Critic of leader of polygamist sect is facing eviction
 Lawyer: Request preceded news conference
 
By Dave Hawkins
Las Vegas Review-Journal
 
KINGMAN, Ariz. -- The man who held a recent news conference to denounce Warren Jeffs, the leader of the predominant church in the northern Arizona community of Colorado City, is facing eviction proceedings initiated by the church-controlled trust.

Much of the property in the community is owned by the United Effort Plan Trust, controlled by the polygamy endorsing Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

The trust, through Salt Lake City attorney Rodney Parker, has filed a forcible entry and detainer complaint in an effort to evict Ross Chatwin, 35, from trust-owned land at 245 N. Willow St.

"The plaintiff revoked the permission formerly enjoyed by Ross Chatwin to occupy the subject property as a tenant-at-will by notice dated Jan. 27, 2004," the complaint states. "Defendant has affirmatively refused to surrender and turn over possession of the property to the plaintiff."

Superior Court Judge James Chavez will conduct an initial hearing on the case in Kingman this morning. Mostly administrative and scheduling matters are expected to be addressed at the proceeding that will link participants by telephone.

Chavez ruled against Parker and the trust in a similar case in May. Chavez ruled that the trust could not evict Milton and Lenore Holm from UEP land without compensating them for their investments on the property, which included construction of a large home.

The trust is hoping to have Chavez's decision overturned through a pleading lodged with the Arizona Court of Appeals. Parker said he does not think that the previous Chavez decision is a precedent that applies to Chatwin.

"I think that he (Chatwin) may try to raise some similar issues, but I think that his circumstances are different from the Holms,' " Parker said.

Parker said he was not aware if the trust planned to evict some 20 other men who, like Chatwin, have been excommunicated by the church.

"That's always possible but I haven't been asked to do any others," Parker said.

Parker said, despite appearances, the action against Chatwin does not come as retaliation for the Jan. 23 news conference during which Chatwin likened Jeffs to Adolf Hitler. He said he had been instructed to prepare the complaint before Chatwin addressed reporters from the home he's now been asked to vacate.
 
reviewjournal.com
Originally published Thursday, February 5, 2004
 
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