Family-feud case offers glimpse of life in polygamous community
 
By Lorin McLain
Kingman Daily Miner
 
KINGMAN – A Colorado City man who was evicted from the home he shared with his brother after claiming to have invested around $40,000 in the property made his final argument for compensation in court Monday.

The civil trial provides a glimpse of the church that controls life in the polygamous community. The brother being sued testified that his brother has been encouraged by a church official to continue living in the home, which was built on property owned by a church company, despite being evicted.

Steven Chatwin, a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints, continues to live on the premises. Mohave County Superior Court Judge James Chavis ruled in May in his brother’s favor for legal title of the house.

The brother, Charles Ross Chatwin, has been excommunicated from the church. He has claimed that the United Effort Plan, the church organization that owns most of the property of the polygamous community, has encouraged Steven Chatwin to remain in the house.

Chavez previously had ruled that Ross Chatwin has the right to retain the residence until he receives compensation from United Effort Plan for his investment in the house.

Steven Chatwin also refuses to leave and is suing for compensation on the same grounds.

Colorado City Police arrested Ross Chatwin in September on felony trespass charges. He was accused of changing the locks on the apartment to keep his brother out, The Associated Press reported. The Mohave County Attorney’s office dropped the charges two days later.

Rodney Parker, the United Effort Plan attorney representing Steven Chatwin, claims that Ross Chatwin is retaining rights to the house by circumstances of unjust enrichment after Steven Chatwin spent $23,000 in remodeling and construction of the upstairs of the home by the end of January 2003.

Steven Chatwin said his brother never objected to the home improvement projects until his return Feb. 14 after a week out of town.

Parker said that Monday’s was the last testimony to be heard in the case. Although he doesn’t know when Chavez will rule, "it shouldn’t go on much longer."
 
KingmanDailyMiner.com
Originally published November 24, 2004
 
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