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.

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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.

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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."