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.

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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.