http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/12/24/1224eldorado.html
Excerpts
A Texas Child Protective Services investigation has found that of the 439 children removed from the Yearning for Zion ranch in West Texas earlier this year, 275 were abused or neglected.
The final report released Tuesday said that 12 girls were victims of sexual abuse because they entered "spiritual marriages" between the ages of 12 and 15. Seven of them have had children, the report said. It also said that 263 other children suffered neglect.
But the report does not include specific information on how investigators determined whether each child was abused or neglected, citing confidentiality requirements in state law.
The case "is about sexual abuse of girls and children who were taught that underage marriages are a way of life," said the report by the Department of Family and Protective Services, which oversees CPS. "It is about parents who condoned illegal underage marriages and adults who failed to protect young girls — it has never been about religion."
As a result of the investigation, the report said, 170 parents have taken classes "on appropriate discipline and the psychosexual development of children" and 50 girls took classes on how to identify and report sexual abuse.
CPS is working with the families of 15 children, including two who remain in state custody, department spokesman Patrick Crimmins said. The rest of the children are entirely in their parents' care. He said CPS has exhausted the options state law provides.
------------------------------------------------
State Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville, whose district includes Eldorado, where the ranch is located, said the report "validates many of the things (CPS) was criticized for doing," including going into the ranch in the first place.
He said he'll file a bill during the legislative session that begins Jan. 13 that would allow CPS to remove perpetrators rather than alleged victims in cases that involve large communities such as the ranch.
McCown said that state law already offers an option for removing perpetrators but that it may not be wise to do so.
"If you've got a 13-year-old girl forced to marry a 50-year-old man, and her mother made her wedding dress, then leaving her in the care of her mother and removing her father doesn't necessarily solve the problem," McCown said.
In the separate criminal investigation, 12 male residents of the ranch have been indicted on charges including sexual assault of a child, aggravated sexual assault, tampering with evidence, bigamy and failure to report abuse. Among the indicted is sect leader Warren Jeffs.
Texas in 2005 raised the age of legal marriage from 14 to 16, in part to discourage Jeffs' group from settling in Texas, said Hilderbran, who worked to pass the legislation.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Just 19 children cases remain from FLDS raid
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=5106323
(KSL News) Just over a dozen FLDS children remain under court jurisdiction in Texas following a raid on the FLDS compound in Eldorado earlier this year.
More than 400 children were removed from their families during that raid, and all were placed under court jurisdiction until Texas Child Protective Services could determine if they were in danger of abuse.
The Deseret News reports today that all but 19 children have been "non-suited," meaning their cases are no longer being investigated.
The reasons vary from the children aging out of the system to parents taking appropriate steps to prevent abuse.
(KSL News) Just over a dozen FLDS children remain under court jurisdiction in Texas following a raid on the FLDS compound in Eldorado earlier this year.
More than 400 children were removed from their families during that raid, and all were placed under court jurisdiction until Texas Child Protective Services could determine if they were in danger of abuse.
The Deseret News reports today that all but 19 children have been "non-suited," meaning their cases are no longer being investigated.
The reasons vary from the children aging out of the system to parents taking appropriate steps to prevent abuse.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
DNA taken from polygamist sect baby
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6154234.html
SAN ANTONIO — Investigators from the Texas Attorney General's Office on Monday took DNA samples from a baby born to a member of a polygamist sect months after a high-profile raid, thwarting efforts by the mother to prevent the sample from being collected.
Jerry Strickland, a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, confirmed late Monday that investigators executed a search warrant and gathered a DNA swab. The office is handling the prosecution of some members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints accused of charges including bigamy and sexual assault of a child.
Child welfare authorities previously tried to examine and collect a sample from the baby born June 14, saying they wanted to establish paternity, but the baby's 17-year-old mother refused to disclose the child's whereabouts. A stand-off in court in San Angelo on Nov. 25 led to an undisclosed agreement between the two sides.
But the search warrant, obtained in criminal court, forced the issue.
FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop said authorities went to an FLDS home in the San Antonio area, where some of the families have moved since the April raid on their West Texas ranch, and collected DNA from the baby girl.
He had said previously the teen mother, who was in foster care late in her pregnancy, was afraid authorities would take the newborn if she allowed them to examine the baby.
Child Protective Services said in court filings investigators believe the girl was married to a man in FLDS when she was 14.
In Texas, someone younger than 17 generally cannot consent to sex with an adult, and The Associated Press does not name possible victims of a sex crime.
SAN ANTONIO — Investigators from the Texas Attorney General's Office on Monday took DNA samples from a baby born to a member of a polygamist sect months after a high-profile raid, thwarting efforts by the mother to prevent the sample from being collected.
Jerry Strickland, a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, confirmed late Monday that investigators executed a search warrant and gathered a DNA swab. The office is handling the prosecution of some members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints accused of charges including bigamy and sexual assault of a child.
Child welfare authorities previously tried to examine and collect a sample from the baby born June 14, saying they wanted to establish paternity, but the baby's 17-year-old mother refused to disclose the child's whereabouts. A stand-off in court in San Angelo on Nov. 25 led to an undisclosed agreement between the two sides.
But the search warrant, obtained in criminal court, forced the issue.
FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop said authorities went to an FLDS home in the San Antonio area, where some of the families have moved since the April raid on their West Texas ranch, and collected DNA from the baby girl.
He had said previously the teen mother, who was in foster care late in her pregnancy, was afraid authorities would take the newborn if she allowed them to examine the baby.
Child Protective Services said in court filings investigators believe the girl was married to a man in FLDS when she was 14.
In Texas, someone younger than 17 generally cannot consent to sex with an adult, and The Associated Press does not name possible victims of a sex crime.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Polygamist ranch leader indicted
This is big, exciting, great news!!!!!
SAN ANTONIO — A 72-year-old elder of a breakaway polygamist Mormon sect and two other church members surrendered to authorities Monday to face felony charges relating to the underage marriage of girls to older men.
Fredrick "Merril" Jessop, a leader in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who oversaw the sect's West Texas ranch, faces one count of conducting an unlawful marriage ceremony involving a minor on July 27, 2006 — the same day one of his daughters was allegedly married to jailed FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. She was 12 at the time and is now the only child from the Yearning For Zion Ranch in foster care after her mother refused to cooperate with child welfare authorities.
Merril and his first six wives, from left, Cathleen, Ruth, Faunita, Tammy, Barbara and Carolyn
A grand jury in Eldorado, Texas, indicted Jessop, Jeffs and two other members of FLDS on Nov. 12. Jeffs, convicted in Utah and awaiting trial in Arizona on charges related to underage marriages of sect girls, faces charges in Texas of sexual assault of a child and bigamy.
The two other men who turned themselves in Monday are:
Wendell Loy Nielsen, 68, charged with three counts of bigamy. The indictment includes few details, but church records released as part of a separate child custody case list 21 women married to Nielsen in August 2007.
Leroy Johnson Steed, 42, who is charged with sexual assault of a child, bigamy and tampering with evidence. Church records show Steed married to a 16-year-old girl in March 2007.
All three men were booked Monday and then released after posting bond.
"We've said all along we're not running. We're going to take it head on," said FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop. "The allegations they're making and what they're trying to do is nothing more than harassment."
Church records and journal entries released in the custody case indicate several of Merril Jessop's daughters were married to men in the church when they were 16 or younger.
One of Merril Jessop's wives, Carolyn, fled the FLDS community on the Arizona-Utah line with her children in 2003 and wrote a best-selling book, "Escape."
In all, 12 FLDS men have been indicted since Texas authorities raided the ranch in April looking for evidence of underage girls forced into marriages and sex with older men.
Generally, teens younger than 17 cannot consent to sex with an adult under Texas law. Bigamy is also illegal. While the FLDS plural marriages are not legal marriages, Texas law forbids even purporting to marry.
Nother pic of Merril with wives:
SAN ANTONIO — A 72-year-old elder of a breakaway polygamist Mormon sect and two other church members surrendered to authorities Monday to face felony charges relating to the underage marriage of girls to older men.Fredrick "Merril" Jessop, a leader in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who oversaw the sect's West Texas ranch, faces one count of conducting an unlawful marriage ceremony involving a minor on July 27, 2006 — the same day one of his daughters was allegedly married to jailed FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. She was 12 at the time and is now the only child from the Yearning For Zion Ranch in foster care after her mother refused to cooperate with child welfare authorities.
Merril and his first six wives, from left, Cathleen, Ruth, Faunita, Tammy, Barbara and Carolyn
A grand jury in Eldorado, Texas, indicted Jessop, Jeffs and two other members of FLDS on Nov. 12. Jeffs, convicted in Utah and awaiting trial in Arizona on charges related to underage marriages of sect girls, faces charges in Texas of sexual assault of a child and bigamy.
The two other men who turned themselves in Monday are:
Wendell Loy Nielsen, 68, charged with three counts of bigamy. The indictment includes few details, but church records released as part of a separate child custody case list 21 women married to Nielsen in August 2007.Leroy Johnson Steed, 42, who is charged with sexual assault of a child, bigamy and tampering with evidence. Church records show Steed married to a 16-year-old girl in March 2007.All three men were booked Monday and then released after posting bond.
"We've said all along we're not running. We're going to take it head on," said FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop. "The allegations they're making and what they're trying to do is nothing more than harassment."
Church records and journal entries released in the custody case indicate several of Merril Jessop's daughters were married to men in the church when they were 16 or younger.
One of Merril Jessop's wives, Carolyn, fled the FLDS community on the Arizona-Utah line with her children in 2003 and wrote a best-selling book, "Escape."
In all, 12 FLDS men have been indicted since Texas authorities raided the ranch in April looking for evidence of underage girls forced into marriages and sex with older men.
Generally, teens younger than 17 cannot consent to sex with an adult under Texas law. Bigamy is also illegal. While the FLDS plural marriages are not legal marriages, Texas law forbids even purporting to marry.
Nother pic of Merril with wives:
Friday, November 21, 2008
FLDS mom drops action against Texas CPS
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705264178,00.html
Excerpt
Naomi Johnson sought financial damages against Texas Child Protective Services, claiming the agency failed to show it had evidence of abuse involving her daughter, Rebecca, and made sweeping abuse allegations against the entire FLDS community.
A hearing on sanctions was scheduled in San Angelo, Texas, Wednesday. But the hearing was canceled after the toddler was "nonsuited" on Oct. 28.
"We basically swapped nonsuits," Johnson's attorney, Robert Gibson Jr., told the Deseret News on Monday. "They dismissed, we dismissed."
-----------------------------------------
To date, only 37 children remain a part of the ongoing child custody case. The rest have been "nonsuited," or dropped from court oversight after CPS said its investigators either found no evidence of abuse or their parents had taken appropriate steps to protect the children.
-----------------------------------------
Hearings are also scheduled in Texas Wednesday to review the status of six children that CPS sought to place back in foster care. Their parents struck deals with the agency to keep them in their homes.
Excerpt
Naomi Johnson sought financial damages against Texas Child Protective Services, claiming the agency failed to show it had evidence of abuse involving her daughter, Rebecca, and made sweeping abuse allegations against the entire FLDS community.
A hearing on sanctions was scheduled in San Angelo, Texas, Wednesday. But the hearing was canceled after the toddler was "nonsuited" on Oct. 28.
"We basically swapped nonsuits," Johnson's attorney, Robert Gibson Jr., told the Deseret News on Monday. "They dismissed, we dismissed."
-----------------------------------------
To date, only 37 children remain a part of the ongoing child custody case. The rest have been "nonsuited," or dropped from court oversight after CPS said its investigators either found no evidence of abuse or their parents had taken appropriate steps to protect the children.
-----------------------------------------
Hearings are also scheduled in Texas Wednesday to review the status of six children that CPS sought to place back in foster care. Their parents struck deals with the agency to keep them in their homes.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The Diversity Foundation
http://www.smilesfordiversity.org/index.php
I know its taken me forever to post something like this, but I am finally getting around to it! This is a place that takes in people who wish to leave the FLDS. There is a link to donate to them on their homepage:
------------------------------------
The Diversity Foundation is currently assisting the young men (aka “Lost Boys”) and women who are former members of the polygamist community in southern Utah known as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (“FLDS”)
Beginning in 2002 the FLDS church began exiling young men between the ages of 14 and 23 for infractions that were in violation of church tenets. These infractions could be talking to a girl, wearing a short sleeved t-shirt, listening to music or watching television. Young women who have exited the FLDS community are doing so because they seek to live in a monogamous society. Both men and women lack an education that is chronologically correct. While living in the FLDS community they might receive an education until the eighth grade at which time they begin to work for wages that are given as tithe to the FLDS church.
The Foundation is helping these young men and women with obtaining a quality education: high school, GED and an undergraduate college degree. Assistance is also available for medical and dental expenses, psychological counseling and general living expenses.
We support social networks through activities: football in the park, bi-monthly discussion groups, mentoring program, life-skills training, advisory counsel, as well as other various interests.
Many of these young people have excelled scholastically. They continue to receive high marks of achievement in high school and college. They are enthusiastic about their education and have pursued college degrees in areas of engineering, medical, accounting, business, law, psychology, et al. With your support and the Foundation's assistance these children have the opportunity to be self-determined and contributing adults.
I know its taken me forever to post something like this, but I am finally getting around to it! This is a place that takes in people who wish to leave the FLDS. There is a link to donate to them on their homepage:
------------------------------------
The Diversity Foundation is currently assisting the young men (aka “Lost Boys”) and women who are former members of the polygamist community in southern Utah known as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (“FLDS”)
Beginning in 2002 the FLDS church began exiling young men between the ages of 14 and 23 for infractions that were in violation of church tenets. These infractions could be talking to a girl, wearing a short sleeved t-shirt, listening to music or watching television. Young women who have exited the FLDS community are doing so because they seek to live in a monogamous society. Both men and women lack an education that is chronologically correct. While living in the FLDS community they might receive an education until the eighth grade at which time they begin to work for wages that are given as tithe to the FLDS church.
The Foundation is helping these young men and women with obtaining a quality education: high school, GED and an undergraduate college degree. Assistance is also available for medical and dental expenses, psychological counseling and general living expenses.
We support social networks through activities: football in the park, bi-monthly discussion groups, mentoring program, life-skills training, advisory counsel, as well as other various interests.
Many of these young people have excelled scholastically. They continue to receive high marks of achievement in high school and college. They are enthusiastic about their education and have pursued college degrees in areas of engineering, medical, accounting, business, law, psychology, et al. With your support and the Foundation's assistance these children have the opportunity to be self-determined and contributing adults.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Judge Halts Land Sale Proceedings
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10984091
Excerpts
Third District Judge Denise Lindberg postponed a hearing Friday to allow attorneys to work out a "global resolution" of litigation involving the United Effort Plan Trust and a plan for its future management.
The surprise move halted the proposed sale of the 711-acre Berry Knoll Farm - which FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop called "a huge victory."
An estimated 2,500 members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints showed up at the 5th District courthouse to show their disapproval of court-appointed fiduciary Bruce R. Wisan and his plan to sell the property.
----------------------------------------
The judge took the action at the request of the Utah Attorney General's Office, which had pursued the state's initial takeover of the trust in 2005, alleging mismanagement.
----------------------------------------
The UEP Trust holds virtually all property in the twin communities of Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Ariz. Most residents are FLDS members.
The trust was set up 66 years ago to foster a communal way of life organized around religious principles. Lindberg rewrote the trust in 2006 to remove its religious underpinnings.
Sect members argued in a federal lawsuit that the overhaul, coupled with the trust's subsequent management, violated constitutionally protected religious rights.
Attorneys said any settlement will have to resolve that and other lawsuits targeting the trust, arrange payment of $2 million in trust expenses, create new trust management and devise ways to accommodate property claims of all beneficiaries, including people who have left the church.
The sect will require that any deal includes Wisan's removal, Jessop said.
Jeff Shields, one of the attorneys representing Wisan, called the sect's willingness to work out a compromise "a major" development.
"We are delighted that people are going to come and talk to us," Shields said. "When people talk, resolutions can happen."
Wisan's goal, Shields said, would still be to have the community subdivided and give deeds to residents to "do what they want with them."
Excerpts
Third District Judge Denise Lindberg postponed a hearing Friday to allow attorneys to work out a "global resolution" of litigation involving the United Effort Plan Trust and a plan for its future management.The surprise move halted the proposed sale of the 711-acre Berry Knoll Farm - which FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop called "a huge victory."
An estimated 2,500 members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints showed up at the 5th District courthouse to show their disapproval of court-appointed fiduciary Bruce R. Wisan and his plan to sell the property.
----------------------------------------
The judge took the action at the request of the Utah Attorney General's Office, which had pursued the state's initial takeover of the trust in 2005, alleging mismanagement.
----------------------------------------
The UEP Trust holds virtually all property in the twin communities of Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Ariz. Most residents are FLDS members.
The trust was set up 66 years ago to foster a communal way of life organized around religious principles. Lindberg rewrote the trust in 2006 to remove its religious underpinnings.
Sect members argued in a federal lawsuit that the overhaul, coupled with the trust's subsequent management, violated constitutionally protected religious rights.
Attorneys said any settlement will have to resolve that and other lawsuits targeting the trust, arrange payment of $2 million in trust expenses, create new trust management and devise ways to accommodate property claims of all beneficiaries, including people who have left the church.
The sect will require that any deal includes Wisan's removal, Jessop said.
Jeff Shields, one of the attorneys representing Wisan, called the sect's willingness to work out a compromise "a major" development.
"We are delighted that people are going to come and talk to us," Shields said. "When people talk, resolutions can happen."
Wisan's goal, Shields said, would still be to have the community subdivided and give deeds to residents to "do what they want with them."
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Four more FLDS members indicted in Texas
http://www.sltrib.com/faith/ci_10966236
Excerpt
A Texas grand jury indicted four members of a polygamous sect on Wednesday, including the group's leader Warren S. Jeffs.
Jeffs was the only person identified by the Texas Attorney General's Office in a press release outlining the new felony charges. It said one person was indicted for conducting an unlawful marriage, while two others face multiple bigamy charges. One of the bigamy defendants also faces a charge of tampering with physical evidence.
Jeffs was indicted on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated sexual assault. He has been named in two previous indictments.
Names of the other defendants will not be released until they surrender to authorities or are arrested.
The Schleicher County Grand Jury, which met Wednesday in Eldorado, has so far indicted 12 members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on charges related to underage marriages. Of those, 11 men faces charges that include sexual assault and bigamy; one man was indicted on a misdemeanor charge of failure to report child abuse.
Excerpt
A Texas grand jury indicted four members of a polygamous sect on Wednesday, including the group's leader Warren S. Jeffs.
Jeffs was the only person identified by the Texas Attorney General's Office in a press release outlining the new felony charges. It said one person was indicted for conducting an unlawful marriage, while two others face multiple bigamy charges. One of the bigamy defendants also faces a charge of tampering with physical evidence.
Jeffs was indicted on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated sexual assault. He has been named in two previous indictments.
Names of the other defendants will not be released until they surrender to authorities or are arrested.
The Schleicher County Grand Jury, which met Wednesday in Eldorado, has so far indicted 12 members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on charges related to underage marriages. Of those, 11 men faces charges that include sexual assault and bigamy; one man was indicted on a misdemeanor charge of failure to report child abuse.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Polygamist Group Seeks Safe Haven In Colorado
http://cbs4denver.com/local/FLDS.polygamy.colorado.2.861281.html
Excerpt
SEE THE VIDEO
WESTCLIFFE, Colo. (CBS4) ― They have been in the news for bigamy, accusations of forced marriages, mistreatment of women and young boys. Now the polygamist group the FLDS or Church of Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints has quietly purchased at least eight properties in Colorado.
Two of the properties are near Mancos in Montezuma County in southwest Colorado, another near Crawford in Delta County and five near Westcliffe in Custer and Fremont counties.
CBS4's Rick Sallinger has become the first TV reporter allowed inside one of their compounds to see how they live and what they are doing. He reports going through their gate is like leaving one world and passing into another.
It is a place where some of man's laws are at odds with what they see as God's laws; a collision of values that has led to raids, arrests and seizure of children in other locations.
Beneath the soaring peaks of the Sangre de Cristos and the Wet Mountain Range -- they have come here in search of a safe haven.
"I think we just came here for a place of safety while this goes on, we're not going to settle here," FLDS Member Margaret Jessop told CBS4.
These FLDS members moved to Colorado after law enforcement actions involving their church in Utah and Arizona, what they refer to as Short Creek.
Lee Steed is the man who bought the properties in this Colorado area. He agreed to speak on camera if we would not show his face.
"Why did you buy up all this property?" Sallinger asked.
"It's been my privilege to help these people and to find places to live for people to remove from the persecution at Short Creek," Steed, an FLDS member, replied.
The location, he insists, is only intended for church widows and grandmothers who came to Colorado 2 to 3 years ago from their traditional base.
"We enjoyed it there until persecution ... they just moved in," Jessop sighed.
That persecution, they say, continued this year when the FLDS compound in El Dorado, Texas, was raided. More than 400 children were removed then later returned to their mothers. That included Jessop's grandchildren.
"They were taken away from their parents and kept two nights without a mother," she said.
On the walls above her here in Colorado are pictures of Warren Steed Jeffs, the man they call their prophet. But he now is behind bars convicted as an accomplice in the rape of a teenage girl.
Excerpt
SEE THE VIDEO
WESTCLIFFE, Colo. (CBS4) ― They have been in the news for bigamy, accusations of forced marriages, mistreatment of women and young boys. Now the polygamist group the FLDS or Church of Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints has quietly purchased at least eight properties in Colorado.Two of the properties are near Mancos in Montezuma County in southwest Colorado, another near Crawford in Delta County and five near Westcliffe in Custer and Fremont counties.
CBS4's Rick Sallinger has become the first TV reporter allowed inside one of their compounds to see how they live and what they are doing. He reports going through their gate is like leaving one world and passing into another.
It is a place where some of man's laws are at odds with what they see as God's laws; a collision of values that has led to raids, arrests and seizure of children in other locations.
Beneath the soaring peaks of the Sangre de Cristos and the Wet Mountain Range -- they have come here in search of a safe haven.
"I think we just came here for a place of safety while this goes on, we're not going to settle here," FLDS Member Margaret Jessop told CBS4.
These FLDS members moved to Colorado after law enforcement actions involving their church in Utah and Arizona, what they refer to as Short Creek.
Lee Steed is the man who bought the properties in this Colorado area. He agreed to speak on camera if we would not show his face.
"Why did you buy up all this property?" Sallinger asked.
"It's been my privilege to help these people and to find places to live for people to remove from the persecution at Short Creek," Steed, an FLDS member, replied.
The location, he insists, is only intended for church widows and grandmothers who came to Colorado 2 to 3 years ago from their traditional base.
"We enjoyed it there until persecution ... they just moved in," Jessop sighed.
That persecution, they say, continued this year when the FLDS compound in El Dorado, Texas, was raided. More than 400 children were removed then later returned to their mothers. That included Jessop's grandchildren.
"They were taken away from their parents and kept two nights without a mother," she said.
On the walls above her here in Colorado are pictures of Warren Steed Jeffs, the man they call their prophet. But he now is behind bars convicted as an accomplice in the rape of a teenage girl.
Friday, November 7, 2008
FLDS Lost Boy Home in Trouble
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10916634
New Frontiers for Families will resign Friday as the overseer of a home in St. George that housed teenagers who've left the FLDS community.
Bonnie Peters, executive director of the Family Support Center in Midvale, said her agency is negotiating with the state to step in as interim manager of the program, known as the House Just Off Bluff. Peters announced the change Thursday at a Safety Net Committee meeting in Salt Lake City.
Peters said the nine or so boys living in the home have been moved to other living quarters and she is awaiting word on whether the owner of the home will allow it to continue to be used for the program.
"If he closes the house down we'll have to see about finding another house," Peters said.
Tracy Johnson, director of New Frontiers, said the program is needed, but "it didn't really fit our mission. That was our main reason."
"I hope they work it out because it's certainly a worthy cause," she said.
Last month, the Five County Association of Governments gave New Frontiers 10 days to get a business license for the home, which opened last year and had operated with proper city approvals. Five County also told New Frontiers the home needed to operate as a drop-in center, as specified in its state grant, and hire properly trained staff to work with the teens. As part of the shake-up, New Frontiers fired its clinical director.
New Frontiers, a Garfield County-based nonprofit, opened the home last summer after receiving a $95,000 grant to create a drop-in center for youth from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. As approved by the department, the non-profit was to help youth connect with services, such as counseling, schooling and medical care.
Instead, youth were allowed to live at the home, which had no licensed clinical staff nor the proper permits.
Peters said the program's current grant of $106,000 runs through June.
"We're hoping there would be an entity that would come forward and make that program functions as it should," said Peters, adding that her center would maintain oversight.
The Family Support Center also oversees the state's Safety Net Committee, which provides services to polygamous communities and facilitates communication with government agencies.
Beth Cottam of Five County said there is a need for homeless youth services in southern Utah beyond teenagers from the polygamous community.
New Frontiers' annual report said it provided services to 114 teenagers and young adults. More than half were older than 18 years of age, according to the report.
The youth say they left or were asked to leave their families because of delinquent behavior or disagreement with the sect's stringent religious standards.
Peters said Thursday her goal is to ensure the program is properly set up to protect the teenagers and provide the services they need. And helping them stay connected with their families is "vital."
"I have found so many of the parents are worried about them and a lot of it's teenage stuff," she said.
New Frontiers for Families will resign Friday as the overseer of a home in St. George that housed teenagers who've left the FLDS community.
Bonnie Peters, executive director of the Family Support Center in Midvale, said her agency is negotiating with the state to step in as interim manager of the program, known as the House Just Off Bluff. Peters announced the change Thursday at a Safety Net Committee meeting in Salt Lake City.
Peters said the nine or so boys living in the home have been moved to other living quarters and she is awaiting word on whether the owner of the home will allow it to continue to be used for the program.
"If he closes the house down we'll have to see about finding another house," Peters said.
Tracy Johnson, director of New Frontiers, said the program is needed, but "it didn't really fit our mission. That was our main reason."
"I hope they work it out because it's certainly a worthy cause," she said.
Last month, the Five County Association of Governments gave New Frontiers 10 days to get a business license for the home, which opened last year and had operated with proper city approvals. Five County also told New Frontiers the home needed to operate as a drop-in center, as specified in its state grant, and hire properly trained staff to work with the teens. As part of the shake-up, New Frontiers fired its clinical director.
New Frontiers, a Garfield County-based nonprofit, opened the home last summer after receiving a $95,000 grant to create a drop-in center for youth from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. As approved by the department, the non-profit was to help youth connect with services, such as counseling, schooling and medical care.
Instead, youth were allowed to live at the home, which had no licensed clinical staff nor the proper permits.
Peters said the program's current grant of $106,000 runs through June.
"We're hoping there would be an entity that would come forward and make that program functions as it should," said Peters, adding that her center would maintain oversight.
The Family Support Center also oversees the state's Safety Net Committee, which provides services to polygamous communities and facilitates communication with government agencies.
Beth Cottam of Five County said there is a need for homeless youth services in southern Utah beyond teenagers from the polygamous community.
New Frontiers' annual report said it provided services to 114 teenagers and young adults. More than half were older than 18 years of age, according to the report.
The youth say they left or were asked to leave their families because of delinquent behavior or disagreement with the sect's stringent religious standards.
Peters said Thursday her goal is to ensure the program is properly set up to protect the teenagers and provide the services they need. And helping them stay connected with their families is "vital."
"I have found so many of the parents are worried about them and a lot of it's teenage stuff," she said.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
37 kids left in FLDS custody case
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705259021,00.html
Excerpt
"We're delighted. It's about time," said Mark Ticer, a court-appointed attorney for four children ranging in age from 5 to 10. "And the department lived up to the representations that they made about doing it."
CPS has said the reasons for nonsuiting a child vary from no evidence of abuse being found to parents taking adequate steps to protect their children from abuse. Nonsuiting does not necessarily end CPS's role in the families' lives. Many parents agreed to attend classes or get therapy for their children.
Ticer said one of his child clients still has a class to attend. As the Deseret News first reported earlier this month, CPS has required 63 girls from the polygamous sect to attend seminars on sexual abuse, underage marriage and Texas law.
-------------------------------------------------
CPS investigators appear to have narrowed their focus to at least 10 cases of alleged underage marriages.
Only one child, a 14-year-old girl allegedly married at age 12 to FLDS leader Warren Jeffs, has been returned to foster care. A judge ruled her mother was unable to protect her from abuse. Six other children also remain under CPS authority after their parents signed deals with the agency.
A criminal probe also continues. Nine FLDS men, including Jeffs, have been indicted by a Texas grand jury on charges that include sexual assault of a child, bigamy and failure to report child abuse.
The grand jury meets again in November and December.
Excerpt
"We're delighted. It's about time," said Mark Ticer, a court-appointed attorney for four children ranging in age from 5 to 10. "And the department lived up to the representations that they made about doing it."
CPS has said the reasons for nonsuiting a child vary from no evidence of abuse being found to parents taking adequate steps to protect their children from abuse. Nonsuiting does not necessarily end CPS's role in the families' lives. Many parents agreed to attend classes or get therapy for their children.
Ticer said one of his child clients still has a class to attend. As the Deseret News first reported earlier this month, CPS has required 63 girls from the polygamous sect to attend seminars on sexual abuse, underage marriage and Texas law.
-------------------------------------------------
CPS investigators appear to have narrowed their focus to at least 10 cases of alleged underage marriages.
Only one child, a 14-year-old girl allegedly married at age 12 to FLDS leader Warren Jeffs, has been returned to foster care. A judge ruled her mother was unable to protect her from abuse. Six other children also remain under CPS authority after their parents signed deals with the agency.
A criminal probe also continues. Nine FLDS men, including Jeffs, have been indicted by a Texas grand jury on charges that include sexual assault of a child, bigamy and failure to report child abuse.
The grand jury meets again in November and December.
Monday, October 27, 2008
2 lawyers in FLDS custody case quit
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705257758,00.html
Two of the government lawyers handling the massive child custody case involving the Fundamentalist LDS Church have quit.
"It is with great regret that I hereby tender my resignation as staff attorney for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, effective Nov. 1, 2008, or at whatever earlier date may be most convenient and least disruptive to the operations of the agency," Charles Childress wrote in a resignation letter obtained by the Deseret News.
Childress, a highly regarded family law attorney who wrote many of the agency's courtroom policies when he worked there from 1997-2001, was brought back specifically to handle the FLDS case in July. Contacted by the Deseret News on Friday, Childress would not say why he was leaving.
"I really can't talk about it at all," Childress said.
Texas Child Protective Services officials also are not commenting on why Childress is leaving, but said they are in the process of reorganizing their legal team based in San Angelo, Texas, right now.
Childress is not the only lawyer who worked the FLDS child custody case to resign recently. Gary Banks, who was the lead counsel when the 439 children were taken into state custody immediately following the raid, resigned Oct. 3 to take a position with a Texas law firm.
"I have concluded this decision is best for me and my family, and I hope you will understand my decision," he wrote in an e-mail to his superiors.
Preparing for his departure, Childress said he expects most of the FLDS custody case will be wrapped up by the end of the month.
"I anticipate that we will have resolved all but a handful of pending cases through cooperative agreements with the parents, resulting in dismissal of the department's suits by early November," he wrote.
The remaining cases may end up going to trial next year. Three cases involving children either placed back in foster care or returned to their parents under family service plans will be up for dismissal in February 2009.
"The dismissal date for all other cases is April 13, 2009, although there is an argument that could be made against applying this deadline," Childress wrote.
To date, 415 people have been "nonsuited" by a judge in San Angelo in the ongoing custody battle. That leaves approximately 50 children still involved in pending legal cases. The Deseret News tally includes 26 "disputed minors," FLDS women that CPS initially believed were minors but later conceded were adults.
Two of the government lawyers handling the massive child custody case involving the Fundamentalist LDS Church have quit.
"It is with great regret that I hereby tender my resignation as staff attorney for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, effective Nov. 1, 2008, or at whatever earlier date may be most convenient and least disruptive to the operations of the agency," Charles Childress wrote in a resignation letter obtained by the Deseret News.
Childress, a highly regarded family law attorney who wrote many of the agency's courtroom policies when he worked there from 1997-2001, was brought back specifically to handle the FLDS case in July. Contacted by the Deseret News on Friday, Childress would not say why he was leaving.
"I really can't talk about it at all," Childress said.
Texas Child Protective Services officials also are not commenting on why Childress is leaving, but said they are in the process of reorganizing their legal team based in San Angelo, Texas, right now.
Childress is not the only lawyer who worked the FLDS child custody case to resign recently. Gary Banks, who was the lead counsel when the 439 children were taken into state custody immediately following the raid, resigned Oct. 3 to take a position with a Texas law firm.
"I have concluded this decision is best for me and my family, and I hope you will understand my decision," he wrote in an e-mail to his superiors.
Preparing for his departure, Childress said he expects most of the FLDS custody case will be wrapped up by the end of the month.
"I anticipate that we will have resolved all but a handful of pending cases through cooperative agreements with the parents, resulting in dismissal of the department's suits by early November," he wrote.
The remaining cases may end up going to trial next year. Three cases involving children either placed back in foster care or returned to their parents under family service plans will be up for dismissal in February 2009.
"The dismissal date for all other cases is April 13, 2009, although there is an argument that could be made against applying this deadline," Childress wrote.
To date, 415 people have been "nonsuited" by a judge in San Angelo in the ongoing custody battle. That leaves approximately 50 children still involved in pending legal cases. The Deseret News tally includes 26 "disputed minors," FLDS women that CPS initially believed were minors but later conceded were adults.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Girls to learn their rights and more non suits!!!
FLDS girls to attend classes on underage marriage
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700265382,00.html
Excerpt
Girls from the Fundamentalist LDS Church are being required to attend classes in Texas that address sexual abuse, underage marriage and the law.
"These are sessions that deal with issues related to state laws on underage marriages and sexual abuse, along with ways to identify, protect, prevent and report sexual abuse," Patrick Crimmins, a spokesman for Texas Child Protective Services, wrote in an e-mail to the Deseret News. "The goal of the sessions are to educate girls who are at risk or who have been sexual abuse victims and to deal with any emotional issues related to this topic."
Approximately 63 children, ages 10 and up, have been asked to attend the sessions provided by therapists in the San Angelo area. They run a total of four hours, either in one-hour or two-hour blocks. If providers have knowledge of sex abuse, it can be included as long as it is age appropriate and does not include sex education, Crimmins wrote.
"These are not formal classes, but sessions with a contracted provider and the information described above is to be addressed in the session in addition to other items that may be relevant for the individual child," he said.
The classes are part of requirements made by family service plans signed by the girls' parents in the ongoing custody case surrounding hundreds of children taken in the April raid on the Yearning For Zion Ranch near Eldorado. The therapists are the same who are providing parenting classes, Crimmins said.
More cases against FLDS dismissed
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10732372
Excerpt
Texas officials dismissed child welfare cases involving 29 children from a polygamous sect on Wednesday, the largest number dropped in a single day from the state's massive investigation.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has steadily nonsuited cases since June, when 439 children were returned to their parents after two months in state custody.
The cases are closed after officials determine the children are safe or have turned 18, according to Patrick Crimmins, DFPS spokesman.
To date, the state has ended cases of 338 children from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That leaves cases involving 101 children still pending. Among them: A 14-year-old girl who was returned to foster care in August after her mother failed to give a Texas judge assurances she would keep the girl safe.
***************************************************
***Anyone know if the 101 left are all part of the same group somehow? I can't help but feel like they are narrowing this issue down to a few families.
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700265382,00.html
Excerpt
Girls from the Fundamentalist LDS Church are being required to attend classes in Texas that address sexual abuse, underage marriage and the law.
"These are sessions that deal with issues related to state laws on underage marriages and sexual abuse, along with ways to identify, protect, prevent and report sexual abuse," Patrick Crimmins, a spokesman for Texas Child Protective Services, wrote in an e-mail to the Deseret News. "The goal of the sessions are to educate girls who are at risk or who have been sexual abuse victims and to deal with any emotional issues related to this topic."
Approximately 63 children, ages 10 and up, have been asked to attend the sessions provided by therapists in the San Angelo area. They run a total of four hours, either in one-hour or two-hour blocks. If providers have knowledge of sex abuse, it can be included as long as it is age appropriate and does not include sex education, Crimmins wrote.
"These are not formal classes, but sessions with a contracted provider and the information described above is to be addressed in the session in addition to other items that may be relevant for the individual child," he said.
The classes are part of requirements made by family service plans signed by the girls' parents in the ongoing custody case surrounding hundreds of children taken in the April raid on the Yearning For Zion Ranch near Eldorado. The therapists are the same who are providing parenting classes, Crimmins said.
More cases against FLDS dismissed
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10732372
Excerpt
Texas officials dismissed child welfare cases involving 29 children from a polygamous sect on Wednesday, the largest number dropped in a single day from the state's massive investigation.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has steadily nonsuited cases since June, when 439 children were returned to their parents after two months in state custody.
The cases are closed after officials determine the children are safe or have turned 18, according to Patrick Crimmins, DFPS spokesman.
To date, the state has ended cases of 338 children from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That leaves cases involving 101 children still pending. Among them: A 14-year-old girl who was returned to foster care in August after her mother failed to give a Texas judge assurances she would keep the girl safe.
***************************************************
***Anyone know if the 101 left are all part of the same group somehow? I can't help but feel like they are narrowing this issue down to a few families.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
315 now dropped from FLDS custody case
Only 124 more to go!
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700265026,00.html
Excerpt
Boxes filled with files of children are stacking up in the clerk's office at the Tom Green County Courthouse in San Angelo, Texas.
More children from the Fundamentalist LDS Church's Yearning for Zion Ranch have been dropped from court oversight in the ongoing custody case in Texas.
Eleven more children were "nonsuited" on Tuesday, Texas Child Protective Services spokesman Patrick Crimmins said. That brings the total number of people dropped from the court case to 315.
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700265026,00.html
Excerpt
Boxes filled with files of children are stacking up in the clerk's office at the Tom Green County Courthouse in San Angelo, Texas.
More children from the Fundamentalist LDS Church's Yearning for Zion Ranch have been dropped from court oversight in the ongoing custody case in Texas.
Eleven more children were "nonsuited" on Tuesday, Texas Child Protective Services spokesman Patrick Crimmins said. That brings the total number of people dropped from the court case to 315.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Indicted FLDS men surrender in Texas
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700262736,00.html
Excerpt
Abram Harker Jeffs, 27, and Lehi Barlow Jeffs, 29, surrendered Monday morning at the Schleicher County Sheriff's Office in Eldorado, where they were booked on charges of sexual assault and bigamy. Keith William Dutson Jr., 23, was also booked on a sexual assault charge.
"They came in, they booked in and were released on bail bonds," Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran told the Deseret News.
Abram Jeffs and Lehi Jeffs each posted $110,000 in bond. Dutson posted $100,000. They were accompanied by their attorney, who met Texas Rangers and representatives from the Texas Attorney General's Office at the sheriff's office, Doran said.
Abram Harker Jeffs, 27; Lehi Barlow Jeffs, 29; Keith William Dutson Jr., 23
Excerpt
Abram Harker Jeffs, 27, and Lehi Barlow Jeffs, 29, surrendered Monday morning at the Schleicher County Sheriff's Office in Eldorado, where they were booked on charges of sexual assault and bigamy. Keith William Dutson Jr., 23, was also booked on a sexual assault charge.
"They came in, they booked in and were released on bail bonds," Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran told the Deseret News.
Abram Jeffs and Lehi Jeffs each posted $110,000 in bond. Dutson posted $100,000. They were accompanied by their attorney, who met Texas Rangers and representatives from the Texas Attorney General's Office at the sheriff's office, Doran said.
Abram Harker Jeffs, 27; Lehi Barlow Jeffs, 29; Keith William Dutson Jr., 23
Friday, September 19, 2008
FLDS girl, mom may reunite
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700259752,00.html
Excerpt
A 14-year-old girl from the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch ordered back into foster care may be reunited with her mother by next year.
That's according to a progress report recently compiled by Texas Child Protective Services and obtained Wednesday by the Desert News. The report is being presented to a judge in San Angelo, Texas, handling the massive custody case involving children from the Utah-based polygamous sect. The girl's case is scheduled for a permanency hearing on Sept. 25.
"The permanency goal for the child is family reunification," the report said, setting an April 13 reunion deadline.
The report concerns a girl whom child welfare authorities allege was married at age 12 to FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. She was ordered back into foster care last month after the judge ruled her mother, Barbara Jessop, was unable to protect her from abuse.
Since the girl has been in state custody, CPS caseworkers wrote she has been "doing well" and is able to cook and garden in her foster home. She is in therapy and will participate in home schooling, but CPS is refusing to allow another FLDS member to tutor her, the report said.
Barbara Jessop also is required to undergo psychological evaluations, attend parenting classes and have a social study. But caseworkers say no progress has been made.
"Due to his lack of contact with the Department, Mr. Jessop too has not made any progress in mitigating the circumstances of his daughter's removal," the report said.
The girl's father is YFZ Ranch leader Merril Jessop, who has been absent from custody hearings. He is believed to be under investigation in the ongoing criminal probe involving church members.
"Ms. Jessop has not provided any locating information on Mr. Jessop, although she has been asked on multiple occasions," the report said.
Barbara Jessop first visited her daughter on Aug. 26. Since then, CPS caseworkers indicated Jessop has pushed the boundaries of her supervised visits, including bringing unapproved people with her and making unmonitored phone calls. The girl was not allowed to keep her cell phone while in foster placement, the CPS report said.
"After this visit, it was discovered that (the girl) had at least 21 unsupervised phone calls with her mother in a period of one week," the report said. "Both presented as though they had been adhering to the monitored phone contact only. Many of the phone calls occurred in the middle of the night and some lasted in duration of longer than 30 minutes."
While the report recommends family reunification, it threatens that if the girl's parents don't comply with a CPS family service plan, the agency will pursue restricting or terminating their parental rights.
The girl is one of 439 children initially taken into state custody in the April raid on the YFZ Ranch. She is the only one to be ordered back into foster care. Six other children whom CPS sought to retake custody of are under family service plans pursuant to agreements their parents reached with the agency.
On Wednesday, four more children were "nonsuited," bringing the total number of people dropped from court oversight in the nation's largest child custody case to 295. The Deseret News tally includes 26 FLDS women that CPS initially believed were minors, but later conceded were adults.
Excerpt
A 14-year-old girl from the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch ordered back into foster care may be reunited with her mother by next year.
That's according to a progress report recently compiled by Texas Child Protective Services and obtained Wednesday by the Desert News. The report is being presented to a judge in San Angelo, Texas, handling the massive custody case involving children from the Utah-based polygamous sect. The girl's case is scheduled for a permanency hearing on Sept. 25.
"The permanency goal for the child is family reunification," the report said, setting an April 13 reunion deadline.
The report concerns a girl whom child welfare authorities allege was married at age 12 to FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. She was ordered back into foster care last month after the judge ruled her mother, Barbara Jessop, was unable to protect her from abuse.
Since the girl has been in state custody, CPS caseworkers wrote she has been "doing well" and is able to cook and garden in her foster home. She is in therapy and will participate in home schooling, but CPS is refusing to allow another FLDS member to tutor her, the report said.
Barbara Jessop also is required to undergo psychological evaluations, attend parenting classes and have a social study. But caseworkers say no progress has been made.
"Due to his lack of contact with the Department, Mr. Jessop too has not made any progress in mitigating the circumstances of his daughter's removal," the report said.
The girl's father is YFZ Ranch leader Merril Jessop, who has been absent from custody hearings. He is believed to be under investigation in the ongoing criminal probe involving church members.
"Ms. Jessop has not provided any locating information on Mr. Jessop, although she has been asked on multiple occasions," the report said.
Barbara Jessop first visited her daughter on Aug. 26. Since then, CPS caseworkers indicated Jessop has pushed the boundaries of her supervised visits, including bringing unapproved people with her and making unmonitored phone calls. The girl was not allowed to keep her cell phone while in foster placement, the CPS report said.
"After this visit, it was discovered that (the girl) had at least 21 unsupervised phone calls with her mother in a period of one week," the report said. "Both presented as though they had been adhering to the monitored phone contact only. Many of the phone calls occurred in the middle of the night and some lasted in duration of longer than 30 minutes."
While the report recommends family reunification, it threatens that if the girl's parents don't comply with a CPS family service plan, the agency will pursue restricting or terminating their parental rights.
The girl is one of 439 children initially taken into state custody in the April raid on the YFZ Ranch. She is the only one to be ordered back into foster care. Six other children whom CPS sought to retake custody of are under family service plans pursuant to agreements their parents reached with the agency.
On Wednesday, four more children were "nonsuited," bringing the total number of people dropped from court oversight in the nation's largest child custody case to 295. The Deseret News tally includes 26 FLDS women that CPS initially believed were minors, but later conceded were adults.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Non-suited up to 287
Another FLDS child 'nonsuited'
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700258366,00.html
Excerpt
SAN ANGELO, Texas — One by one, children taken into state protective custody during the raid on the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch are being dropped from court oversight in the nation's largest child custody case.
On Friday, Texas Child Protective Services filed to have another child from the Utah-based polygamous sect officially nonsuited, ending court jurisdiction over their case. Friday's filing brings the number of cases nonsuited to 287.
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700258366,00.html
Excerpt
SAN ANGELO, Texas — One by one, children taken into state protective custody during the raid on the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch are being dropped from court oversight in the nation's largest child custody case.
On Friday, Texas Child Protective Services filed to have another child from the Utah-based polygamous sect officially nonsuited, ending court jurisdiction over their case. Friday's filing brings the number of cases nonsuited to 287.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Val Jessop dies, YZF "country club" and 4 men arraigned.
First up, Raymond Merril Jessop, 36; Allan Eugene Keate, 56; Michael George Emack, 57; and Merril Leroy Jessop, 33 were arraigned Monday and had their first formal day in court.
------------------------------------------
Val Jessop died suddenly Suandy, Sept. 7 of a heart attack. I have two conflicting yet interesting/entertaining perspectives on the man and the company he kept.
Val Jessop: One sad story
FLORA JESSOP KILLS ANOTHER ONE OF HER VICTIMS.
------------------------------------------
And finally, yet another interesting piece from Ron's Insanity, as he focuses on the YZF ranch and the UEP trust money.
Quote:
It's pretty clear to me that the YFZ compound in El Dorado was for the FLDS elite. I guess in many ways you'd call it an FLDS country club. YFZ is no longer part of the communal trust that benefits all members of the FLDS. It is set up as a limited liability company known as "YFZ Ranch, Limited Liability Co. " It's unknown where the "profits" of YFZ Ranch go but I suspect few of those profits flow to the rank and file FLDS member.
------------------------------------------
Val Jessop died suddenly Suandy, Sept. 7 of a heart attack. I have two conflicting yet interesting/entertaining perspectives on the man and the company he kept.
Val Jessop: One sad story
FLORA JESSOP KILLS ANOTHER ONE OF HER VICTIMS.
------------------------------------------
And finally, yet another interesting piece from Ron's Insanity, as he focuses on the YZF ranch and the UEP trust money.
Quote:
It's pretty clear to me that the YFZ compound in El Dorado was for the FLDS elite. I guess in many ways you'd call it an FLDS country club. YFZ is no longer part of the communal trust that benefits all members of the FLDS. It is set up as a limited liability company known as "YFZ Ranch, Limited Liability Co. " It's unknown where the "profits" of YFZ Ranch go but I suspect few of those profits flow to the rank and file FLDS member.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
260 FLDS now dropped from YFZ custody case
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700256043,00.html
Excerpt
SAN ANGELO, Texas — Child Protective Services has filed to "nonsuit" three more children taken in the raid on the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch.
"From our standpoint, nonsuiting means we don't believe the family situation requires court oversight. There may still be some oversight by the department," agency spokesman Patrick Crimmins told the Desert News on Wednesday, just after more filings were made.
The number of FLDS children nonsuited by CPS now stands at 260, including 26 "disputed minors" whom the agency claimed were children, but later conceded were adults.
The reasons for nonsuiting vary from no evidence of abuse, to children who have aged out of the system or parents have taken appropriate steps to protect their children from abuse.
Only one child has been placed back in foster care: a 14-year-old girl whom CPS alleges was married at age 12 to FLDS leader Warren Jeffs.
Excerpt
SAN ANGELO, Texas — Child Protective Services has filed to "nonsuit" three more children taken in the raid on the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch.
"From our standpoint, nonsuiting means we don't believe the family situation requires court oversight. There may still be some oversight by the department," agency spokesman Patrick Crimmins told the Desert News on Wednesday, just after more filings were made.
The number of FLDS children nonsuited by CPS now stands at 260, including 26 "disputed minors" whom the agency claimed were children, but later conceded were adults.
The reasons for nonsuiting vary from no evidence of abuse, to children who have aged out of the system or parents have taken appropriate steps to protect their children from abuse.
Only one child has been placed back in foster care: a 14-year-old girl whom CPS alleges was married at age 12 to FLDS leader Warren Jeffs.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Blood Atonement and Murder
A semi-spooky post today about blood atonement and Warren Jeffs (who else?). From an interesting blog I will have to check out more frequently in the future. *note: we seem to all have similar templates for our blogs! don't get confused!
Linked by blood -- The Doctrine of Blood Atonement first taught by early leaders of the LDS church such as Brigham Young (left), was repudiated by the Mormon Church in 1978. The doctrine remains a core belief in the FLDS Church however. It was taught by Prophets Rulon Jeffs (center) and, according to sources close to the church, is still being taught by his son, Warren Jeffs (right), to this day. ~ The Eldorado Success, 2004
Blood Atonement and the FLDS
http://coramnonjudice.blogspot.com/2008/09/blood-atonement-and-flds.html
Over on Ron's Insanity, Ron was talking about Uncle Warren knowingly wanting to violate the law and Pliggy (Al Holm) said that Blood Atonement was not against the law and then said "Blood atonement is a CIVIL law." This made me wonder exactly what the FLDS position was on Blood Atonement.
It seems that the Phoenix New Times has several articles addressing this, but the most telling one is this one. On page 4, it is reported that Jeffs was concerned about building a high temperature furnace so that they could begin to practice blood atonement - the killing of innocents that have in some manner displeased the so-called prophet.
In addition to the Phoenix New Times, the Eldorado Success has published information on Jeffs and blood atonement, the blog of Kathy Jo Nicholson (who believes her brother was killed on Jeffs order), and there is even a mention in USA Today.
We know that John William Nicholson, who was reportedly about to file a lawsuit against Warren Jeffs, mysteriously died. We know that there have been other unusual occurrences within the sect.
As Ron has shown, the FLDS doesn't care about violating the law - they believe that they can do whatever they want.
-------------------------------------
This just made me remember this post on a mysterious FLDS member death. Spooky!
Linked by blood -- The Doctrine of Blood Atonement first taught by early leaders of the LDS church such as Brigham Young (left), was repudiated by the Mormon Church in 1978. The doctrine remains a core belief in the FLDS Church however. It was taught by Prophets Rulon Jeffs (center) and, according to sources close to the church, is still being taught by his son, Warren Jeffs (right), to this day. ~ The Eldorado Success, 2004
Blood Atonement and the FLDS
http://coramnonjudice.blogspot.com/2008/09/blood-atonement-and-flds.html
Over on Ron's Insanity, Ron was talking about Uncle Warren knowingly wanting to violate the law and Pliggy (Al Holm) said that Blood Atonement was not against the law and then said "Blood atonement is a CIVIL law." This made me wonder exactly what the FLDS position was on Blood Atonement.
It seems that the Phoenix New Times has several articles addressing this, but the most telling one is this one. On page 4, it is reported that Jeffs was concerned about building a high temperature furnace so that they could begin to practice blood atonement - the killing of innocents that have in some manner displeased the so-called prophet.
In addition to the Phoenix New Times, the Eldorado Success has published information on Jeffs and blood atonement, the blog of Kathy Jo Nicholson (who believes her brother was killed on Jeffs order), and there is even a mention in USA Today.
We know that John William Nicholson, who was reportedly about to file a lawsuit against Warren Jeffs, mysteriously died. We know that there have been other unusual occurrences within the sect.
As Ron has shown, the FLDS doesn't care about violating the law - they believe that they can do whatever they want.
-------------------------------------
This just made me remember this post on a mysterious FLDS member death. Spooky!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
FLDS Church seeks $8.8 million in UEP Trust lawsuit
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10339447
I had to post the whole thing cause its a lot of info! From the Salt Lake Tribune.
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints filed a lawsuit Friday asking a Utah court to set aside a 2007 judgement that awarded nearly $8.8 million to a trust once overseen by Warren S. Jeffs.
The suit, filed in 3rd District Court, claims the United Effort Plan (UEP) Trust, run by court-appointed fiduciary Bruce R. Wisan since 2005, obtained the award fraudulently.
"The judgement was entered based upon false, incomplete, and misleading evidence [the] defendant presented at a hearing on March 1, 2007," the suit states.
It goes on to say that Wisan falsely argued that the church sold real property for less than full value and that personal property had been wrongfully removed from the trust by the church. It disputes attorneys' and fiduciary fees incurred as a result of property transfers.
In 2007, Judge Denise Lindberg found that Jeffs and other trustees had harmed the trust by selling off property and ordering the removal of buildings and farm equipment. The trust holds nearly all land and buildings in Hilldale, Utah and Colorado City, Ariz., the home base of the FLDS Church.
In some cases, FLDS members have asserted that some of the property was private rather than assets of the UEP trust. But Wisan has provided evidence that they were contributed to or bought for the trust.
Wisan also identified 596 acres in an area known as Apple Valley that were transferred at Jeff's direction to private individuals.
Wisan, contacted by phone Friday, said he thought Friday's suit was a desperate attempt "to undue a decision that already has been decided."
The judgement, "certainly wasn't fraudulently obtained," he said. "I certainly think [the suit] is totally without merit."
FLDS attorney Rodney Parker said the church waited as long as it did to respond to these actions because it has "been pushed beyond the breaking point."
He said the $8.8 million judgement is now being used to destroy the FLDS Church, "by systematically taking away its property."
"Although the church and the trustees defaulted in this case, that didn't mean the other side was free to take advantage in providing the court false and misleading information," Parker said.
I had to post the whole thing cause its a lot of info! From the Salt Lake Tribune.
The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints filed a lawsuit Friday asking a Utah court to set aside a 2007 judgement that awarded nearly $8.8 million to a trust once overseen by Warren S. Jeffs.
The suit, filed in 3rd District Court, claims the United Effort Plan (UEP) Trust, run by court-appointed fiduciary Bruce R. Wisan since 2005, obtained the award fraudulently.
"The judgement was entered based upon false, incomplete, and misleading evidence [the] defendant presented at a hearing on March 1, 2007," the suit states.
It goes on to say that Wisan falsely argued that the church sold real property for less than full value and that personal property had been wrongfully removed from the trust by the church. It disputes attorneys' and fiduciary fees incurred as a result of property transfers.
In 2007, Judge Denise Lindberg found that Jeffs and other trustees had harmed the trust by selling off property and ordering the removal of buildings and farm equipment. The trust holds nearly all land and buildings in Hilldale, Utah and Colorado City, Ariz., the home base of the FLDS Church.
In some cases, FLDS members have asserted that some of the property was private rather than assets of the UEP trust. But Wisan has provided evidence that they were contributed to or bought for the trust.
Wisan also identified 596 acres in an area known as Apple Valley that were transferred at Jeff's direction to private individuals.
Wisan, contacted by phone Friday, said he thought Friday's suit was a desperate attempt "to undue a decision that already has been decided."
The judgement, "certainly wasn't fraudulently obtained," he said. "I certainly think [the suit] is totally without merit."
FLDS attorney Rodney Parker said the church waited as long as it did to respond to these actions because it has "been pushed beyond the breaking point."
He said the $8.8 million judgement is now being used to destroy the FLDS Church, "by systematically taking away its property."
"Although the church and the trustees defaulted in this case, that didn't mean the other side was free to take advantage in providing the court false and misleading information," Parker said.
Friday, August 29, 2008
253 FLDS children now dropped from YFZ custody battle
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700254513,00.html
Excerpt
In what is now becoming a daily occurrence as the nation's biggest child-custody case moves forward, Texas child welfare authorities have filed to "nonsuit" more children taken in the raid on the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch.
Texas Child Protective Services spokesman Patrick Crimmins confirmed 56 more children from the Utah-based polygamous sect were nonsuited in a San Angelo court on Thursday.
"The total number of individuals nonsuited is 253 (including the 26 disputed minors)," Crimmins told the Deseret News.
The decision to nonsuit ends court jurisdiction over the children, but it does not necessarily end CPS oversight. The reasons to nonsuit have ranged from no evidence of abuse to their parents taking adequate steps to protect them. Children also have turned 18 and are aging out of the system.
"The nonsuits are part of the process as we continue to work through the cases. The investigation continues, and those findings we have yet to announce," Crimmins said. "The lawsuits are in a different category. We're nonsuiting those as we work through them."
Excerpt
In what is now becoming a daily occurrence as the nation's biggest child-custody case moves forward, Texas child welfare authorities have filed to "nonsuit" more children taken in the raid on the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch.
Texas Child Protective Services spokesman Patrick Crimmins confirmed 56 more children from the Utah-based polygamous sect were nonsuited in a San Angelo court on Thursday.
"The total number of individuals nonsuited is 253 (including the 26 disputed minors)," Crimmins told the Deseret News.
The decision to nonsuit ends court jurisdiction over the children, but it does not necessarily end CPS oversight. The reasons to nonsuit have ranged from no evidence of abuse to their parents taking adequate steps to protect them. Children also have turned 18 and are aging out of the system.
"The nonsuits are part of the process as we continue to work through the cases. The investigation continues, and those findings we have yet to announce," Crimmins said. "The lawsuits are in a different category. We're nonsuiting those as we work through them."
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
10 more FLDS children to be dropped from YFZ custody case
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700254011,00.html
Excerpts
Texas child welfare authorities have filed papers seeking to drop more children of the Fundamentalist LDS Church from court oversight in the nation's largest custody case.
At the close of court on Tuesday, Child Protective Services filed to "nonsuit" 10 more children taken in the raid on the Utah-based polygamous sect's YFZ Ranch near Eldorado, Texas. The decision means the children would be out from under court jurisdiction, but does not end CPS' investigation.
"The only reason we're ending the legal case is we don't feel it needs to be under the supervision of the court," said CPS spokesman Patrick Crimmins. "CPS is satisfied that we don't need the supervision of the court."
The reasons to nonsuit vary, Crimmins said. In some cases, there may be no evidence of abuse. In others, the parents have taken appropriate steps to protect the children. Some have also turned 18 and aged out of the system.
----------------------
As the custody case has progressed, CPS has nonsuited approximately 176 cases.
----------------------
Crimmins said he was unaware of any plans to re-remove anyone else. CPS lawyers are expected to nonsuit more cases in the coming weeks.
"They're nonsuiting as they go along," Crimmins said.
Excerpts
Texas child welfare authorities have filed papers seeking to drop more children of the Fundamentalist LDS Church from court oversight in the nation's largest custody case.
At the close of court on Tuesday, Child Protective Services filed to "nonsuit" 10 more children taken in the raid on the Utah-based polygamous sect's YFZ Ranch near Eldorado, Texas. The decision means the children would be out from under court jurisdiction, but does not end CPS' investigation.
"The only reason we're ending the legal case is we don't feel it needs to be under the supervision of the court," said CPS spokesman Patrick Crimmins. "CPS is satisfied that we don't need the supervision of the court."
The reasons to nonsuit vary, Crimmins said. In some cases, there may be no evidence of abuse. In others, the parents have taken appropriate steps to protect the children. Some have also turned 18 and aged out of the system.
----------------------
As the custody case has progressed, CPS has nonsuited approximately 176 cases.
----------------------
Crimmins said he was unaware of any plans to re-remove anyone else. CPS lawyers are expected to nonsuit more cases in the coming weeks.
"They're nonsuiting as they go along," Crimmins said.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Great new blog
Dunno why I didn't find it earlier, but this is a fantastic blog by the FLDS reporter from the Salt Lake Tribune, Brooke Adams.
http://blogs.sltrib.com/plurallife/
And a fascinating recent piece by her. Hey Escape readers, recognize these ladies?
Barbara, Carolyn and their two daughters
http://blogs.sltrib.com/plurallife/2008/08/barbara-carolyn-and-their-two-daughters.htm
http://blogs.sltrib.com/plurallife/
And a fascinating recent piece by her. Hey Escape readers, recognize these ladies?
Barbara, Carolyn and their two daughters
http://blogs.sltrib.com/plurallife/2008/08/barbara-carolyn-and-their-two-daughters.htm
More Indictments and Oversights dropped
3 more indicted in Texas FLDS probe
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700252793,00.html
Excerpt
ELDORADO, Texas — One by one, the women of the Fundamentalist LDS Church were called before the grand jury to testify in secret about allegations of crimes within the Utah-based polygamous sect.
By the end of the day, three felony indictments were handed down.
"There's three different indictments, three different names," Schleicher County court clerk Peggy Williams confirmed late Thursday. She would not say who was indicted or what the charges were.
Jeffs, 2 others indicted on bigamy in FLDS case
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700253097,00.html
Excerpts
ELDORADO, Texas — Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs and two followers are the latest to be indicted by a grand jury here on bigamy charges, accusing them of polygamous marriages.
The indictments were unsealed after Raymond Merril Jessop, 36, and Michael George Emack, 57, surrendered to authorities at the Schleicher County Sheriff's Office on Friday afternoon. They were booked and released after each posted $10,000 bond.
click image for bigger version.
"Of course, Warren's in jail," Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran told the Deseret News after the arrests were made. "But they were able to post bond immediately. Everything was cooperative."
Jeffs, 52, is in an Arizona jail where he is awaiting trial on sexual misconduct charges accusing him of performing underage marriages. The FLDS leader was convicted in Utah of rape as an accomplice and sentenced to a pair of 5-to-life sentences for performing a marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin.
-----------------------------
Six men have been indicted in total, including Allan Eugene Keate, 56, and Merril Leroy Jessop, 33, who was also indicted on sexual assault and bigamy charges.
FLDS community physician Dr. Lloyd Hammon Barlow, 38, was indicted on misdemeanor charges of failure to report child abuse. Barlow's charges will be handled in county court, said Schleicher County Attorney Raymond Loomis.
Another 49 FLDS children dropped from state oversight
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700253007,00.html
Excerpt
SAN ANGELO, Texas — Child welfare authorities are asking a judge to end court oversight of 18 more cases involving children taken in the raid on the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch.
On Friday, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services filed papers to "nonsuit" cases involving 49 children.
"That involves 18 moms," said agency spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner.
The decision to nonsuit ends the court oversight of the cases but does not end Child Protective Services' role in the cases "because they are technically still under investigation," Meisner told the Deseret News on Friday, adding that it was possible that more children will be nonsuited as the case progresses.
CPS has already nonsuited approximately 100 cases in the months since the April raid for various reasons. Either the children aged out of the system, the parents are taking adequate steps to protect the children or CPS found no sign of abuse and neglect.
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700252793,00.html
Excerpt
ELDORADO, Texas — One by one, the women of the Fundamentalist LDS Church were called before the grand jury to testify in secret about allegations of crimes within the Utah-based polygamous sect.
By the end of the day, three felony indictments were handed down.
"There's three different indictments, three different names," Schleicher County court clerk Peggy Williams confirmed late Thursday. She would not say who was indicted or what the charges were.
Jeffs, 2 others indicted on bigamy in FLDS case
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700253097,00.html
Excerpts
ELDORADO, Texas — Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs and two followers are the latest to be indicted by a grand jury here on bigamy charges, accusing them of polygamous marriages.
The indictments were unsealed after Raymond Merril Jessop, 36, and Michael George Emack, 57, surrendered to authorities at the Schleicher County Sheriff's Office on Friday afternoon. They were booked and released after each posted $10,000 bond.
click image for bigger version.
"Of course, Warren's in jail," Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran told the Deseret News after the arrests were made. "But they were able to post bond immediately. Everything was cooperative."
Jeffs, 52, is in an Arizona jail where he is awaiting trial on sexual misconduct charges accusing him of performing underage marriages. The FLDS leader was convicted in Utah of rape as an accomplice and sentenced to a pair of 5-to-life sentences for performing a marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin.
-----------------------------
Six men have been indicted in total, including Allan Eugene Keate, 56, and Merril Leroy Jessop, 33, who was also indicted on sexual assault and bigamy charges.
FLDS community physician Dr. Lloyd Hammon Barlow, 38, was indicted on misdemeanor charges of failure to report child abuse. Barlow's charges will be handled in county court, said Schleicher County Attorney Raymond Loomis.
Another 49 FLDS children dropped from state oversight
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700253007,00.html
Excerpt
SAN ANGELO, Texas — Child welfare authorities are asking a judge to end court oversight of 18 more cases involving children taken in the raid on the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch.
On Friday, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services filed papers to "nonsuit" cases involving 49 children.
"That involves 18 moms," said agency spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner.
The decision to nonsuit ends the court oversight of the cases but does not end Child Protective Services' role in the cases "because they are technically still under investigation," Meisner told the Deseret News on Friday, adding that it was possible that more children will be nonsuited as the case progresses.
CPS has already nonsuited approximately 100 cases in the months since the April raid for various reasons. Either the children aged out of the system, the parents are taking adequate steps to protect the children or CPS found no sign of abuse and neglect.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Warren's Bride Back in Foster Care
Girl from polygamist group ordered into state care
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5954167.html
Excerpts
SAN ANGELO, Texas — A 14-year-old girl allegedly married to jailed polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs with her parents' blessing at age 12 was ordered back into foster care Tuesday by a Texas judge.
District Judge Barbara Walther said that there was "uncontroverted evidence of the underage marriage" and that the girl's mother, Barbara Jessop, refused to guarantee the girl's safety. The girl, shown in photographs submitted to the court kissing Jeffs, must immediately enter foster care.
Her 11-year-old brother, whom Texas child welfare authorities also wanted placed in foster care, will be allowed to stay with his mother but will have to undergo psychological evaluation in the next month.
-------------------------------
Lawyers reached settlements Tuesday before hearings were held on the other children they had sought to return to foster care. The five girls in those cases can stay with their mothers, provided the women restrict contact with men accused of being involved in underage marriages and comply with other, more routine custody-related court orders.
The agreements technically put the children in state custody, but the state has agreed to let them stay with their mothers as long as they comply with the agreements.
In the case of the 14-year-old allegedly married to Jeffs, Walther said she felt she had to place the girl in foster care because Jessop "was unable to provide assurances that she'd be able to protect the child in the future."
On Monday, Jessop, 55, refused to answer about 50 questions asked by attorneys for Child Protective Services, including what constituted abuse, the names of her children, her relationship with their father and whether a parent had an obligation to protect her children.
"I stand on the Fifth (Amendment)," she said repeatedly.
Her attorney Gonzalo Rios said she was exercising her right against self-incrimination because of the continuing criminal investigation. Two of her husband's sons have been indicted on charges of sexual assault of a child, as has Jeffs.
Invoking the Fifth Amendment can protect Jessop in a criminal case. But previous court rulings have found that negative inferences can be made in civil cases, like the child custody case, if she refuses to answer.
Rios said after the hearing that Jessop's decision to invoke the Fifth Amendment probably hurt her custody case, but he plans to argue on appeal that the welfare agency didn't make a reasonable effort to keep the family together, as required under Texas law.
--------------------------------------------------------
After some thought, I believe this is the girl they are talking about:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0527081flds3.html
Merrianne (Jessop) Jeffs
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5954167.html
Excerpts
SAN ANGELO, Texas — A 14-year-old girl allegedly married to jailed polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs with her parents' blessing at age 12 was ordered back into foster care Tuesday by a Texas judge.
District Judge Barbara Walther said that there was "uncontroverted evidence of the underage marriage" and that the girl's mother, Barbara Jessop, refused to guarantee the girl's safety. The girl, shown in photographs submitted to the court kissing Jeffs, must immediately enter foster care.
Her 11-year-old brother, whom Texas child welfare authorities also wanted placed in foster care, will be allowed to stay with his mother but will have to undergo psychological evaluation in the next month.
-------------------------------
Lawyers reached settlements Tuesday before hearings were held on the other children they had sought to return to foster care. The five girls in those cases can stay with their mothers, provided the women restrict contact with men accused of being involved in underage marriages and comply with other, more routine custody-related court orders.
The agreements technically put the children in state custody, but the state has agreed to let them stay with their mothers as long as they comply with the agreements.
In the case of the 14-year-old allegedly married to Jeffs, Walther said she felt she had to place the girl in foster care because Jessop "was unable to provide assurances that she'd be able to protect the child in the future."
On Monday, Jessop, 55, refused to answer about 50 questions asked by attorneys for Child Protective Services, including what constituted abuse, the names of her children, her relationship with their father and whether a parent had an obligation to protect her children.
"I stand on the Fifth (Amendment)," she said repeatedly.
Her attorney Gonzalo Rios said she was exercising her right against self-incrimination because of the continuing criminal investigation. Two of her husband's sons have been indicted on charges of sexual assault of a child, as has Jeffs.
Invoking the Fifth Amendment can protect Jessop in a criminal case. But previous court rulings have found that negative inferences can be made in civil cases, like the child custody case, if she refuses to answer.
Rios said after the hearing that Jessop's decision to invoke the Fifth Amendment probably hurt her custody case, but he plans to argue on appeal that the welfare agency didn't make a reasonable effort to keep the family together, as required under Texas law.
--------------------------------------------------------
After some thought, I believe this is the girl they are talking about:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0527081flds3.html
Merrianne (Jessop) Jeffs
Texas wants 8 kids & First exposure to Dogs!!!
Sorry, I have not been posting - here is my catching up!
Texas Wants 8 Sect Kids Back
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/17/national/main4356497.shtml
Excerpts
(AP) More than two months after being forced to return children from a polygamist sect to their parents, Texas child welfare authorities want eight of the youngsters put back in foster care.
Individual hearings for the four mothers of the children, ranging in age from 5 to 17, are set to begin Monday.
Child Protective Services has asked Texas District Judge Barbara Walther to return the children to foster care because their mothers allegedly have refused to limit their contact with men accused of being involved in underage marriages.
"We continue to have concerns in particular for these eight children, which is why we have asked the judge to review the case," said CPS spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner.
---------------------------
The issue, as it was in the earlier case, is "whether the children are in any immediate danger simply because their parents choose to raise them in this religion," he said. "The substance of what they're doing here is fundamentally the same."
FLDS Children See Dogs For the First Time in Their Lives
http://radio.woai.com/script2/print.php?page=/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html&article_id=4108587&feed_id=119078
Excerpt
Dogs are not allowed and never have been on the FLDS compound. So most kids had never seen one and many have never even seen a picture of a dog.
But when some of the children were housed at a San Antonio shelter they requested to finally see a four footed friend.
The call for a dog went to Pasty Swendson, a former TV personality, now owner of Pennies from Heaven, a dog therapy service.
The fragile meeting was arranged. After all, the kids didn’t know a dog from a gopher. Swendson says she brought her Golden Retriever, two smaller dogs and her Irish Wolfhound.
“When we entered the room, the kids, boys and girls, showed restraint. But soon enough they became excited and the first dog they went to was the 135 pound Wolfhound.”
Swendson says the children were well behaved, spelled aloud the dogs names, examined their fur, toes and faces and expressed amazement at them.
The 90 minute “therapy session” was over too soon says Swendson. “I could tell one little boy did not want to go back. He wanted to stay there with us.”
Texas Wants 8 Sect Kids Back
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/17/national/main4356497.shtml
Excerpts
(AP) More than two months after being forced to return children from a polygamist sect to their parents, Texas child welfare authorities want eight of the youngsters put back in foster care.
Individual hearings for the four mothers of the children, ranging in age from 5 to 17, are set to begin Monday.
Child Protective Services has asked Texas District Judge Barbara Walther to return the children to foster care because their mothers allegedly have refused to limit their contact with men accused of being involved in underage marriages.
"We continue to have concerns in particular for these eight children, which is why we have asked the judge to review the case," said CPS spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner.
---------------------------
The issue, as it was in the earlier case, is "whether the children are in any immediate danger simply because their parents choose to raise them in this religion," he said. "The substance of what they're doing here is fundamentally the same."
FLDS Children See Dogs For the First Time in Their Lives
http://radio.woai.com/script2/print.php?page=/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html&article_id=4108587&feed_id=119078
Excerpt
Dogs are not allowed and never have been on the FLDS compound. So most kids had never seen one and many have never even seen a picture of a dog.
But when some of the children were housed at a San Antonio shelter they requested to finally see a four footed friend.
The call for a dog went to Pasty Swendson, a former TV personality, now owner of Pennies from Heaven, a dog therapy service.
The fragile meeting was arranged. After all, the kids didn’t know a dog from a gopher. Swendson says she brought her Golden Retriever, two smaller dogs and her Irish Wolfhound.
“When we entered the room, the kids, boys and girls, showed restraint. But soon enough they became excited and the first dog they went to was the 135 pound Wolfhound.”
Swendson says the children were well behaved, spelled aloud the dogs names, examined their fur, toes and faces and expressed amazement at them.
The 90 minute “therapy session” was over too soon says Swendson. “I could tell one little boy did not want to go back. He wanted to stay there with us.”
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Court lets CPS end oversight of 34 FLDS children
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/5946990.html
Excerpts
Child Protective Services indicated last week that it would no longer pursue legal action against the parents of 34 children because the agency felt they were not in immediate danger. On Friday, State District Judge Barbara Walther agreed to the motion, without comment.
Friday's court action doesn't mean CPS ends its involvement with the 10 families of the 34 children, all members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a group that allegedly practices underage marriage.
CPS may still investigate the families or deliver services.
The child protective agency typically drops custody cases either when a thorough investigation leads them to believe no abuse occurred, or when they conclude that despite past abuse, a caregiver can now protect a child without the court's help, said CPS spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner.
Meisner said she could not discuss the specific reasons for CPS's decision to ask for an end to court oversight, nor the ages or gender of the 34 children.
----------------------------
Last week, armed with new evidence, the agency returned to court to again seek custody, but this time only of eight children, six girls and two boys ages 5 to 17. The agency said it was doing so either because they lived in households that refused to condemn underage marriages or were actively involved in the practice.
Walthers will hold hearings on that request beginning Monday in San Angelo.
CPS is still deciding what to do with the 400 or so pending cases.
Excerpts
Child Protective Services indicated last week that it would no longer pursue legal action against the parents of 34 children because the agency felt they were not in immediate danger. On Friday, State District Judge Barbara Walther agreed to the motion, without comment.
Friday's court action doesn't mean CPS ends its involvement with the 10 families of the 34 children, all members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a group that allegedly practices underage marriage.
CPS may still investigate the families or deliver services.
The child protective agency typically drops custody cases either when a thorough investigation leads them to believe no abuse occurred, or when they conclude that despite past abuse, a caregiver can now protect a child without the court's help, said CPS spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner.
Meisner said she could not discuss the specific reasons for CPS's decision to ask for an end to court oversight, nor the ages or gender of the 34 children.
----------------------------
Last week, armed with new evidence, the agency returned to court to again seek custody, but this time only of eight children, six girls and two boys ages 5 to 17. The agency said it was doing so either because they lived in households that refused to condemn underage marriages or were actively involved in the practice.
Walthers will hold hearings on that request beginning Monday in San Angelo.
CPS is still deciding what to do with the 400 or so pending cases.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Texas widens FLDS probe
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700250157,00.html
Excerpts
Texas Rangers are investigating 20 cases of sexual assault and about 50 bigamy charges involving members of the FLDS Church, the Deseret News has learned.
-----------------------------
The investigation has already prompted five indictments, including one against the church's leader, Warren Jeffs. A Schleicher County grand jury will convene again next week and may consider further indictments.
Rod Parker, a Salt Lake attorney acting as spokesman for the Fundamentalist LDS Church, was surprised by the sheer number of sexual assault and bigamy cases.
And he insists there aren't enough men practicing plural marriage at the Yearning For Zion ranch outside Eldorado, Texas, to come up with 50 bigamy investigations.
"I think they would have a problem coming up with 50 bigamy charges without charging the women," Parker said.
-----------------------------
Parker said traditionally a person is charged with bigamy because there is deception involved, like a man marrying another woman without that woman knowing he has another wife back home.
"This is completely different. Here we are talking about people who are consenting and know what they are doing," Parker told the Deseret News. "It's hard to see where the crime is."
Excerpts
Texas Rangers are investigating 20 cases of sexual assault and about 50 bigamy charges involving members of the FLDS Church, the Deseret News has learned.
-----------------------------
The investigation has already prompted five indictments, including one against the church's leader, Warren Jeffs. A Schleicher County grand jury will convene again next week and may consider further indictments.
Rod Parker, a Salt Lake attorney acting as spokesman for the Fundamentalist LDS Church, was surprised by the sheer number of sexual assault and bigamy cases.
And he insists there aren't enough men practicing plural marriage at the Yearning For Zion ranch outside Eldorado, Texas, to come up with 50 bigamy investigations.
"I think they would have a problem coming up with 50 bigamy charges without charging the women," Parker said.
-----------------------------
Parker said traditionally a person is charged with bigamy because there is deception involved, like a man marrying another woman without that woman knowing he has another wife back home.
"This is completely different. Here we are talking about people who are consenting and know what they are doing," Parker told the Deseret News. "It's hard to see where the crime is."
Thursday, August 7, 2008
DNA Not Working & FLDS Man Dies
Clashing stories, similar DNA hurt FLDS prosecution
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/5922407.html
Excerpts
"The problem isn't so much proving the issue that there had been sexual contact," Marrus said. "The bigger issue is proving who did it. ... So unless the child testifies that she had sex with a Mr. A or Mr. B, you don't have any proof who did it."
--------------------------
After interviewing more than a dozen teen girls inside one of the sect's 19 lodge-like homes on the night of April 3, CPS investigators reported evidence that not only were underage girls married, but also some became mothers before turning 18. Concerned that younger girls and boys were being raised in an environment where girls could be made wives once they menstruated, CPS and law enforcement huddled with state District Judge Barbara Walther, who ordered all children to be removed.
----------------------------
The confusing tangle of family relationships within a sect where a handful of families have intermarried for decades and often use the same names has been a major hurdle for both CPS and the Texas Attorney General's Office now prosecuting the case.
According to one state source close to the investigation who asked not to be identified, at least 5 percent of DNA samples taken from children and parents was so similar when compared, it could not be determined in those cases which child belonged to which parent.
Also, investigators have complained of inconsistent stories from young women about whether they were married to adult men.
----------------------------
However, despite the silence or varying versions about who is related or married to whom, investigators have been aided by an unlikely source: the sect's penchant for writing journals, recording family trees and scrapbooking their lives.
This practice appears to be one adopted by many members, including the young girls who write about their hopes to be united in marriage to a worthy FLDS man, an act considered their legacy and duty to their breakaway Mormon faith.
In a Dec. 27, 2006, entry submitted recently to Walther's court, a teenage daughter of FLDS president Warren Jeffs wrote: "The Lord blessed me to go forward in marriage July 27, 2006, the day after I turned 15 years old."
The girl also kept scrapbooks that included pictures of her passionately kissing her new husband, 34-year-old Raymond Jessop. In another picture, she is seen seated closely to her husband on a couch.
----------------------------
"I was shown that I should perform three marriage sealings tonight," states a journal entry dictated by Warren Jeffs in which he describes marrying off his daughter and two others on July 27, 2006.
"I did gather my daughter and her mother Annette in this afternoon and gave her a training on how to be a heavenly wife and to get close to her husband," Jeffs stated.
The girl's own diary, excerpted and attached in the court filing, corroborated that series of events.
FLDS man dies
this story didn't get much press, but it was on the front page of http://www.myeldorado.net/ a little while after it happened.
The Success has learned that William Sunderland Jessop, 29, died Thursday, July 31, 2008, of unknown causes at the YFZ Ranch. The official cause of death has not been released pending an autopsy but, authorities say they do not suspect foul play. Jessop was the son of YFZ overseer Merril F. Jessop. He is believed to be survived by two wives and at least six children, as well as his parents and numerous brothers and sisters.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/5922407.html
Excerpts
"The problem isn't so much proving the issue that there had been sexual contact," Marrus said. "The bigger issue is proving who did it. ... So unless the child testifies that she had sex with a Mr. A or Mr. B, you don't have any proof who did it."
--------------------------
After interviewing more than a dozen teen girls inside one of the sect's 19 lodge-like homes on the night of April 3, CPS investigators reported evidence that not only were underage girls married, but also some became mothers before turning 18. Concerned that younger girls and boys were being raised in an environment where girls could be made wives once they menstruated, CPS and law enforcement huddled with state District Judge Barbara Walther, who ordered all children to be removed.
----------------------------
The confusing tangle of family relationships within a sect where a handful of families have intermarried for decades and often use the same names has been a major hurdle for both CPS and the Texas Attorney General's Office now prosecuting the case.
According to one state source close to the investigation who asked not to be identified, at least 5 percent of DNA samples taken from children and parents was so similar when compared, it could not be determined in those cases which child belonged to which parent.
Also, investigators have complained of inconsistent stories from young women about whether they were married to adult men.
----------------------------
However, despite the silence or varying versions about who is related or married to whom, investigators have been aided by an unlikely source: the sect's penchant for writing journals, recording family trees and scrapbooking their lives.
This practice appears to be one adopted by many members, including the young girls who write about their hopes to be united in marriage to a worthy FLDS man, an act considered their legacy and duty to their breakaway Mormon faith.
In a Dec. 27, 2006, entry submitted recently to Walther's court, a teenage daughter of FLDS president Warren Jeffs wrote: "The Lord blessed me to go forward in marriage July 27, 2006, the day after I turned 15 years old."
The girl also kept scrapbooks that included pictures of her passionately kissing her new husband, 34-year-old Raymond Jessop. In another picture, she is seen seated closely to her husband on a couch.
----------------------------
"I was shown that I should perform three marriage sealings tonight," states a journal entry dictated by Warren Jeffs in which he describes marrying off his daughter and two others on July 27, 2006.
"I did gather my daughter and her mother Annette in this afternoon and gave her a training on how to be a heavenly wife and to get close to her husband," Jeffs stated.
The girl's own diary, excerpted and attached in the court filing, corroborated that series of events.
FLDS man dies
this story didn't get much press, but it was on the front page of http://www.myeldorado.net/ a little while after it happened.
The Success has learned that William Sunderland Jessop, 29, died Thursday, July 31, 2008, of unknown causes at the YFZ Ranch. The official cause of death has not been released pending an autopsy but, authorities say they do not suspect foul play. Jessop was the son of YFZ overseer Merril F. Jessop. He is believed to be survived by two wives and at least six children, as well as his parents and numerous brothers and sisters.
Texas wants 8 FLDS kids back in foster care
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10110171
Excerpts
Texas authorities have asked a judge to return eight children from a polygamous sect to foster care after their mothers refused to sign safety plans limiting contact with men involved in underage marriages.
Texas Child Protective Services filed a motion Tuesday to have six girls and two boys, aged 5 to 17, placed back in state custody. A hearing has been set for Sept. 25 by 51st District Judge Barbara Walther.
------------------------------
The state wants to remove two sons and a daughter of Barbara Steed and Merril Jessop, alleging they have permitted illegal marriages of underage daughters or between adult sons and minor girls. Merril Jessop is a church bishop who oversaw the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado.
The couple's daughter was married at age 12 to Jeffs at the ranch on July 27, 2006.
That same day, two of Merril Jessop's sons - Merril Leroy Jessop, 33, and Raymond Jessop, 36 - were married to 15-year-old girls, one of whom is Jeffs' daughter. The grand jury indicted the brothers last month and they remain in jail. Merril Leroy Jessop is charged with felony bigamy and sexual assault, and Raymond Jessop with sexual assault.
The state also wants to resume custody of a 13-year-old daughter of Amy E. Johnson, who is alleged to have allowed a 15-year-old daughter to marry an adult man in 2005. Merril Jessop and Wendell Loy Nielsen, a church elder and Johnson's current husband, witnessed the ceremony, the state alleges.
Another motion covers two daughters of Ellen G. Young, Barbara's sister, and Nephi Barlow. Young was married in 2004 to Merril Jessop, the state alleges. The girls lived with their aunt at the ranch for three years while their mother worked in Nevada, according to the documents.
Two other girls are daughters of Alice F. Barlow and Lloyd Hammon Barlow, 38, a physician indicted last month on three counts of failure to report child abuse. A court document alleges that one of Barlow's four plural wives was 16 when they married; it also says Barlow told investigators in April he had overseen births to underage girls at the ranch and other places "many times."
The state is specifically asking mothers of girls ages 10 to 17 to sign the safety plans to keep them from underage marriage or sexual abuse, said CPS spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner.
The mothers of the eight children listed in the motion refused to do so, she said.
FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop called the state's demand that the women sign the safety plan or face losing their children "barbaric."
"Why should these mothers forfeit their rights when they haven't had their day in court, and there is no evidence their children are in immediate danger?" he asked.
Attorney Stephanie Goodman, who represents Amy Johnson, said she advised her client against signing a plan that "will only be used against [her] in the future.
"My client is verbally and physically implementing the safety plan and CPS has the right to ensure by unannounced visits that she is keeping and providing her child a safe and stable environment," Goodman said.
Meisner said cases being dismissed involve families where there is either no evidence of underage marriages or children whose parents have agreed to appropriate steps to protect them from abuse.
She said in "more than half of the YFZ children, no match was found among the 26 fathers who provided DNA samples."
Excerpts
Texas authorities have asked a judge to return eight children from a polygamous sect to foster care after their mothers refused to sign safety plans limiting contact with men involved in underage marriages.
Texas Child Protective Services filed a motion Tuesday to have six girls and two boys, aged 5 to 17, placed back in state custody. A hearing has been set for Sept. 25 by 51st District Judge Barbara Walther.
------------------------------
The state wants to remove two sons and a daughter of Barbara Steed and Merril Jessop, alleging they have permitted illegal marriages of underage daughters or between adult sons and minor girls. Merril Jessop is a church bishop who oversaw the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado.
The couple's daughter was married at age 12 to Jeffs at the ranch on July 27, 2006.
That same day, two of Merril Jessop's sons - Merril Leroy Jessop, 33, and Raymond Jessop, 36 - were married to 15-year-old girls, one of whom is Jeffs' daughter. The grand jury indicted the brothers last month and they remain in jail. Merril Leroy Jessop is charged with felony bigamy and sexual assault, and Raymond Jessop with sexual assault.
The state also wants to resume custody of a 13-year-old daughter of Amy E. Johnson, who is alleged to have allowed a 15-year-old daughter to marry an adult man in 2005. Merril Jessop and Wendell Loy Nielsen, a church elder and Johnson's current husband, witnessed the ceremony, the state alleges.
Another motion covers two daughters of Ellen G. Young, Barbara's sister, and Nephi Barlow. Young was married in 2004 to Merril Jessop, the state alleges. The girls lived with their aunt at the ranch for three years while their mother worked in Nevada, according to the documents.
Two other girls are daughters of Alice F. Barlow and Lloyd Hammon Barlow, 38, a physician indicted last month on three counts of failure to report child abuse. A court document alleges that one of Barlow's four plural wives was 16 when they married; it also says Barlow told investigators in April he had overseen births to underage girls at the ranch and other places "many times."
The state is specifically asking mothers of girls ages 10 to 17 to sign the safety plans to keep them from underage marriage or sexual abuse, said CPS spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner.
The mothers of the eight children listed in the motion refused to do so, she said.
FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop called the state's demand that the women sign the safety plan or face losing their children "barbaric."
"Why should these mothers forfeit their rights when they haven't had their day in court, and there is no evidence their children are in immediate danger?" he asked.
Attorney Stephanie Goodman, who represents Amy Johnson, said she advised her client against signing a plan that "will only be used against [her] in the future.
"My client is verbally and physically implementing the safety plan and CPS has the right to ensure by unannounced visits that she is keeping and providing her child a safe and stable environment," Goodman said.
Meisner said cases being dismissed involve families where there is either no evidence of underage marriages or children whose parents have agreed to appropriate steps to protect them from abuse.
She said in "more than half of the YFZ children, no match was found among the 26 fathers who provided DNA samples."
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Funny Money and Parenting Classes
Suit may destroy UEP Trust of FLDS
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700247076,00.html
Excerpts
The future of the Fundamentalist LDS Church's real-estate holdings arm may hang on a lawsuit filed by a former child bride.
That's what attorneys for the court-controlled United Effort Plan Trust claim in new court papers filed in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court. In a renewed motion for summary judgment over a multimillion dollar personal injury lawsuit filed by Elissa Wall, lawyers for the UEP Trust fear that if a judge holds the trust liable — it may not survive.
-------------------------------------
"Given the large number of Mr. Jeffs' victims, and the serious nature of his crimes, the Trust may well lose all of its assets to tort plaintiffs harmed by Mr. Jeffs — leaving nothing for the numerous innocent beneficiaries who presently reside in houses on Trust property."
---------------------------------------
The UEP Trust controls homes, businesses and property in the FLDS strongholds of Hildale, Utah; Colorado City, Ariz.; and Bountiful, British Columbia in Canada. In 2005, a judge took control of the trust and its estimated $110 million assets amid allegations that Jeffs and other FLDS leaders mismanaged it.
---------------------------------------
"Exposing the charitable UEP Trust to liability for the unlawful acts of Warren Jeffs would come at a high cost to the men, women and children currently living in homes on trust land who have never endorsed child rape or any other unlawful acts alleged by plaintiff," he wrote.
Wall's attorney, Greg Hoole, said the lawsuit is not about making anybody rich — but holding people accountable.
"Elissa Wall has made it very clear she does not intend to keep any of the money that will likely be awarded to her," he said. "It's essentially about accountability and the trust needs to step up and be held accountable for its role in the abuses that have been perpetuated against children over the past decades in this community."
FLDS parents to take court-ordered classes
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700247079,00.html
Excerpts
Promising to teach tolerance, awareness and respect of others, the court-ordered parenting classes for members of the Fundamentalist LDS Church are scheduled to finally begin later this week.
The Deseret News has obtained a copy of the curriculum of the programs that parents from the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas will be required to attend as per the agreement of their children being returned to them in June.
--------------------------------------
Program One is called "Developing Potential." It's billed as an introductory program to provide a child with "the framework for a life rich in family, friends and personal growth. Teaching children these core strengths will allow children to learn to live and prosper together with people of all kinds."
The other programs scheduled to be taught have titles such as, "Attachment," "Self-Regulation," "Affiliation," "Attunement," "Tolerance" and "Respect." Instructors are given 12 handouts with exercises and a 55-slide PowerPoint presentation to complement the programs.
The descriptions for the various classes say the children will be taught how to "form and maintain healthy emotional bonds with another person," "control primary urges," and become aware and tolerant of different races and cultures.
"With positive modeling, caregivers can insure and build on children's tolerance. The tolerant child is more flexible and adaptive," the curriculum says.
Under the title of "Affiliation," children are taught that the family is the child's most important group. "Most other groups they will join are based on circumstance or common interests," according to the curriculum.
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700247076,00.html
Excerpts
The future of the Fundamentalist LDS Church's real-estate holdings arm may hang on a lawsuit filed by a former child bride.
That's what attorneys for the court-controlled United Effort Plan Trust claim in new court papers filed in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court. In a renewed motion for summary judgment over a multimillion dollar personal injury lawsuit filed by Elissa Wall, lawyers for the UEP Trust fear that if a judge holds the trust liable — it may not survive.
-------------------------------------
"Given the large number of Mr. Jeffs' victims, and the serious nature of his crimes, the Trust may well lose all of its assets to tort plaintiffs harmed by Mr. Jeffs — leaving nothing for the numerous innocent beneficiaries who presently reside in houses on Trust property."
---------------------------------------
The UEP Trust controls homes, businesses and property in the FLDS strongholds of Hildale, Utah; Colorado City, Ariz.; and Bountiful, British Columbia in Canada. In 2005, a judge took control of the trust and its estimated $110 million assets amid allegations that Jeffs and other FLDS leaders mismanaged it.
---------------------------------------
"Exposing the charitable UEP Trust to liability for the unlawful acts of Warren Jeffs would come at a high cost to the men, women and children currently living in homes on trust land who have never endorsed child rape or any other unlawful acts alleged by plaintiff," he wrote.
Wall's attorney, Greg Hoole, said the lawsuit is not about making anybody rich — but holding people accountable.
"Elissa Wall has made it very clear she does not intend to keep any of the money that will likely be awarded to her," he said. "It's essentially about accountability and the trust needs to step up and be held accountable for its role in the abuses that have been perpetuated against children over the past decades in this community."
FLDS parents to take court-ordered classes
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700247079,00.html
Excerpts
Promising to teach tolerance, awareness and respect of others, the court-ordered parenting classes for members of the Fundamentalist LDS Church are scheduled to finally begin later this week.
The Deseret News has obtained a copy of the curriculum of the programs that parents from the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas will be required to attend as per the agreement of their children being returned to them in June.
--------------------------------------
Program One is called "Developing Potential." It's billed as an introductory program to provide a child with "the framework for a life rich in family, friends and personal growth. Teaching children these core strengths will allow children to learn to live and prosper together with people of all kinds."
The other programs scheduled to be taught have titles such as, "Attachment," "Self-Regulation," "Affiliation," "Attunement," "Tolerance" and "Respect." Instructors are given 12 handouts with exercises and a 55-slide PowerPoint presentation to complement the programs.
The descriptions for the various classes say the children will be taught how to "form and maintain healthy emotional bonds with another person," "control primary urges," and become aware and tolerant of different races and cultures.
"With positive modeling, caregivers can insure and build on children's tolerance. The tolerant child is more flexible and adaptive," the curriculum says.
Under the title of "Affiliation," children are taught that the family is the child's most important group. "Most other groups they will join are based on circumstance or common interests," according to the curriculum.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
5 Men Indicted and New Photos
Here are some new photo slideshows of the FLDS:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/07/27/magazine/20080727_FLDS_SLIDESHOW_index.html?scp=2&sq=FLDS&st=cse
5 polygamist sect men arraigned in abuse case
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iIdMpRHjN4hpNKBhfYyAsR4DDo4QD927RT280
click image for bigger version.
Excerpt
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Five followers of jailed polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs were arraigned Tuesday on charges relating to child abuse and ordered to avoid their alleged victims when they post bond.
Raymond Merrill Jessop, 36, Allan Eugene Keate, 56, Michael George Emack, 57, and Merrill Leroy Jessop, 33, are charged with sexual assault of a child. Merrill Leroy Jessop faces an additional charge of bigamy.
Lloyd Hammon Barlow, the 38-year-old physician who lived at the Yearning For Zion Ranch, faces three misdemeanor counts of failure to report child abuse. He posted a $15,000 bond Tuesday, said Tela Mange, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Safety.
The other men remained jailed Tuesday evening on bonds of $100,000 for each charge. They were ordered by Justice of the Peace James Doyle to avoid their victims, to stay in Texas and only leave Schleicher County after notifying law enforcement.
The men will enter pleas at a later court hearing.
Prosecutors have refused to provide details on what the men from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are accused of doing, but documents from a separate custody case included a journal entry from Jeffs indicating Raymond Merrill Jessop was married to Jeffs' daughter the day after she turned 15.
The same entry, dated July 2006, said Merrill Leroy Jessop married another sect daughter that day, though it's not clear how old she was.
Jeffs, who was also indicted for sexual assault of a child in Eldorado, is jailed in Arizona awaiting trial on charges related to the marriage of underage girls to older sect members there. He was convicted in Utah last year as an accomplice to rape for marrying a girl to her cousin.
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/07/27/magazine/20080727_FLDS_SLIDESHOW_index.html?scp=2&sq=FLDS&st=cse
5 polygamist sect men arraigned in abuse case
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iIdMpRHjN4hpNKBhfYyAsR4DDo4QD927RT280
click image for bigger version.
Excerpt
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Five followers of jailed polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs were arraigned Tuesday on charges relating to child abuse and ordered to avoid their alleged victims when they post bond.
Raymond Merrill Jessop, 36, Allan Eugene Keate, 56, Michael George Emack, 57, and Merrill Leroy Jessop, 33, are charged with sexual assault of a child. Merrill Leroy Jessop faces an additional charge of bigamy.
Lloyd Hammon Barlow, the 38-year-old physician who lived at the Yearning For Zion Ranch, faces three misdemeanor counts of failure to report child abuse. He posted a $15,000 bond Tuesday, said Tela Mange, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Safety.
The other men remained jailed Tuesday evening on bonds of $100,000 for each charge. They were ordered by Justice of the Peace James Doyle to avoid their victims, to stay in Texas and only leave Schleicher County after notifying law enforcement.
The men will enter pleas at a later court hearing.
Prosecutors have refused to provide details on what the men from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are accused of doing, but documents from a separate custody case included a journal entry from Jeffs indicating Raymond Merrill Jessop was married to Jeffs' daughter the day after she turned 15.
The same entry, dated July 2006, said Merrill Leroy Jessop married another sect daughter that day, though it's not clear how old she was.
Jeffs, who was also indicted for sexual assault of a child in Eldorado, is jailed in Arizona awaiting trial on charges related to the marriage of underage girls to older sect members there. He was convicted in Utah last year as an accomplice to rape for marrying a girl to her cousin.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Who owns YFZ and more DNA gathered.
2 articles for you today:
Trust serves papers on FLDS ranch
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700242957,00.html
Excerpts
Lawyers for the court-controlled real-estate holdings arm of the Fundamentalist LDS Church have served court papers on the polygamous sect's Texas ranch.
-----------------------
The request demands "documents and tangible objects addressed to the custodian of records for Bank of America."
------------------------
Over the years, lawyers have struggled to get documents about the FLDS Church's management of the trust — claiming that records have disappeared, been destroyed or moved. They had to go to court to see records seized when Jeffs was arrested in 2006 outside Las Vegas, and when his brother was arrested in Colorado.
-------------------------
In 2005, a Utah court took control of the UEP Trust amid allegations that Jeffs and other FLDS leaders had been mismanaging it. A judge in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court appointed Wisan as special fiduciary. Since then, he has been trying to enact court-ordered reforms to the UEP, including subdividing property in the FLDS enclaves of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz.
The UEP was founded on the early-Mormon concept of a "united order," where members deeded everything to the church and it was doled out according to just wants and needs. The UEP controls homes, businesses and property in Hildale, Colorado City, and in Bountiful, British Columbia, in Canada.
Texas officials gather more DNA evidence for criminal case against FLDS leader
http://www.religionnewsblog.com/21751/warren-jeffs-dna-flds
Excerpts
Texas authorities working to build a criminal case against polygamous sect leader Warren S. Jeffs took a third genetic sample from an FLDS mother and her child on Saturday.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office served a search warrant on Veda Keate, 19, in Converse, Texas, at the apartment where she is living with her 2-year-old daughter, sister and mother. Robert Switzer, a San Antonio defense attorney, arranged for Keate to meet with a nurse and two deputies.
Keate told The Salt Lake Tribune she and her daughter had given two previous DNA samples and she protested having to undergo a third collection. Keate said she asked why the AG’s office could not use samples taken by Texas Child Protective Services.
[...]
Switzer said he and Keate were shown an affidavit that said Texas authorities believe his client’s child was fathered by Jeffs when she was under the legal age of consent - which is 16 for a legal marriage and 17 for sexual contact when there is an age difference of three years or less.
Trust serves papers on FLDS ranch
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700242957,00.html
Excerpts
Lawyers for the court-controlled real-estate holdings arm of the Fundamentalist LDS Church have served court papers on the polygamous sect's Texas ranch.
-----------------------
The request demands "documents and tangible objects addressed to the custodian of records for Bank of America."
------------------------
Over the years, lawyers have struggled to get documents about the FLDS Church's management of the trust — claiming that records have disappeared, been destroyed or moved. They had to go to court to see records seized when Jeffs was arrested in 2006 outside Las Vegas, and when his brother was arrested in Colorado.
-------------------------
In 2005, a Utah court took control of the UEP Trust amid allegations that Jeffs and other FLDS leaders had been mismanaging it. A judge in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court appointed Wisan as special fiduciary. Since then, he has been trying to enact court-ordered reforms to the UEP, including subdividing property in the FLDS enclaves of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz.
The UEP was founded on the early-Mormon concept of a "united order," where members deeded everything to the church and it was doled out according to just wants and needs. The UEP controls homes, businesses and property in Hildale, Colorado City, and in Bountiful, British Columbia, in Canada.
Texas officials gather more DNA evidence for criminal case against FLDS leader
http://www.religionnewsblog.com/21751/warren-jeffs-dna-flds
Excerpts
Texas authorities working to build a criminal case against polygamous sect leader Warren S. Jeffs took a third genetic sample from an FLDS mother and her child on Saturday.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office served a search warrant on Veda Keate, 19, in Converse, Texas, at the apartment where she is living with her 2-year-old daughter, sister and mother. Robert Switzer, a San Antonio defense attorney, arranged for Keate to meet with a nurse and two deputies.
Keate told The Salt Lake Tribune she and her daughter had given two previous DNA samples and she protested having to undergo a third collection. Keate said she asked why the AG’s office could not use samples taken by Texas Child Protective Services.
[...]
Switzer said he and Keate were shown an affidavit that said Texas authorities believe his client’s child was fathered by Jeffs when she was under the legal age of consent - which is 16 for a legal marriage and 17 for sexual contact when there is an age difference of three years or less.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Zoning Violations Found at Compound
County says FLDS compound violates zoning regulations
http://www.wetmountaintribune.com/home.asp?i=439&p=1
Excerpts
With a search warrant in hand, local authorities accompanied Custer County zoning director Jackie Hobby to the FLDS compound in Bull Domingo last week to check for possible building and zoning violations. The Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints compound was inspected last Thursday, July 3.
---------------------------------
County judge Peter Michaelson signed the warrant. The warrant allowed law enforcement to accompany Hobby, however, it did not give law enforcement authorities permission to search for possible signs of criminal activity.
“Of course,” said Jobe, “had we seen any criminal activity in plain sight we could have taken action. But that was not the case. We saw no criminal activity.”
---------------------------------
Hobby said the current septic system is designed for use by no more than four people in the household and there are more than four people living on site. As a result, the FLDS group has 30 days to show they are moving toward compliance. Compliance, noted Hobby, is an engineer- designed system. As for building without a permit, the group must apply for a zoning permit and they will have to pay three times the regular fee.
http://www.wetmountaintribune.com/home.asp?i=439&p=1
Excerpts
With a search warrant in hand, local authorities accompanied Custer County zoning director Jackie Hobby to the FLDS compound in Bull Domingo last week to check for possible building and zoning violations. The Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints compound was inspected last Thursday, July 3.
---------------------------------
County judge Peter Michaelson signed the warrant. The warrant allowed law enforcement to accompany Hobby, however, it did not give law enforcement authorities permission to search for possible signs of criminal activity.
“Of course,” said Jobe, “had we seen any criminal activity in plain sight we could have taken action. But that was not the case. We saw no criminal activity.”
---------------------------------
Hobby said the current septic system is designed for use by no more than four people in the household and there are more than four people living on site. As a result, the FLDS group has 30 days to show they are moving toward compliance. Compliance, noted Hobby, is an engineer- designed system. As for building without a permit, the group must apply for a zoning permit and they will have to pay three times the regular fee.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
FLDS Sells kidswear on the web
FLDS fashions for kids sold on enterprising Web site
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_9737603
ELDORADO, Texas - A new clothing brand may be born out of the Texas raid on a polygamous sect.
FLDS women for the first time are offering their handmade, distinctive style of children's clothes to the public through the Web site fldsdress.com.
Launched initially to provide Texas authorities with clothing for FLDS children in custody, the online store now is aimed at helping their mothers earn a living.
The venture, which has already drawn queries from throughout the U.S., is banking on interest in modest clothes, curiosity and charity to be a success.
-----------------------------------------------
The department took custody of 440 children from the sect's Yearning for Zion Ranch in early April and eventually placed them in shelters throughout Texas, where they were expected to stay for up to a year.
Most children had only a few changes of clothes - long dresses for girls and pants and long-sleeved shirts for boys, covering long underwear.
"Some children had only the shirt on their backs, literally," Jessop said.
By late April, some children had been told to stop using their unique underwear, and clothing was getting mixed up and lost on laundry days. That added to the pressure, Jessop said, to have the children don "gentile" - regular - clothes.
But the mothers resisted.
"We said, 'These are our children and this is the way we've chosen to dress them,'" Jessop said. "No way, no way."
When CPS said there was no place to buy clothing that met the sect's dress code, the mothers had an answer.
"We said, 'Yes you can. You can buy them from us,'" Jessop said.
With their children gone, many mothers had idle hands, empty hours and a need to support themselves.
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_9737603
ELDORADO, Texas - A new clothing brand may be born out of the Texas raid on a polygamous sect.
FLDS women for the first time are offering their handmade, distinctive style of children's clothes to the public through the Web site fldsdress.com.
Launched initially to provide Texas authorities with clothing for FLDS children in custody, the online store now is aimed at helping their mothers earn a living.The venture, which has already drawn queries from throughout the U.S., is banking on interest in modest clothes, curiosity and charity to be a success.
-----------------------------------------------
The department took custody of 440 children from the sect's Yearning for Zion Ranch in early April and eventually placed them in shelters throughout Texas, where they were expected to stay for up to a year.
Most children had only a few changes of clothes - long dresses for girls and pants and long-sleeved shirts for boys, covering long underwear."Some children had only the shirt on their backs, literally," Jessop said.
By late April, some children had been told to stop using their unique underwear, and clothing was getting mixed up and lost on laundry days. That added to the pressure, Jessop said, to have the children don "gentile" - regular - clothes.
But the mothers resisted.
"We said, 'These are our children and this is the way we've chosen to dress them,'" Jessop said. "No way, no way."
When CPS said there was no place to buy clothing that met the sect's dress code, the mothers had an answer.
"We said, 'Yes you can. You can buy them from us,'" Jessop said.
With their children gone, many mothers had idle hands, empty hours and a need to support themselves.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Polygamous sect leader's daughter wants to ditch her attorney
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_9669956
Excerpts
An FLDS teenager is taking a dispute with her attorney public, claiming the attorney is making her life "harder" and asking the lawyer to "please leave me alone."
Teresa Jeffs, 16, a daughter of polygamous sect leader Warren S. Jeffs, gave The Salt Lake Tribune on Sunday a copy of an e-mail she sent Natalie Malonis, of Flower Mound, Texas, after seeing news reports about her case. On Friday, Malonis won a court order banning contact between an FLDS spokesman and the girl.
----------------------------------------
In a telephone interview, Jeffs said Malonis is "fighting my own father and made it so I can't write to him." She has visited her father once since his arrest and incarceration in 2006.
----------------------------------------
Malonis, whorepresents two other FLDS children, defended her actions on behalf of Jeffs and said she believes the teenager is being pressured by the sect.
"There is no question I am absolutely looking out for her," Malonis said. "What's happening is really a shame because people who purport to care about her are really doing her a disservice."
Malonis said she just wants Jeffs to be free of any outside influence and make her own decisions. "Right now, that's not happening," the attorney said.
In court papers filed Friday, Malonis alleged that Jeffs' push for a new attorney was due to coercion from FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop and asked 51st District Judge Barbara Walther to bar them from having contact. Walther temporarily ordered Annette Jeffs, the girl's mother, to keep her from Jessop and set a court hearing in the matter for Tuesday in San Angelo.
----------------------------------------
She denied that anyone was influencing her desire for a new attorney, telling Malonis that "you need to realize that I have a mind of my own and I can do things on my own if I choose to."
Writing to the judge was "my own dear choice," she said in her e-mail. "Quit blaming it all on someone else when you have absolutely no proof. No one can change my mind, not even Willie!"
Excerpts
An FLDS teenager is taking a dispute with her attorney public, claiming the attorney is making her life "harder" and asking the lawyer to "please leave me alone."
Teresa Jeffs, 16, a daughter of polygamous sect leader Warren S. Jeffs, gave The Salt Lake Tribune on Sunday a copy of an e-mail she sent Natalie Malonis, of Flower Mound, Texas, after seeing news reports about her case. On Friday, Malonis won a court order banning contact between an FLDS spokesman and the girl.
----------------------------------------
In a telephone interview, Jeffs said Malonis is "fighting my own father and made it so I can't write to him." She has visited her father once since his arrest and incarceration in 2006.
----------------------------------------
Malonis, whorepresents two other FLDS children, defended her actions on behalf of Jeffs and said she believes the teenager is being pressured by the sect.
"There is no question I am absolutely looking out for her," Malonis said. "What's happening is really a shame because people who purport to care about her are really doing her a disservice."
Malonis said she just wants Jeffs to be free of any outside influence and make her own decisions. "Right now, that's not happening," the attorney said.
In court papers filed Friday, Malonis alleged that Jeffs' push for a new attorney was due to coercion from FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop and asked 51st District Judge Barbara Walther to bar them from having contact. Walther temporarily ordered Annette Jeffs, the girl's mother, to keep her from Jessop and set a court hearing in the matter for Tuesday in San Angelo.
----------------------------------------
She denied that anyone was influencing her desire for a new attorney, telling Malonis that "you need to realize that I have a mind of my own and I can do things on my own if I choose to."
Writing to the judge was "my own dear choice," she said in her e-mail. "Quit blaming it all on someone else when you have absolutely no proof. No one can change my mind, not even Willie!"
Thursday, June 12, 2008
States meet, Intimidating FLDS members, & FLDS family keeps state away
Law enforcement from several states meet to discuss polygamy http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700233862,00.html
Excerpts
LAS VEGAS — Top law enforcement from Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Texas have gathered here for a closed-door summit on polygamy-related crimes.
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The group is meeting to map out a plan to go after crimes connected with polygamy. It is the first time they have met since the U.S. Justice Department appointed a senior level prosecutor to assist. The meeting came out of a very public spat between Shurtleff, Goddard and U.S. Senator Harry Reid, who accused Utah and Arizona of "doing nothing" about polygamy.
Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said the summit is a good way for all the states to get on the same page.
"We're just here to talk about issues we have in common," she told the Deseret News.
Law enforcement has refused to say what.
----------------------------------------
Beyond the marriages, authorities have conducted probes into financial crimes and child abuse. Shurtleff and Goddard have sought a federal task force to push those investigations forward.
Tolman told the Deseret News that Wednesday's summit was not a "task force meeting" that Reid had envisioned, but an opportunity to share information between multiple agencies.
Washington County sends dossiers of select FLDS members to Texas officials http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700233581,00.html
Excerpts
The Washington (Utah) County Sheriff's Office sent Texas authorities dossiers of several FLDS members "who may engage in acts of intimidation or violence again law enforcement and/or potential witnesses."
Excerpts
LAS VEGAS — Top law enforcement from Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Texas have gathered here for a closed-door summit on polygamy-related crimes.
----------------------------------------
The group is meeting to map out a plan to go after crimes connected with polygamy. It is the first time they have met since the U.S. Justice Department appointed a senior level prosecutor to assist. The meeting came out of a very public spat between Shurtleff, Goddard and U.S. Senator Harry Reid, who accused Utah and Arizona of "doing nothing" about polygamy.
Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said the summit is a good way for all the states to get on the same page.
"We're just here to talk about issues we have in common," she told the Deseret News.
Law enforcement has refused to say what.
----------------------------------------
Beyond the marriages, authorities have conducted probes into financial crimes and child abuse. Shurtleff and Goddard have sought a federal task force to push those investigations forward.
Tolman told the Deseret News that Wednesday's summit was not a "task force meeting" that Reid had envisioned, but an opportunity to share information between multiple agencies.
Washington County sends dossiers of select FLDS members to Texas officials http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700233581,00.html
Excerpts
The Washington (Utah) County Sheriff's Office sent Texas authorities dossiers of several FLDS members "who may engage in acts of intimidation or violence again law enforcement and/or potential witnesses."
William Roy Jessop
- AKA "Willie the Thug" or "King Willie"
- The most serious threat affiliated with the FLDS religion.
- Reportedly has a passion for violence, weapons (legal and illegal) and explosives.• Accused of intimidating witnesses at Warren Jeffs' trial in 2007.
- "If anything remotely resembling violence or intimidation occurs, you can be fairly certain that William had a hand in it."
- Has acted as a spokesman for the FLDS Church after the raid on the YFZ Ranch.• Lives in Hildale, Utah.
Ruth Cooke 
- A "wild card" who is "blindly devoted to Warren and the FLDS religion."
- "We reviewed countless letters she had sent to Warren that confirmed her unstable behavior, as she talked of disturbing visions she had received and breaking down the prison walls in the name of the prophet."
- "She is just the kind of person who may be capable of doing something crazy, but justified in her head."
Lindsay Hammon Barlow 
- Several witnesses describe him as Warren Jeffs' "muscle."
- Barlow was "clearly in charge of the group's security."
- During Warren Jeffs' trial, Barlow "attempted to seat individuals who could intimidate the witnesses in their direct line of sight."
- Lives in Hildale, Utah.
William E. Jessop 
- "Respected as a bishop in the FLDS religion."
- "He is a very powerful man in the community, but I have never received any information that would indicate that he is involved in anything of a violent nature."
- "Could be involved in the decision-making processes due to his position of power."
- Lives in Hildale, Utah.
Lyle Steed Jeffs 
- Brother to FLDS leader Warren Jeffs.
- Acted as wedding security during illegal marriages conducted in Nevada.
- "Minimal information to suggest that Lyle would be considered a threat to commit acts of violence or witness intimidation."
David S. Allred 
- Involved in the financial areas of the FLDS Church.
- "Fairly high in the FLDS pecking order."
- "I do not have any specific information that would label David as a threat, nor do I have any that would discount him as a threat."
Nephi Steed Jeffs 
- Brother and personal assistant to FLDS leader Warren Jeffs.
- "To the best of my knowledge, he is not involved in any FLDS security and has no known history of violence or intimidation."
Wendell Loy Nielson
- One of the presiding elders in the FLDS religion.
- "He is not likely at this time to be involved directly in any acts of violence or intimidation, but may still be involved in their development, planning and approval stages."
Rodney Hans Holm
- Convicted of unlawful sex with a minor in Utah in 2006
- "Known to have significant disdain for law enforcement."
- "Rodney also was under the close watch of our court security staff during the trial, as he appeared at times to be attempting to intimidate witnesses from his seat."
Rulon Daniel Barlow 
- "Rulon seemed to be extremely focused on the routines of our court staff and repeatedly seemed to be staring down the prosecuting attorneys and their witnesses."
Dee Yeates Jessop
- "Appears to be another intimidating enforcer for the FLDS religion."
- Was more interested in intimidating witnesses with "menacing" stares during Warren Jeffs' trial than the trial itself.
- He has been described as a fanatic, who is blindly devoted to Warren Jeffs."
Samuel Rapylee Bateman
- "Showed an unnatural interest in the security procedures and routines of our staff during the trial."
Donovan J. Stubbs
- "Seemed to be taking mental notes of the security staff present."
- "Donovan carried himself well and seemed to be respected by the other members of the FLDS group. When he spoke, others listened."
Guy Curtis Bauer
- "Seemed to "make it a point to be noticed by the prosecution's victim and witnesses whenever possible."
- "Seemed to be there for the purpose of intimidation.
Guy E. Nielson 
- "Appeared to make several discreet attempts at intimidating the victim and members of her (Alissa Wall's) family."
Nathan Mead Jessop 
- "Multiple witnesses confirm Nathan Jessop is a member of the FLDS security team."
- One of three men who came to a woman's home and informed her she was no longer a worthy member of the community, a task generally reserved for Warren Jeffs' security staff.
FLDS couple granted an order to keep state away
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/5828409.html
Excerpt
A couple from a polygamist West Texas sect won a small victory Monday, even as their custody hearing was put on hold.
Judge Martha Tanner of the 166th District Court granted Lori and Joseph Jessop Sr. a temporary restraining order against the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, along with the temporary custody they had already gained of their three children.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Not All Kids Going Home
Just one article today (finally!). A really good summary of the situation in general. Some women and their kids are not going back to the ranch and some teens aren't leaving at all. The after math of this situation seems all too telling.
Polygamy's Child Brides Not Yet Rescued by Raid: Ann Woolner
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_woolner&sid=acs1pkGYP1ws
Excerpts
But even a few weeks in the outside world showed the children and their mothers an alternative to the oppression so many of them suffer, says Jessop, who wrote a book about her experience, ``Escape.''
----------------------------------------
And yet, the raid has freed at least some of the women and children from the sect. Now that the courts released them from state custody, not all are returning to the FLDS compound, according to Marleigh Meisner, spokeswoman for the Texas Child Protective Services. She says she can't say how many.
Court Records
We know from court records of one 16-year-old girl not returning home. And an unspecified number of the 72 boys who had been staying at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch near Amarillo aren't returning to the Eldorado complex, either, ranch president Dan Adams told USA Today.
----------------------------------------
Texas raided only after authorities, acting on a tip that now seems to have been a hoax, visited the compound and saw clearly underage girls who were pregnant. They interviewed parents who saw nothing wrong with marrying girls to older men once the girls reached puberty. Residents gave conflicting, evasive and downright false information when questioned, according to the state.
----------------------------------------
You can only rarely prosecute polygamy as a standalone crime, or remove children from homes due to it, because it is so difficult to prove and blowback from such raids makes them counterproductive.
Polygamy's Child Brides Not Yet Rescued by Raid: Ann Woolner
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_woolner&sid=acs1pkGYP1ws
Excerpts
But even a few weeks in the outside world showed the children and their mothers an alternative to the oppression so many of them suffer, says Jessop, who wrote a book about her experience, ``Escape.''
----------------------------------------
And yet, the raid has freed at least some of the women and children from the sect. Now that the courts released them from state custody, not all are returning to the FLDS compound, according to Marleigh Meisner, spokeswoman for the Texas Child Protective Services. She says she can't say how many.
Court Records
We know from court records of one 16-year-old girl not returning home. And an unspecified number of the 72 boys who had been staying at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch near Amarillo aren't returning to the Eldorado complex, either, ranch president Dan Adams told USA Today.
----------------------------------------
Texas raided only after authorities, acting on a tip that now seems to have been a hoax, visited the compound and saw clearly underage girls who were pregnant. They interviewed parents who saw nothing wrong with marrying girls to older men once the girls reached puberty. Residents gave conflicting, evasive and downright false information when questioned, according to the state.
----------------------------------------
You can only rarely prosecute polygamy as a standalone crime, or remove children from homes due to it, because it is so difficult to prove and blowback from such raids makes them counterproductive.
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