Senate." Dougherty is one of four Dem-ocrats seeking the Aug. 24 primary nomination to face the Republican nominee in November. He said he will use facts to hold the government accountable, just as he did as a journalist. Among the issues he said he cares most about:
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| Polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs refuses Texas extradition | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Jennifer Dobner Associated Press Deseret News Originally published Tuesday, June 29, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UTAH STATE PRISON — Utah prison officials say polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs has refused to sign a warrant seeking his extradition to Texas to face criminal charges. The warrant was served at the Draper prison on June 24, said Mike Haddon, deputy director of the Department of Corrections. Jerry Strickland, a spokesman for the Texas Attorney General's Office, confirmed Jeffs' refusal and said he has 30 days to appeal the warrant. Jeffs, 54, faces charges of bigamy, sexual assault of a child and aggravated assault in Texas. The charges stem from alleged marriages to one girl under age 17 and another under age 14, both in 2005. Jeffs is the ecclesiastical head of the Fundamentalist LDS Church. The Utah-based church practices polygamy in arranged marriages that have sometimes involved underage girls. The Texas charges stem from evidence gathered in a raid on the church's ranch near Eldorado in April 2008. Records confiscated during the raid indicated multiple marriages to underage girls, some as young as 12 years old. Jeffs, according to the records, had dozens of wives; 58 were listed in the year before the alleged marriages that led to his indictment. Defense attorneys Wally Bugden and Tara Isaacson, who represented Jeffs during a 2007 criminal trial in southern Utah, declined comment late Monday. In 2007, a Utah jury convicted Jeffs of two counts of rape as an accomplice for his role the 2001 marriage of a 14-year-old follower to her 19-year-old cousin. He is serving consecutive terms of five years to life in prison. Until recently, Jeffs had been in a Mohave County, Ariz., jail, awaiting two trials on sexual misconduct charges related to marriages of underage FLDS girls. Prosecutors asked a judge to drop the charges on June 6 after the two alleged victims said they no longer wanted to proceed with prosecution. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arizona Attorney General Sues Two Cities Dominated by Polygamous Mormon Sect | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By JAMIE ROSS Courthouse News Service - Pasadena, California Originally published Friday, July 2, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PHOENIX (CN) - Attorney General Terry Goddard has backed up a disabled man's claim that a utilities company run by the polygamous Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints denied him water and electricity because he did not have a building permit, though the utility does not require such permits from sect members. Goddard's Superior Court complaint against Hilldale-Colorado City Utilities supports Ronald Cooke's claim that the sect "instructed members that apostates were tools of the devil." Cooke sued the utility company and the Town of Colorado City in Prescott, Ariz., Federal Court. Goddard's complaint in Maricopa County Court tracks Cooke's claims. Goddard agrees that in July 2000, leaders of the fundamentalist sect "instructed members that apostates were tools of the devil, and that there were dangers in associating with apostates." Goddard agrees with Cooke's claim that he needs running water to clean his catheters, bathe and to avoid infections after a traumatic brain and spinal cord injury he suffered in 2005. Cooke was raised in the FLDS religion and grew up in the Colorado City, Ariz. area, but left the religion at age 18 or 19. Cooke returned to the town in 2007 and was denied water service in 2009 after Utility Board President Jonathan Fischer claimed that "no new families would be placed in homes not previously connected to the water systems," Goddard says. In his complaint, Cooke said that "people often live in unfinished homes in Colorado City for years during construction without getting new building permits." Cooke said the lack of utilities exacerbated his medical problems. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samuel C. Fischer arrested for domestic violence | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bookings Washington County Sheriff's Office news.washeriff.net Originally published July 3, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Birth Date: 03/13/55 Address : 495 W UTAH AVE, Hildale, UT
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| Search for missing boater now deemed "recovery" effort | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Alex Grubb KPAX Channel 8 - Missoula, Montana Originally broadcast July 6, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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GREAT FALLS - The search for a missing Utah man in the Missouri River has officially been deemed a recovery effort, rather than a rescue attempt. The 21-year old was canoeing on Sunday evening when the boat capsized; two fellow boaters were rescued after swimming to an island, but the third man did not surface. Search & Rescue crews have been walking along the banks of the river and using boats in an effort to locate the man, but late Tuesday morning, Mike McCluskey of Cascade County Search & Rescue said that the search efforts are shifting to recovery mode.
(from July 5, 2010) Search & Rescue crews set out early Monday morning in an attempt to locate a 21-year old Utah man who was reported missing on Sunday evening. The man and two two friends were canoeing in the Missouri River when their boat capsized. Two of the occupants managed to make it to an island and were rescued, but the third man has not yet been located. Officials say that missing man isn't a good swimmer, and none of the three people in the canoe were wearing a life jacket. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arizona Attorney General Files Fair Housing Lawsuit against Colorado City and Hildale for Civil Rights Violations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Jamie Ross, Contributor KCSG TV - St. George, Utah Originally published July 6, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Phoenix, AZ) - Attorney General Terry Goddard has backed up a disabled man's claim that a utilities company run by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints denied him water and electricity because he did not have a building permit, though the utility does not require such permits from sect members. Goddard's Superior Court complaint against Hilldale-Colorado City Utilities supports Ronald Cooke's claim that the sect "instructed members that apostates were tools of the devil." Cooke sued the utility company and the Town of Colorado City in Prescott, Ariz., Federal Court. Goddard's complaint in Maricopa County Court tracks Cooke's claims. Goddard agrees that in July 2000, leaders of the fundamentalist sect "instructed members that apostates were tools of the devil, and that there were dangers in associating with apostates." Goddard agrees with Cooke's claim that he needs running water to clean his catheters, bathe and to avoid infections after a traumatic brain and spinal cord injury he suffered in 2005. Cooke was raised in the FLDS religion and grew up in the Colorado City, Ariz. area, but left the religion at age 18 or 19. Cooke returned to the town in 2007 and was denied water service in 2009 after Utility Board President Jonathan Fischer claimed that "no new families would be placed in homes not previously connected to the water systems," Goddard says. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mormon apologists: Book your flight to Sandy, Utah | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Jeff Kunerth The Religion World Orlando Sentinel Originally published July 7, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research, an organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints doctrine, belief and practice, will hold its annual conference of scholars, apologists, and interested individuals on Aug. 5-6 at the South Towne Exposition Center in Sandy, Utah. Royal Skousen, editor of the Book of Mormon critical text project, will speak about "Restoring the Original Text of the Book of Mormon. Stephen Ricks, a professor of Hebrew and Cognate Learning at Brigham Young University, will discuss proper names in the Book of Mormon. Matthew Roper of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship will tackle the sometimes volatile subject of Book of Mormon geography. Public opinion pollster Gary Lawrence will reveal new information on "How Americans View Mormonism and What We Can Do About It." Peter Watkins, president of a local strategic communications consulting firm and former White House spokesman, will summarize his experience as a Mormon in the White House and what that means within the context of America’s political landscape. Brian C. Hales, author of "Modern Polygamy and Mormon Fundamentalism: The Generations after the Manifesto," will present new evidence relating to controversies about Joseph Smith’s polygamy. Steven L. Mayfield, producer of Mormon Miscellaneous, a talk/interview/call-in radio program in Salt Lake City will discuss "Big Love: The truth, the Whole Truth and, Well, Maybe Not?" Craig L. Foster, currently co-editing a three-volume work on plural marriage, will present, "Like Two Crazy Aunts in the Attic: Latter-day Saints and Popular Polygamy Stereotypes." For event details see: http://www.fairlds.org/conf10a.html | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ariz. AG alleges faith-based housing discrimination | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Jennifer Dobner Associated Press The Durango Herald - Durango, Colorado Originally published Thursday, July 08, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SALT LAKE CITY - Arizona's attorney general has filed a civil-rights lawsuit on behalf of a disabled man who was allegedly denied access to water and power at his home because he is no longer a member of a sect that practices polygamy in a community on the Utah-Arizona border. Ron Cooke, his wife Jinjer and their children live in Colorado City, Ariz. The town, along with Hildale, Utah, is the primary base of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and the elected leaders and employees of both towns are largely church members. Filed last month in Phoenix, the lawsuit stems from a 2008 civil-rights complaint levied by Cooke and contends that he was denied access to utilities by the joint agency that serves the cities. Investigators determined in April that Cooke's complaints were valid and filed the lawsuit late last month. Prosecutors contend the defendants - the cities of Hildale and Colorado City, the Twin City Water Authority and Hildale-Colorado City Utilities, an intergovernmental agency that provides power, water, gas and sewer services - demanded Cooke apply for building permits, provide building plans meet other requirements before being considered for services, but did not require the same from residents who are members of the church. Prosecutors say the denial is a violation of state fair housing laws and want a judge to order the utilities connected and impose fines. They also want the defendants barred from using religion as the basis for denying utility services in the future to other residents who aren't church members. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Who is policing private schools? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education ministry doesn't screen what's taught | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Daphne Bramham Vancouver Sun Originally published July 8, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It's against the law to teach religious intolerance, sedition, social change through violent action or racial and ethnic superiority in B.C. schools. These reasonable limits are specifically spelled out in the act governing independent schools. The problem is that they're almost impossible to enforce. What school administrator -- no matter how zealous or bigoted -- wouldn't have the foresight to warn teachers not to leave that kind of material lying around in case there's a snap inspection? What teacher, regardless of how hate-filled or radical, can't pull a benign lesson plan out at the dreaded moment of an evaluation? But B.C.'s independent schools can formulate their own full-credit courses. All that the education ministry requires is that the independent school authorities submit a course name and synopsis along with the number of hours of instruction and the intended learning outcomes. No one in the ministry vets the texts or resource materials. Nobody screens the content. The only people who view the content are members of the external evaluation committee, whose members are not ministry staff. The ministry delegates that work to administrators from other independent schools. The education minister can ask to see the course materials for these locally developed programs, although no one seems to know whether any minister ever has. The material is not available to the public. In response to a freedom of information request, I was told: "The ministry of education does not collect BAA (board/authority-authorized course materials) for any schools and does not possess copies of textbooks." I had asked for the textbooks and resource materials for the Grades 1 to 12 religious studies at the two fundamentalist Mormon schools in Bountiful, which will receive $1.7 million in government grants this year. Their combined enrolment over the last five years has risen to 432 from 262. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Part Of I-90 Closes To Clear Accident Debris | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Keloland Television - Sioux Falls, South Dakota Originally broadcast July 8, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NEAR BRIDGEWATER, SD - Interstate 90 was shut down after a semi and RV collided Thursday morning. Both vehicles were heading east on I-90 when they crashed just east of the Bridgewater exit. Authorities closed the interstate again just before 1 p.m. so that equipment could be brought in to clear away the damaged vehicles. Emergency responders had to rescue one person who was trapped inside the RV. The two people from that vehicle were taken to the hospital, one with serious injuries. The driver of the semi had only minor injuries. Troopers say charges are pending, but wouldn't say which driver was at fault. We'll have more details later today on KELOLAND News and KELOLAND.com. See photo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investigation: Semi Driver Fell Asleep At Wheel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Keloland Television - Sioux Falls, South Dakota Originally broadcast July 8, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NEAR BRIDGEWATER, SD - Authorities say the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 will be closed for a few more hours while crews clean up after an accident. It happened around 9:15 a.m. Thursday near the Bridgewater exit. An investigation found the semi driver, Ronald Jessop, who works for a company out of Utah and was driving with a suspended license, fell asleep at the wheel. That's when officials say he hit a Ford Explorer being pulled by an RV owned by a Kansas couple. The driver of the RV, 73-year-old Betty Sullivan of Wichita, had to be taken to the hospital after the crash with minor injuries. The passenger in the RV, 74-year-old Leonard Sullivan, also of Wichita, was trapped after the crash and is in the hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Jessop, 25, is in the McCook County jail; he's being charged with careless driving and driving with a suspended license. Eastbound traffic on Interstate 90 is being rerouted north on 435th Avenue, east on Highway 38 and south on Highway 81. See photo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interstate 90 Open To Traffic Following Crash | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Keloland Television - Sioux Falls, South Dakota Originally broadcast July 8, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NORTH OF BRIDGEWATER, SD - Eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 near the Bridgewater exit are open again after being closed for about five hours Thursday. Authorities closed the stretch of interstate while crews worked to cleanup following a two-vehicle crash involving a semi and RV. The semi was carrying about 25 blocks of cheese estimated to weigh 700 pounds each. The state Department of Transportation used pay loaders and dump trucks to remove the cheese. Ace Towing of Salem brought in wreckers to move the vehicles. Interstate traffic was rerouted north to Highway 38 while the crash site was cleared. The interstate re-opened just after 4 p.m. See photo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Troopers: Concentrate Near Accidents | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Molly Miles Keloland Television - Sioux Falls, South Dakota Originally broadcast July 8, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NORTH OF BRIDGEWATER, SD - After Thursday’s crash on the interstate near the Bridgewater exit, officers are reminding drivers not to get distracted. Highway Patrol troopers say it's important for people coming upon accidents to concentrate on their driving and pay attention to the officers at the site. "As you are going through a scene like that, the best thing or advice I can give is to keep moving through the scene if you are told to do so," South Dakota Highway Patrol Capt. Kevin Joffer said. Joffer says accidents often distract other drivers, which can cause congestion and even another crash if they aren't paying attention to the flow of traffic. "Especially a high profile crash like this. There was lots to see and lots for people to look at. And unfortunately, when people slow down, not everyone behind you will know that you are slowing down," Joffer said. If traffic is stopped completely because of an accident, never try to drive through barriers. "When the law enforcement gets there, the biggest thing we want to be concerned about right away is getting any injured passengers out of the vehicles that are involved in the crash," Joffer said. Doing all you can to allow officers and rescue crews to do their job, he says, will keep everyone on scene safe. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HP: Semi Driver Shouldn't Have Been Driving | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Don Jorgensen Keloland Television - Sioux Falls, South Dakota Originally broadcast July 8, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NORTH OF BRIDGEWATER, SD - Troopers say he shouldn't have been driving in the first place. A Utah trucker is in a South Dakota jail cell, accused of falling asleep at the wheel and causing a major accident on Interstate 90. The crash stopped traffic near the Bridgewater exit for several hours and sent two people to the hospital. The accident scene looks worse than it was. Judging by the mess, investigators say it's lucky someone wasn't killed. "There was an Airstream RV with a Ford Explorer traveling eastbound on I-90 when a semi came up behind that vehicle and rear ended the vehicle being towed by the RV," Captain Kevin Joffer of the South Dakota Highway Patrol said. The semi hit the Airstream so hard, the driver lost control, the RV rolled into the median while the semi veered into the ditch tipping on its side. Investigators say the semi driver, Ronald Jessop of Utah, wasn't paying attention and was operating the big rig illegally. "The driver of the semi has a suspended commercial driver's license. We have also received information from the troopers investigating the accident that it appears the driver may have fallen asleep," Joffer said. Cargo and personal belongings were strewn everywhere. Because of the all the debris, the South Dakota Highway Patrol shut down the Interstate for several hours until the wreckage was cleaned up. "We weren't safely able to move traffic through that area because of the crash because it was quite a mess," Joffer said. The driver of RV, 73-year-old Betty Sullivan of Wichita, Kansas, has minor injuries. Passenger 74-year-old Leonard Sullivan suffered serious, but non-life threatening injuries. Jessop, the driver of the semi, has been cited for driving without a license and careless driving. He also has an outstanding warrant on a failure to appear in court on a separate charge. See photo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crash on I-90 closes interstate for five hours | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Staff Report The Argus Leader - Sioux Falls, South Dakota Originally published July 8, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interstate 90 is back open after a two-vehicle crash this morning west of the Salem exit closed it for about five hours. The crash happened about 9 a.m. when Ronald Scott Jessop, 24, of Washington, Utah, fell asleep at the wheel of a 2005 Kenworth semi-truck, the South Dakota Department of Safety said in a release. The Kenworth struck the rear of a Ford Explorer being towed by a 1999 Air Stream Cutter driven by Betty A. Sullivan, 73, of Wichita, Kan. The Explorer went into the south ditch. The Air Stream entered the center median and rolled, while the Kenworth entered the south ditch and rolled. Sullivan suffered minor injuries. A passenger in the Air Stream, 74-year-old Leonard Sullivan, suffered serious but nonlife-threatening injuries. Both were transported to Sanford in Sioux Falls. Jessop was uninjured. All occupants were wearing seatbelts. Jessop was taken into custody and charged with careless driving and driving with a suspended commercial driver license. Interstate traffic was rerouted north to Highway 38 while the crash site was cleared. The interstate was re-opened shortly after 4 p.m. The Kenworth carried a load of about 25 blocks of cheese, with an estimated weight of 700 pounds per block. Ace Towing of Salem sent wreckers to move the vehicles, and the state Department of Transportation used pay loaders and dump trucks to remove the cheese from the interstate. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nearly All Truck Drivers Follow Rules Of The Road | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Shawn Neisteadt Keloland Television - Sioux Falls, South Dakota Originally broadcast July 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Truck drivers don't want Thursday’s incident to give the industry a bad reputation. South Dakota's four permanent weigh stations are located along the busiest entrances to the state, along the interstate system. Motor Carrier Enforcement and Highway Patrol Troopers check up on trucks along other highways, and they're checking on much more than just how much each trucks weighs. Whenever you get behind the wheel, chances are you're sharing the road with big rigs. And those who drive trucks for a living must follow more rules than the average driver. But with up to 80,000 pounds of responsibility, they appreciate the extra federal and state regulations. "We can still get our jobs done. We can still get our deliveries made on time. We just have to plan ahead, be smart about it and be safe," truck driver Dave Bruck said. Like other truck drivers, Bruck must take a few minutes out of his trip to stop at this Interstate 90 weigh station at the South Dakota - Minnesota border. Checking the weight of the truck is just the start. If asked, drivers must also prove they're licensed and insured and show their log books. That's because, depending on the truck, drivers may only be on the road between 11 and 14 hours before taking a ten-hour break. Bruck says it’s up to every driver to make sure they're following the rules of the road. "You have to make a lot of decisions and they better be the smart ones and the right ones," Bruck said. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Judge Tauro's questionable past | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Charles Lane Opinions PostPartisan Washington Post Originally published July 9, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Judge Joseph Tauro’s opinions striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act may or may not be good constitutional law. I’ll leave that complex matter to others. But as works of history, they are puzzlingly incomplete.
In ruling DOMA unconstitutional partly because it intrudes on what he calls the states’ "exclusive" authority to define marriage, Tauro glosses over an issue with which the federal government was obsessed for most of the 19th Century and even part of the 20th: polygamy, particularly as practiced by Mormons in the western territories. Tauro notes, accurately enough, that Congress historically deferred to state laws regarding common law marriage and divorce, as well as restrictions regarding interracial marriage, "hygiene," and age at marriage -- despite often-furious controversies. But Mormon polygamy, like southern slavery, converted the territories into an arena of national moral conflict that inescapably involved all three branches of the federal government -- beginning with President James Buchanan’s ill-fated dispatch of U.S. troops to install a non-Mormon governor in the Utah Territory in 1857. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| INTERVIEW with the directors of SONS OF PERDITION: "They have no idea that I just spent four years publicly disparaging their God." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Lauren Macaluso Critical Mass - City Paper's Arts and Entertainment Blog Philadelphia City Paper Originally published Friday, July 9th, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sons of Perdition follows three boys exiled from their polygamist communities in Colorado City, AZ. Directors Jennilyn Merten and Tyler Measom provide viewers with an unseen side of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints religion and its demanding leader Warren Jeffs through Bruce, Sam and Joe. Filmed over a period of three years, the boys stumble through life outside their faith — sex, drugs, and partying included. The directors, like their subjects, are also ex-Mormons, who left the faith in their 20s. "It wasn’t as traumatic as it was for the kids but it was a story that was kind of close to our hearts in terms of leaving your religion, struggling to find a new faith and dealing with your family," says Merten. I caught up with the directors via conference call as they spent time on opposite sides of the country — Merten in New York and Meason in Utah. Their film will be shown tonight as part of the PUFF screening series.
City Paper: How did you go about finding Bruce, Sam, and Joe? Jennilyn Merten: We set out to find some kids and met a social worker who was helping some of them. He introduced us to a couple of the kids who weren’t real great, actually a couple of them told us to f*&% off. They’ve been taught their whole lives that outsiders are evil and they’re going to do horrible things to you. It took a little bit of work to gain their trust. But eventually we discovered this underground railroad community of kids, mostly boys living on their own. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Search continues for man missing in Missouri River | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Katie Stukey KPAX Channel 8 - Missoula, Montana Originally broadcast July 10, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GREAT FALLS - The search for a man reported missing in the Missouri River on Sunday has resumed, this time with a private party. At least 20 men are scouring the shores and the water between Black Eagle and Rainbow Dams. They would not tell us their connection to the missing man, but did confirm that they are looking for the body of the 21-year old Utah man who disappeared after his canoe capsized on July 4th. They brought several trucks, most with Idaho or Utah license plates, as well as trailers, a boat, two wave-runners, and an inflatable canoe. The Cascade County Sheriff's office called off the official search on Tuesday. Sheriff David Castle says he does not know the group that's currently searching, but says they have every right to look and wishes them the best of luck. Members of the group tell us they'll stay as long as it takes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Body of missing Washington County canoeist found | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Deseret News Originally published Monday, July 12, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) — The body of a 21-year-old Utah man missing in the Missouri River near Great Falls since July 4 has been found. Cascade County sheriff's officials say the body of Leroy Emack of Hildale was recovered from an intake at Rainbow Dam on Monday morning. An employee with PPL Montana, which operates the dam, spotted the body. Emack was in Great Falls working a construction job at Malmstrom Air Force Base. He and two others entered the Missouri River in a 14-foot canoe on the evening of July 4. The canoe capsized. The other two people made it to shore, but the sheriff's office says Emack drowned. Officials say none of the people in the canoe were wearing life vests. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Body of missing boater recovered in Great Falls | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Alex Grubb (Great Falls) KXLH News - Helena, Montana Originally broadcast July 12, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIRST ON KRTV.COM: The body of 21-year old Leroy Emack has been recovered at Rainbow Dam in Great Falls. PPL workers discovered the body at about 8:00 a.m. on Monday. Authorities held a press conference at 11:30 a.m. to confirm the identity of the body as that of Emack, who was in Great Falls doing construction work at Malmstrom Air Force Base. He is reported to be from Hildale, Utah. Emack and two friends were canoeing on July 4th when their boat capsized; two of the boaters were safely rescued from an island, but Emack never surfaced. Cascade County Corporal Bob Wojciechowski said that earlier on that day, the trio purchased a 14-foot canoe and tested it out in the calmer waters above Black Eagle dam; later they set out below the dam. Due to the strong waters, the canoe tipped over. Wojciechowski noted, "They were not wearing life jackets. The individual that ultimately drowned in this case, our information is he did not know how to swim either. Two individuals were able to make a shoreline to one of the islands. They washed up on shore there and were able to be recovered by a Fish Wildlife & Parks game warden." Authorities spent two days searching the river bank and the water for Emack to no avail. After the rescue operation was officially declared to be a recovery mission, a private search party was organized that continued into the weekend. Emack's body has been transported to a Great Falls funeral home. See photos | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canoeist missing since July 4 found at Rainbow Dam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By KARL PUCKETT Great Falls Tribune - Great Falls, Montana Originally published July 13, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The body of Leroy Emack, 21, of Hildale, Utah, was recovered Monday from the Missouri River, eight days after he disappeared in a canoeing accident near Great Falls, the Cascade County Sheriff's Office said. Emack's body was discovered in an intake grate at Rainbow Dam at 8 a.m., Cpl. Bob Wojciechowski said. He was transported to a funeral home in Great Falls. Rainbow Dam is about two miles from a canoe launch at Black Eagle Memorial Island, where Emack and two other men set off at 8 p.m. on July 4. PPL Montana, which operates the dam, discovered the body and notified authorities. None of the men was wearing life jackets, which may have saved Emack's life, Wojciechowski said. "You can't convey to the public enough that this river is dangerous," he said. He said the water where the canoe capsized was high and "very rough" for the weight of the watercraft and the skill level of the men. The sheriff's office said Emack and John Shapley and Parley Shapley, also of Hildale, entered the Missouri in a 14-foot canoe at Black Eagle Memorial Island. A bridge leads to the island below the Black Eagle Dam and powerhouse. The three men had purchased the craft in Great Falls the day of the accident and tried it out successfully in calmer waters, Wojciechowski said. On the second time out, the canoe capsized a few hundred yards after entering the river. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tension escalating in polygamous land feud | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ben Winslow Fox 13 News KSTU-TV Originally broadcast July 13, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HILDALE - Tension over control of land in the polygamous border towns of Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Ariz., have escalated to the point that Arizona's Attorney General is asking a Utah judge to step in. The Arizona Attorney General's Office filed an emergency motion in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court recently. Tapes filed with the papers give a glimpse into the level of frustration between both sides. One confrontation between a member of the court-appointed advisory board and a Colorado City Town Marshal occurred when tractors were plowing land that was in dispute. "What does it take to get these guys to quit doing this?" Seth Cooke asked Marshal Helaman Barlow. "A court order," Barlow replied. "Do I have to go and get my 270 and start shooting people?" Cooke said. "I am (expletive) serious!" The United Effort Plan Trust controls homes and property in Hildale and Colorado City. It was taken over by the courts in 2005 over allegations that Warren Jeffs and other leaders of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints mismanaged it. Arizona's filing detailed a long list of claims that police and town leaders in Hildale and Colorado City were ignoring a judge's orders over use of property. The police in the communities have been criticized in the past over perceived loyalties to FLDS leaders. The Arizona Attorney General's Office also recently filed a civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Cooke's brother, alleging town officials discriminated against him by not providing him with utility hookups for his home. "I don't want to kill anybody, and I don't want to be killed," Cooke said on the tape. "But I have been pushed to the point that my life... there's nothing more important to me than the free agency to live like I want to." Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listen to the recording of the conversation between Seth Cook and Marshal Helaman Barlow. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AZ seeks emergency hearing on twin polygamy towns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Jennifer Dobner Associated Press Writer The Spectrum Originally published July 14, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SALT LAKE CITY — The Arizona attorney general's office has asked a Utah judge for an emergency hearing on the rising tensions between residents of twin polygamous communities on the Utah-Arizona border. The request on July 8 comes in the wake of property-use disputes and allegations that police have failed to enforce the court-ordered authority of an accountant charged with managing the United Effort Plan Trust. In court papers, Assistant Arizona Attorney General Bill Richards asks 3rd District Judge Denise Lindberg to set a hearing "as quickly as possible on or after July 27" to hear "reports on issues and incidents affecting the peaceful and effective administration of the trust." No hearing date has been set. The trust holds nearly all the properties in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., the base of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Utah courts took control of the communal land trust in 2005 amid allegations of mismanagement by church leaders. That has sparked an ongoing string of disputes between current and former FLDS members. A yearslong battle for control of the trust between the FLDS, the attorneys general of Utah and Arizona and court-appointed accountant Bruce Wisan is mired in lawsuits. A 2009 attempt at a settlement ended without resolution. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tense relations lead to violent threat in FLDS communities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Emiley Morgan Deseret News Originally published Wednesday, July 14, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HILDALE, Washington County — An ongoing rift between those who live in the twin polygamist communities of Hildale and Colorado City, Ariz. and those who have been court-appointed to oversee their assets has escalated to the point that the Arizona Attorney General's Office is asking for a emergency court hearing to address the issues. The "emergency report" was filed last week and outlined conflicts over grain silos, fields, basic utilities and homes and allegations that local law enforcement has failed to abide by arrangements made by accountant Bruce Wisan who oversees the Fundamentalist LDS Church's United Effort Plan Trust. The trust was created by the FLDS Church in 1942 on the concept of a "united order," allowing followers to share in its assets. Utah courts took control of the trust in 2005 following allegations that it had been mismanaged by church leader Warren Jeffs. Members of the sect have long held that 3rd District Judge Denise Lindberg's decision to reform the trust, which is valued at more than $110 million and holds most of the property in Hildale, Colorado City, Ariz. and Bountiful, British Columbia, was a violation of their First Amendment rights to practice their religion freely. Lindberg appointed Wisan as the special fiduciary of the trust and later authorized the sale of Berry Knoll, a 438-acre parcel of land church members claim was consecrated for a temple, to repay the trust's $3 million in debt. One exhibit attached to the filing includes a tape recorded threat allegedly made by frustrated Trust Advisory Board member Seth Cooke. In the recording, he tells a law enforcement officer that if a plowing issue on Berry Knoll wasn't resolved, he would "go get my .270 and come out here and start shooting people." Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Polygamy opponents file today in BC court | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Daphne Bramham Think Tank Vancouver Sun Originally published July 16, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affidavits supporting Canada's anti-polygamy law are being filed today in B.C. Supreme Court in advance of the November trial during which Chief Justice Robert Bauman will determine whether the law is constitutional. Included with the affidavits are video interviews with a number of former fundamentalist Mormons who talk about the harms they experienced living within polygamous families. Among those interviewed is Brenda Jensen, whose father founded the B.C. community which has come to be called Bountiful. Truman Oler also testifies on video about what it is like to be a young man growing up in Bountiful. Oler, 28, is the brother of James Oler, the Bountiful bishop of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the nephew of the former bishop, Winston Blackmore. Both James Oler and Blackmore were charged with polygamy in 2009. Their charges were stayed after a B.C. Supreme Court judge determined that the special prosecutor who laid the charges had been improperly appointed. Following the stay of charges, B.C. Attorney General Mike de Jong decided to follow the recommendation of a previous special prosecutor and ask the court to determine whether the anti-polygamy section of Canada's Criminal Code is constitutional or whether -- as previous experts had advise the government -- it breaches the constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and freedom of expression. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Polygamy has troubling implications for any society | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Daphne Bramham Postmedia News Vancouver Sun Originally published July 16, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Increased crime, prostitution and anti-social behaviour. Greater inequality between men and women. Less parental investment in children. And, a general driving down of the age of marriage for all women. These are some of the harms of polygamy (or more correctly, polygyny, since it is almost always men marrying more than once) that are outlined in a 45-page research paper by noted Canadian scholar Joseph Henrich, filed Friday in B.C. Supreme Court. Henrich is uniquely qualified to look at polygamy's harm. He's a member of the departments of economics, psychology and anthropology at the University of British Columbia and holds the Canada Research Chair in Culture, Cognition and Coevolution. But he'd never really thought about it until this year when Craig Jones approached him. Jones is the lead lawyer in the B.C. government's constitutional reference case, which will be heard in November by B.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Bauman. Now, Henrich's conclusions form part of the intellectual and evidentiary underpinning for the province's argument that even if outlawing polygamy breaches the constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and freedom of expression, it's justified. In addition to Henrich's paper, the government has filed or will be filing affidavits from other specialists in the history of Western polygamy, Islamic law, psychology and medicine. Fifteen former fundamentalist Mormons have provided video testimony about their experiences growing up in polygamous communities in Canada and the United States. Among them is Truman Oler. He is the 28-year-old brother of James Oler, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints bishop in Bountiful, and the nephew of Winston Blackmore, the former bishop who now heads a breakaway sect. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extradition hearing scheduled for Warren Jeffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Reported by: Brent Hunsaker ABC 4 News Originally broadcast July 19, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - An extradition hearing has been scheduled for FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. Jeffs, who was convicted in St. George on two counts of rape as an accomplice, is also indicted in Texas on charges related to his "spiritual" marriages to underage girls as young as 13. Texas served a fugitive warrant on Jeffs who is in the State Prison at Point of the Mountain, but Jeffs opted to fight the warrant. ABC 4 News has learned Jeffs' attorneys will argue that he cannot be extradited to Texas until all of his appeals are first exhausted in the Utah case. Attorneys familiar with extradition law say usually another state's warrant can only be rejected for "mistaken identity" - proof that you are not the person named in the warrant. The extradition hearing for Jeffs is scheduled for July 27th at the West Jordan Courthouse. See mug shot | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extradition Hearing Set for Polygamist Sect Leader | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Jennifer Dobner Associated Press Writer KSAZ Fox 10 - Phoenix, Arizona Originally published Tuesday, July 20, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah judge has set a date for an extradition hearing for imprisoned polygamous church leader Warren Jeffs, who is facing multiple felony charges in Texas. Jeffs refused to sign extradition papers delivered to him last month at the Utah State Prison by Texas authorities. Utah courts spokeswoman Nancy Volmer said Jeffs will be asked to sign the papers again at a July 27 hearing before 3rd District Judge Terry Christiansen. If Jeffs declines, Volmer said another hearing would likely be set. Jeffs' Utah defense attorneys, Wally Bugden and Tara Isaacson, declined to comment Tuesday. Texas authorities have charged Jeffs with bigamy, sexual assault of a child and aggravated assault. The charges stem from two alleged underage marriages between Jeffs and girls ages 17 and 15 in 2005. Evidence of the alleged unions was gathered in a raid on a church ranch near Eldorado, Texas, in 2008. Records confiscated during the raid indicated multiple marriages to underage girls, some as young as 12. Jeffs, according to the records, had dozens of wives; 58 were listed in the year before the alleged marriages that led to his indictment. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warren Jeffs to have extradition hearing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Written by: Dan Metcalf Jr. Email: dan.metcalf@abc4.com Contributor: Brent Hunsaker ABC 4 News Originally broadcast July 20, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - FLDS leader Warren Jeffs faces an extradition hearing on July 27. The hearing will be held in West Jordan before 3rd District Court Judge Terry Christiansen. Jeffs was recently transported to Utah to serve his sentence for a 2007 rape-as-an-accomplice conviction. Jeffs had been awaiting trial in Arizona on similar charges, but prosecutors dropped the case, and he was returned to the Utah State Prison 2 weeks ago. Jeffs now faces trial in Texas, where a 2008 raid on the YFZ ranch near El Dorado resulted in several court cases, including allegations of arranged marriages between Jeffs his male followers and several underage girls. See mug shot | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Religions based on inequality have no place here | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By M. Schooff Vancouver Sun Originally published July 21, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Re: Polygamy is harmful to society, scholar finds, July 17
I read this column about Joseph Henrich's study on polygamy with a great deal of interest. What's striking is that it has taken the government so long to commission a study outlining why polygamy is a harmful practice when we have been seeing this abuse for years. Facts that should be obvious to us are conclusively proven in the important scholarly study, which states why polygamy is in direct conflict with our hard-earned democratic rights. It also provides an explanation for why some countries are continually unstable. The valuable Canadian tradition of freedom for everyone will be at risk if polygamy is allowed here, and the sooner we abolish it, the better off the world will be. There can be no tolerance for any religion based on inequality. I thank Daphne Bramham for publicizing this study and staying with this important topic. She's got her head on straight. M. Schooff Port Coquitlam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EXCLUSIVE: Couple claims arrest was religious persecution as Colorado City tensions rise | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Reported by: Brent Hunsaker ABC 4 News Originally broadcast July 21, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COLORADO CITY, AZ (ABC 4 News) - Escalating tensions in the polygamous community along the Utah-Arizona border. The Arizona Attorney General is calling for an emergency hearing with a Utah judge to deal with it. Such a hearing didn’t come soon enough for one couple living in Colorado City. Utah courts assumed control of the United Effort Plan Trust declaring the trust had been abandoned by then FLDS President Warren Jeffs. The UEP trust owns most of the land in Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah. And yet, the court-appointed administrator has been fought by the FLDS in his efforts to reform the trust. One of his most controversial moves among the FLDS has been to give occupancy agreements for homes in the community to non-FLDS people. Matt and Genevive Hainline have roots in the twin towns but do not believe in Warren Jeffs or polygamy. Two years ago they got an occupancy agreement for an abandoned, half-built house with a work shed. They immediately started to work on the house, but say they were harassed every step of the way by neighbors and city officials. That harassment seemed to culminate this week with their arrest on their own property. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EXCLUSIVE: Have the cops in Colorado City become "Lawless" lawmen? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Reported by: Brent Hunsaker ABC 4 News Originally broadcast July 22, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COLORADO CITY, AZ (ABC 4 News) - Are the local police in the polygamist communities of Hildale, Utah and Colorado City playing favorites? A small minority of people in town answer, "yes." This minority is made up of people who are no longer members of the FLDS faith -- they're called apostates. But while many who have left the polygamist church have also left town, these people either refused to leave or have recently returned after getting occupancy agreements from a court-appointed administrator for some of the abandoned homes in the towns. The apostates have long claimed to be victims of the majority's relentless drive to "purify" the community by forcing out non-believers. But recently, they say to has gotten worse. Much worse. On Tuesday Matt and Genevive Hainline were hauled off to jail by town marshals for trying to clean out a work shed in their backyard. The marshals claimed to have a restraining order signed by a local justice of the peace keeping them from an address that does not exist -- an address apparently identifying the backyard of their corner lot. The day after they were released from jail, the marshals were back warning the Hainlines not to step foot in their backyard. Matt told them, "If we're banned from our property then they should stay off the property." Hainline was referred to FLDS members who had occupied the property more than two years ago. They were continuing to come onto the Hainlines' property getting in and out of the shed. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Read the Moccasin Court Injunction Against Harassment filed by Alvera J. Black against Matthew and Genevive Hainline and signed by Justice of the Peace Mitchell Kalauli on July 20, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 51ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT - FLDS PTH #8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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District Courts Calendar co.tom-green.tx.us Last Updated on: July 23, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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When: Thu, August 12, 10am – 5pm Where: JUDGE WALTHER 1013 The State of Texas VS Wendell Nielsen PTH E.Nichols/A.Goodwin/K.Schaffer 1014 The State of Texas VS Wendell Nielsen PTH E.Nichols/A.Goodwin/K.Schaffer 1015 The State of Texas VS Wendell Nielsen PTH E.Nichols/A.Goodwin/K.Schaffer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 51st DISTRICT COURT - SCHLEICHER COUNTY CASE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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District Courts Calendar co.tom-green.tx.us Last Updated on: July 23, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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When: Thu Aug 5 10am – 4pm Where: COURTROOM "C" - JUDGE WALTHER 3028 SCHL. CO. ITIO: JESSOP, CHILDREN MOTION N.MALONIS/R.WILSON | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deadline set for polygamy trust land resolution | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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By Jennifer Dobner Associated Press Deseret News Originally published Friday, July 23, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah judge set a 45-day deadline for attorneys to propose a process to resolve competing property claims in twin polygamous communities on the Utah-Arizona border. The Thursday decision by 3rd District Judge Denise Lindberg comes in the wake of escalating disputes over United Effort Plan Trust land and homes in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz. The communal property trust was formed by the Fundamentalist LDS Church. Members consider sharing its assets a religious principle and see state intervention in the trust as a violation of their religious rights. The court took control of the trust in 2005 amid allegations of mismanagement by church leaders. Changes in the trust's administration since then have allowed for former church members to use trust assets and led to problems between neighbors. Recent disputes over the use of homes, water rights, cattle grazing and farming have led to threats of violence. Lindberg said Thursday she believes the problems stem from the refusal of FLDS Church members to follow court orders and work with Bruce Wisan, the Salt Lake City accountant she appointed to manage the trust. Lindberg said Wisan's decisions are equivalent to court orders and that those who follow the rules — residents, for example, who have signed occupancy agreements to live in trust homes — hold "superior rights" over those who don't. The FLDS have largely refused to sign those agreements. Read more | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What Peace There May Be" by Susanna Barlow Susanna Barlow's book is available for sale from The HOPE Organization Order it now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The HOPE Organization has received a Creative Ministries of Presbyterian Women Thank Offering grant to fund a 2-year "Jump Start" life-skills program for children in the Hildale/Colorado City/Centennial Park communities. Read our press release Read our program flyer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In mid September, attorney Greg Hoole wrote an editorial regarding the efforts of Teresa Jeffs' mother to replace Natalie Malonis, the Texas court-appointed guardian ad litem who had been assigned to protect Teresa's interests. Greg submitted this opinion piece to The Salt Lake Tribune for publication. That newspaper never printed it, but you can read it here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| FLDS documentary 3 years in the making - Banking on Heaven | |
| Watch the Banking on Heaven trailer | |
| Watch the documentary Damned to Heaven | |
| Watch the documentary Banished: The Lost Boys of Polygamy | |
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National Geographic Channel's "Inside Polygamy: Life Is Bountiful" documentary first broadcast February 10, 2010 | |
2. FLDS Secrets - Beyond The Reach from Brett Buchanan on Vimeo. | |
| Follow the TEXAS case on charges that Warren personally "spiritually married" little girls ranging in age from 12 to 14 and read the Court filings for and against Warren Steed Jeffs | |
| Follow the ARIZONA trial on charges of incest and charges of sexual contact with a minor and read the Court filings for and against Warren Steed Jeffs | |
| Follow the UTAH "Rape as an Accomplice" trial and read the Court filings for and against Warren Steed Jeffs | |
| Follow the numerous Texas cases of the YFZ men indicted for molesting little girls and read the Court filings regarding these men | |
| Listen to Warren Jeffs speak about the black race | |
| Listen to Warren Jeffs speak about the "Seed of Cain" and "pingy pangy" music from the black race | |
| Read the Arizona Attorney General's Supplement to Emergency Report and Recommendation for Expedited Status Conference regarding the UEP Trust, filed in 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 19, 2010 | |
| Read the Arizona Attorney General's Emergency Report and Recommendation for Expedited Status Conference regarding the UEP Trust, filed in 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 8, 2010 | |
| Read the Arizona Attorney General's Exhibits for the Emergency Report and Recommendation for Expedited Status Conference regarding the UEP Trust, filed in 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 8, 2010 | |
| Read the Arizona Attorney General Civil Rights Division's Discrimination Lawsuit filed against the City of Hildale, Town of Colorado City, and the utility, water and power companies dated June 25, 2010 | |
| Read the June 2010 UEP Trust Beneficiary Update Newsletter from Special Fiduciary Bruce Wisan | |
| Watch the June 8, 2010 interview of Carolyn Jessop on "Good Day Atlanta" on Fox 5 TV Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Read the State of Texas vs. Merril Leroy Jessop State's Post-Hearing Briefing on Defendant's Request for Free Record and Court-Appointed Counsel on Appeal filed in Schleicher County, Texas May 18, 2010 | |
| Watch the May 18, 2010 interview of Carolyn Jessop on the "Morning Show" on Fox 10 TV Phoenix, Arizona | |
| Read the State of Texas vs. Abram Harker Jeffs Notice of State's Intent to Introduce Extraneous Offenses filed in Schleicher County, Texas May 5, 2010 | |
| Read the brochure for the Canadian Society for the Investigation of Child Abuse 2010 Joining Together Conference to be held May 3-5, 2010 | |
| Watch the Sons of Perdition documentary trailer | |
| Watch the NBC New York video on the Sons of Perdition documentary April 23, 2010 | |
| Read the Motion for Other Substituted Service to serve deadbeat dad Merril Jessop so he'll show up at court and finally start paying Carolyn Jessop overdue child support, filed in Schleicher County, Texas April 9, 2010 | |
| Watch FOX 13 Ben Winslow's April 8, 2010 story on the Mohave County Attorney's Ofice investigating the misuse of public funds by Colorado City Fire District Chief Jake Barlow and City Manager David Darger.
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| Read Merril Leroy Jessop's Motion for New Trial filed in Schleicher County, Texas April 7, 2010 | |
| Read Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheahan's Special Press Release about serving warrants on Colorado City and Hildale officials for misuse of public funds and fraudulent schemes dated April 6, 2010 | |
| Read the Mohave County April 5, 2010 Affidavit For Search Warrant which led to serving warrants on Colorado City and Hildale Fire Department officials on April 6, 2010 for misuse of public funds | |
| See The Spectrum photographer Jud Burkett's photos taken while law enforcement from Mohave County and Washington County served search warrants on the Hildale and Colorado City Fire Departments on April 6, 2010 | |
| Read the Arizona Attorney General Civil Rights Division's Reasonable Cause Determination alleging the FLDS-run public utility companies are in violation of state and federal fair housing laws, dated April 5, 2010 | |
| Read Mohave Superior Court's Notice/Decision/Ruling regarding the trespassing charges against Bruce Wisan and Jethro Barlow, dated March 25, 2010 | |
| Read the Letter by FLDS attorney Michael D. Zimmerman admitting to misrepresentations made to the Utah Supreme Court, dated March 24, 2010 | |
| Read Bruce Wisan's Memorandum Opposing Motion to Strike Exhibits and Arguments From Specified Pleadings dated March 22, 2010 | |
| Read Val Oveson's Press Release UEP Trust and State Used as Unwitting Tools dated March 20, 2010 | |
| Watch the Eldorado Success video of Daniel Hurley made March 19, 2010 where he comments on the testimony given that the child bride victim of Leroy Jessop was "developmentally delayed" | |
| Read Judge Lindberg's Memorandum Decision and Order filed March 18, 2010 | |
| Read the Arizona Attorney General's Memorandum in Response and Objection to Motion to Strike Exhibits and Related Arguments From Specified Pleadings filed March 10, 2010 | |
| Read the Motion for Enforcement of Child Support Order and Order to Appear requiring deadbeat dad Merril Jessop show up at court to finally start paying Carolyn Jessop overdue child support, filed in Schleicher County, Texas March 9, 2010 | |
| Read the Original Interested Individuals' Memorandum Opposing Motion to Strike Exhibits and Arguments From Specified Pleadings dated March 8, 2010 | |
| Read Willie Jessop's Objection and Motion for Mistrial and his Affidavit in the State of Texas vs. Merril Leroy Jessop, filed in Schleicher County, Texas March 8, 2010 | |
| Read the Application for Turnover Relief against deadbeat dad Merril Jessop and his attorneys Amy Hennington and Gerald Goldstein to turnover their retainers for legal services to Carolyn Jessop for overdue child support, filed in Schleicher County, Texas March 7, 2010 | |
| Watch FOX 13 Ben Winslow's March 7, 2010 story on Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff investigating the Twin City Water Works for misuse of public funds | |
| Read Bruce Wisan's UEP Trust Beneficiary Update dated March 2010 | |
| See the KSTU-TV Fox 13 Utah Photo Gallery Polygamist Fashions | |
| Read Mike Emack's Motion to Dismiss his bigamy charge filed in Schleicher County, Texas March 5, 2010 | |
| Watch FOX 13's Ben Winslow's February 28, 2010 story about the deadline passing to settle the UEP battle | |
| Read the Attorney General of British Columbia's Statement of Position on the Constitutional Questions Referred and the Preliminary Summary of Facts Asserted filed in the BC Supreme Court February 24, 2010 | |
| Watch FOX 13's Katy Carlyle's February 22, 2010 story about Heber Holm's Polygamy Tour of Short Creek | |
| Read the State of Texas vs. Merril Leroy Jessop State's Intent to Introduce Extraneous Offenses or Acts (Prior Bad Acts) filed in Schleicher County, Texas February 22, 2010 | |
| Read the State of Texas vs. Merril Leroy Jessop State's Motion In Limine filed in Schleicher County, Texas February 22, 2010 | |
| Read the Utah Third District Court's letter from attorney R. Blake Hamilton to Judge Lingberg In the Matter of the United Plan Trust et al regarding her ruling on the UEP Trust Motion for Contempt and Sanctions Against Twin City Water Authority, dated February 19, 2010 | |
| Read the Order for Child Support requiring deadbeat dad Merril Jessop to finally start paying Carolyn Jessop overdue child support, filed in Schleicher County, Texas February 18, 2010 | |
| Read the Chief Justice Bauman's Order filed in the BC Supreme Court February 18, 2010 | |
| Read Lake Havasu Consolidated Court's Order assigning Judge Pro Tempore Paul Julian to serve as judge on the trespassing charges against Bruce Wisan and Jethro Barlow, dated February 18, 2010 | |
| Read Moccasin Consolidated Court's Objection to assigning Judge Pro Tempore Paul Julian to serve as judge on the trespassing charges against Bruce Wisan and Jethro Barlow, dated February 18, 2010 | |
| Read Moccasin Consolidated Court's Objection to Trial Being Vacated and Judge Haney Being Removed regarding the trespassing charges against Bruce Wisan and Jethro Barlow, dated February 18, 2010 | |
| Read the Utah Third District Court Affidavit of Texas Ranger J. Nick Hanna regarding the care and custody of Warren Jeffs' dictations, submitted to the Utah Supreme Court February 18, 2010 | |
| Watch Ben Winslow's coverage of the UEP Trust hearing before the Utah Supreme Court February 17, 2010 | |
| Watch John Hollenhorst's coverage of the UEP Trust hearing before the Utah Supreme Court February 17, 2010 Video Courtesy of KSL.com | |
| Read various Court filings to remove the judge JP Benjamin Haney, address due process issues and stay the trial regarding the trespassing charges against Bruce Wisan and Jethro Barlow, dated February 15 and 16, 2010 | |
| Read the Tom Green County, Texas Court's Affidavit of Nick Hanna sent to Natalie Malonis providing Records of Warren Jeffs discussing child bride marriages and other FLDS crimes, faxed February 15, 2010 | |
| Read the Tom Green County, Texas Court's Subpoena of Nick Hanna by Natalie Malonis to provide Records of Warren Jeffs discussing child bride marriages and other FLDS crimes, dated February 13, 2010 | |
| Read the Utah Supreme Court UEP Trust's Response to Motion to Strike Exhibits and Related Arguments regarding the inclusion of Warren Jeffs' dictations in Bruce Wisan's court filings, dated February 11, 2010 | |
| Read the Utah Supreme Court Order regarding "certain specified documents" in the FLDS vs Judge Denise Lindberg case, filed in the Utah Appellate Courts February 10, 2010 | |
| Read Colorado City Magistrate Court's Order denying the Motion to Dismiss or Sanctions regarding the trespassing charges against Bruce Wisan and Jethro Barlow, dated February 10, 2010 | |
| Read the State of Texas vs. Merril Leroy Jessop State's Application for Subpoenas for trial witnesses, filed in Schleicher County, Texas February 8, 2010 | |
| Read the Utah Supreme Court Order regarding three Motions to Strike in the FLDS vs Judge Denise Lindberg case, filed in the Utah Appellate Court February 8, 2010 | |
| Read the Cross-Claim in the M.J. (Elissa Wall) v. Warren Jeffs, the UEP Trust and Allen Steed case filed in Salt Lake City Third District Court on February 3, 2010 | |
| Read the Utah Supreme Court Memorandum in Support of Motion to Strike Exhibits and Related Arguments regarding the inclusion of Warren Jeffs' dictations in the Utah AG's and Bruce Wisan's court filings, dated February 1, 2010 | |
| Read Peter Stirba's Letter to Mark Shurtleff regarding disincorporation of Hildale dated January 29, 2010 | |
| Read the State of Texas vs. Raymond Merril Jessop Notice of Appeal filed in Schleicher County, Texas January 28, 2010 | |
| Read Mark Shurtleff's Letter to FLDS attorneys regarding settlement of the UEP Trust feud within 30 days dated January 26, 2010 | |
| Read Val Oveson's Press Release Response Memo from UEP Trust Documents Warren Jeffs' Jail House Directives dated January 22, 2010 | |
| Read the Utah Supreme Court Notice regarding time alloted for each group to present their oral arguments regarding the UEP Trust, filed January 22, 2010 | |
| Read Bruce Wisan's Reply Memorandum and Memorandum in Opposition to Motion to Stay dated January 21, 2010 | |
| Read Bruce Wisan's Letter to UEP Property Occupants regarding payments of 2010 UEP property taxes, dated January 18, 2010 | |
| Read the "Lost Boys'" Original Interested Individuals' Recommended Action Regarding Continuing and Proliferating Litigation regarding the UEP Trust, dated January 14, 2010 | |
| Utah Department of Commerce Certificate claiming Wendell Nielsen is the President of the FLDS, filed January 13, 2010 | |
| Read the Utah Supreme Court's Order denying the Petition for Emergency Relief on selling the cows, filed January 13, 2010 | |
| Read the Winston Blackmore vs Her Majesty the Queen Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim sueing the BC government, filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia January 12, 2010 | |
| Read the City of Canby, Oregon City Council Meeting Agenda Authorizing Contract with R & W Excavating, Inc. in the Amount of $2,250,704.00 for Improvements to the City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility - held January 6, 2010 | |
| Read Bruce Wisan's Utah Supreme Court UEP Trust's Response in Opposition to Petition for Emergency Relief filed January 4, 2010 | |
| Read Warren Jeff's letter to Merril Jessop with instructions for Willie Jessop et al to file numerous complaints with the court regarding the UEP Trust included in Bruce Wisan's Response above filed with the Utah Supreme Court January 4, 2010 | |
| Read Harker Dairy, LLC's Utah Supreme Court Memorandum in Opposition to Petition for Emergency Relief filed January 4, 2010 | |
| Read Bruce Wisan's Report of the Special Fiduciary filed December 31, 2009 | |
| Read Bruce Wisan's Report of the Special Fiduciary - Exhibits 1-108 filed December 31, 2009 (This is a HUGE file and will take time to download) | |
| Read Val Oveson's Press Release UEP Trust Files Yearly Report From Special Fiduciary dated December 31, 2009 | |
| Read the Office of the Arizona Attorney General's Memorandum in Response and Objection to Petition for Emergency Relief filed in the Utah Supreme Court December 30, 2009 | |
| Read the Utah Supreme Court's Order regarding the Petition for Emergency Relief on selling the cows, filed December 30, 2009 | |
| Read Bruce Wisan's Opposition of the United Effort Plan Trust to Petition for Extraordinary Relief filed in the Utah Supreme Court December 23, 2009 | |
| Read Judge Lindberg's Response to Motion for Stay dated December 23, 2009 | |
| Read Judge Lindberg's Response to Petition for Extraordinary Relief dated December 23, 2009 | |
| Read Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard's Memorandum in Support of Motion for Partial Lift of Stay and for Order Authorizing and Directing Discovery and Recommendations dated December 21, 2009 | |
| Read Bruce Wisans's Supplement to Motion for: (many things) dated December 18, 2009 | |
| Video by The Eldorado Success Deputy Attorney General Eric Nichols comments on the 33 year sentence given to Allan Keate. | |
| Video by The Eldorado Success Willie Jessop comments on the 33 year sentence handed down to Allan Keate after his conviction on a charge of Sexual Assault of a Child by a Schleicher County Texas jury on Thursday, December 17, 2009. | |
| See photos from San Angelo Standard-Times Photo Gallery - taken during the December 7-17, 2009 trial of Allan Eugene Keate | |
| Read Judge Lindberg's Minute Entry and Order denying motions by Willie Jessop regarding the UEP Trust, dated December 11, 2009 | |
| Read Bruce Wisan's Memorandum in Support of Motion (1)For Order to Show Cause; (2)To Prohibit Further Unauthorized Filings; etc. regarding the UEP Trust, dated December 11, 2009 | |
| Read the flyer for The Polygamy Experience Tour | |
| Read the Supreme Court of British Columbia Decision to appoint George Macintosh as a reference amicus curiae to look into the constitutional question of polygamy in Canada dated December 4, 2009 | |
| Read Bruce Wisan's document filed in the Utah Supreme Court Opposition of the UEP Trust to Petition for Extraordinary Writ dated December 2, 2009 | |
| Read FLDS document filed in the 3rd District Court Memorandum in Support of Motion to Remove the Special Fiduciary dated December 2, 2009 | |
| Read the UEP Trust Motion to Intervene dated November 23, 2009 | |
| Read the UEP Trust Memorandum in Support of Motion to Intervene filed November 23, 2009 | |
| Read the UEP Trust Memorandum in Support of Motion to Vacate Reformed Declaration of Trust filed November 23, 2009 | |
| Read the UEP Trust Memorandum in Support of Motion to Remove the Special Fiduciary dated November 18, 2009 | |
| Read the Letter from attorney Natalie Malonis to Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith regarding Carolyn Jessop and the Arizona trial of Warren Jeffs, dated November 16, 2009 | |
| Read the State of Texas vs Allan Keate State's Request for Change of Venue dated November 12, 2009 | |
| Read the M.J. (Elissa Wall) v. Warren Jeffs and the UEP Trust v. Allen Steed Verified Cross-Claim filed November 6, 2009 | |
| See photos from San Angelo Standard-Times Photo Gallery - Trial ends with guilty verdict November 5, 2009 hearing and conviction in Raymond Jessop's trial | |
| Listen to the Utah Supreme Court hearing on Warren Jeff's appeal - oral arguments held November 3, 2009 | |
| Read the Utah Supreme Court opinion on Snow, Christensen & Martineau; Raymond Scott Berry; Willie Jessop; Dan Johnson; and Merlin Jessop, Petitioners vs The Honorable Denise P. Lindberg, Respondent filed November 3, 2009 | |
| Read the UEP Trust Minute Entry Regarding Revised Ruling and Order regarding the sale of the Berry Knoll property, filed November 2, 2009 | |
| Read the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the United Order of Texas (creating ANOTHER new FLDS Church and religious Trust) filed in Schleicher County, Texas October 30, 2009 | |
| Read the Canadian Angus Reid poll supporting action against the Bountiful polygamists dated October 30, 2009 | |
| See photos from San Angelo Standard-Times Photo Gallery - FLDS case continues October 30, 2009 hearing without the jury present in Raymond Jessop's trial | |
| See photos from San Angelo Standard-Times Photo Gallery - FLDS trial under way October 29, 2009 opening day of Raymond Jessop's trial | |
| See photos from San Angelo Standard-Times Photo Gallery - Polygamist trial begins October 26-28, 2009 jury selection phase of Raymond Jessop's trial | |
| From CBS News - A member of a polygamous religious compound in Texas is on trial on charges of child sex abuse and bigamy. Don Teague reports. Watch CBS News Videos Online | |
| Read the Supreme Court of British Columbia Request for Assignment of Trial Judge dated October 22, 2009 | |
| Read the Supreme Court of British Columbia Letter to Chief Justice Bauman dated October 22, 2009 | |
| Read the B.C. Attorney General Michael de Jong's press release "Province to Seek Supreme Court Opinion on Polygamy" dated October 22, 2009 | |
| Read the Petition for Extraordinary Writ regarding the UEP Trust filed in the Utah Supreme Court October 20, 2009 | |
| Read the Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Petition for Extraordinary Writ regarding the UEP Trust filed in the Utah Supreme Court October 20, 2009 | |
| Read the Affidavit of Willie Jessop in Support of Petition for Extraordinary Writ regarding the UEP Trust filed in the Utah Supreme Court October 20, 2009 | |
| Read the Joint/Consolidated Motion to Quash Grand Jury Indictments filed in Schleicher County, Texas October 15, 2009 | |
| Read the Texas Court's Decision on the Motions to Suppress Evidence from the raid on the YFZ filed in Schleicher County, Texas October 2, 2009 | |
| Read Sam Brower's memo comparing the FLDS to the Mafia written October, 2009 | |
| Read Special Warranty Deed (transferring the YFZ Ranch from the Texas Heritage Trust to the new Texas Stake of Zion Trust) filed in Schleicher County, Texas September 30, 2009 | |
| Read the December 31, 2008 Declaration of Trust of the Texas Stake of Zion (creating a new FLDS Church and religious Trust) filed in Schleicher County, Texas September 30, 2009 | |
| Read defendant Raymond Merril Jessop's Objections to Evidence Pursuant to Rule 103(a)(1) filed in Schleicher County, Texas September 30, 2009 | |
| Read the Court Transcript of the Testimony of Merril Jessop regarding Carolyn Jessop's Petition for Child Support discussing the YFZ Ranch property and the Texas Heritage Trust, given in Schleicher County, Texas September 28, 2009 | |
| Read the Notice of State's Intent To Introduce Extraneous Offenses or Acts regarding the trial of Allan Eugene Keate, filed in Schleicher County, Texas September 28, 2009 | |
| Read the State's Motion in Limine regarding the trial of Allan Eugene Keate, filed in Schleicher County, Texas September 28, 2009 | |
| Read the State's Witness List and Expert's Witness Designation regarding the trial of Allan Eugene Keate, filed in Schleicher County, Texas September 28, 2009 | |
| Read the Notice of State's Intent To Introduce Extraneous Offenses or Acts regarding the trial of Raymond Merril Jessop, filed in Schleicher County, Texas September 28, 2009 | |
| Read the State's Motion in Limine regarding the trial of Raymond Merril Jessop, filed in Schleicher County, Texas September 28, 2009 | |
| Read the State's Witness List and Expert's Witness Designation regarding the trial of Raymond Merril Jessop, filed in Schleicher County, Texas September 25, 2009 | |
| Read the Motion for Partial Continuance to Conduct Discovery regarding Carolyn Jessop's Petition for Child Support from Merril Jessop, filed in Schleicher County, Texas September 25, 2009 | |
| Read the BC Supreme Court's decision to drop the polygamy charges against Winston Blackmore and Jimmy Oler dated September 23, 2009 | |
| Watch the July 29, 2009 FOX 13 Utah video by Katy Carlyle on the UEP court hearing regarding the sale of the Berry Knoll Farm | |
| Watch the July 29, 2009 FOX 13 Utah video on the UEP court hearing regarding the sale of the Berry Knoll Farm | |
| See photos taken inside the Salt Lake County Courthouse UEP hearing on the sale of the Berry Knoll Farm and published by KSL 5 TV on July 29, 2009 | |
| See photos taken outside the Salt Lake County Courthouse UEP hearing on the sale of the Berry Knoll Farm and published by KSL 5 TV on July 29, 2009 | |
| See photos taken at the Salt Lake County Courthouse UEP hearing on the sale of the Berry Knoll Farm and published by the Deseret News on July 29, 2009 | |
Watch some of Willie Jessop's testimony at the April 14, 2009 Texas House Human Services Committee hearing on the YFZ raid courtesy of the Austin American-Statesman | |
| Watch Jenny Hoff with KXAN 36 News Austin talk about the Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing the FLDS re-labeled for the anniversary of the YFZ Ranch raid | |
| See photos from the Corpus Christi Caller Times taken March 23, 2009 by Cynthia Esparza with the San Angelo Standard-Times covering the one year anniversary of the raid on the Yearning For Zion Ranch in Eldorado, Texas | |
| See photos one year after the April 2008 raid of the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas taken by Ben Winslow of the Deseret News and Cynthia Esparza of the San Angelo Standard-Times and published by The Deseret Morning News on March 28, 2009 | |
| Video Courtesy of KSL.com Watch the KSL Video Last FLDS youth in custody could soon return to family broadcast on March 13, 2009 | |
| During the January 23, 2009 deposition of Merril Jessop, court exhibits were included in his deposition. One item was a budget from the Short Creek Stake reporting their tithings paid and how these monies were being spent to support the other FLDS compounds | |
| Read the Budget Estimates from the Short Creek Stake and see where their hard-earned money was going | |
| During the January 23, 2009 deposition of Merril Jessop, court exhibits were included in his deposition. One collection was Warren Jeffs' Personal Priesthood Record from January 16, 2007 - June 6, 2007. Excerpts of this included the "History of events of Warren Steed Jeffs while in prison (Purgatory Jail) in Washington County, Utah." Below are some of these Personal Priesthood Records | |
| Read Warren Jeffs' Personal Priesthood Record PART 1 court exhibit released February 9, 2009 | |
| Read Warren Jeffs' Personal Priesthood Record PART 2 court exhibit released February 9, 2009 | |
| Read Warren Jeffs' Personal Priesthood Record PART 3 court exhibit released February 9, 2009 | |
| Read Warren Jeffs' Personal Priesthood Record PART 4 court exhibit released February 9, 2009 | |
| Read Warren Jeffs' Personal Priesthood Record PART 5 court exhibit released February 9, 2009 | |
| Read Warren Jeffs' Personal Priesthood Record PART 6 court exhibit released February 9, 2009 | |
| During the January 23, 2009 deposition of Merril Jessop, court exhibits were included in his deposition. One collection was Warren Jeffs' Personal Dictations Below are some of these Personal Dictations fom 2005 | |
| Read Warren Jeffs' Personal Dictations PART 1 court exhibit released February 9, 2009 | |
| Read Warren Jeffs' Personal Dictations PART 2 court exhibit released February 9, 2009 | |
| Read Warren Jeffs' Personal Dictations PART 3 court exhibit released February 9, 2009 | |
| Read Warren Jeffs' Personal Dictations PART 4 court exhibit released February 9, 2009 | |
| Read Warren Jeffs' Personal Dictations PART 5 court exhibit released February 9, 2009 | |
| During the January 23, 2009 deposition of Merril Jessop, court exhibits were included in his deposition. One item was Warren Jeffs' directive to his brother Lyle Jeffs to notify faithful followers they no longer held the Priesthood | |
| Read the bad news given to some FLDS members who were told that they had to repent from afar (leave UEP property) and their families were "released" from them in the Short Creek Assignment from July 12, 2005 | |
| Read the FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop's deposition court transcript recorded January 26, 2009 | |
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MR. SCHAFFER: At this time Mr. Jessop will refuse to answer that question based upon his Fifth Amendment privilege as well — under the federal constitution as well as the state constitution. As counsel propounding these questions knows there are federal investigations involving money laundering, mail fraud, wire fraud, Mann Act violations in federal court, in addition to any allegations being investigated by the state authorities.
MS. MALONIS: For the record, this counsel is not aware of that. MR. SCHAFFER: You are now. | |
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Watch a video of Willie Jessop taken during his deposition January 26, 2009 | |
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Watch more of the video of Willie Jessop taken during his deposition January 26, 2009 | |
| Read YFZ Ranch leader Merril Jessop's deposition court transcript recorded January 23, 2009 | |
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Watch a video of Merril Jessop taken during his deposition January 23, 2009 | |
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Watch more of the video of Merril Jessop taken during his deposition January 23, 2009 | |
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Watch even more of the video of Merril Jessop taken during his deposition January 23, 2009 | |
| Read the court Notice of Intention to take Oral Deposition from Merril Jessop filed January 16, 2009 | |
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Watch the Eldorado Success Video of Willie Jessop meeting with Schleicher County Commissioners on January 12, 2009 | |
| Read the court Subpoena to Compel Appearance for Depostion for Merril Jessop dated January 12, 2009 | |
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Watch a video on FORA.tv with Steve Singular (author of When Men Become Gods) and Laura Chapman filmed September 16, 2008 during a book signing event at the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver, Colorado | |
| See photos from The Deseret News Photo Gallery taken during the second YFZ Ranch Grand Jury Hearing and published by the Deseret News August 22, 2008 | |
| Read the Statement of Dan Fischer dated August 1, 2008 | |
| Watch the CBS 48 Hours Mystery YFZ Ranch video where Peter Van Sant talks with Willie Jessop about the April 2008 raid of the YFZ ranch. | |
| Read the Bishop's Record of Families at the YFZ Ranch released May 1, 2008 | |
| Watch the CBS Early Show video where the YFZ Ranch men speak out from April 26, 2008 | |
| Watch the April 16, 2008 Good Morning America interview with Nancy, Marie and Esther from the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas | |
| Watch the April 15, 2008 CBS Evening News coverage by Hari Sreenivasan on the YFZ raid and the removal of the FLDS children | |
| Watch Neal Karlinsky's April 14, 2008 report for ABC World News Tonight | |
| Read the Statement for the Media sent by Wally Bugden on December 5, 2007 - announcing Warren has resigned as President of the Corporation of the President of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Inc. | |
| Read the July 9, 2007 Memorandum in Support of Motion in Limine Regarding Statements of the Defendant unsealed by the court on November 6, 2007 - This is the "I am not the Prophet" confession | |
| Watch Warren Jeffs tell Nephi that he is "not the prophet" and "never was the prophet" | |
| See the Los Angeles Time's Photo Gallery from stories published May 2006 | |
| Read the February 21, 2005 Training Given by President Warren S. Jeffs On the Places of Refuge to a Group of Men regarding the "keep sweet" training on "how to live and be Zion" and be invited to live on the lands of refuge | |
| See the Photo Gallery from Alta Academy 1988 to 1996 | |
| For more information on the April 2008 raid on the FLDS YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas, visit our web page
Don't Mess with Texas | |
| For more information on the trials of the FLDS men from the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas, visit our web page
Texas Hold'em | |
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