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.