If Jeffs fights extradition, Utah and Arizona authorities would have to get a governor's warrant to bring him back. If he waives extradition, Smith said he would appear in court in St. George, Utah, and Kingman, Ariz. Coincidentally, one of Jeffs' followers is going on trial in Kingman today, accused of marrying a 16-year-old girl as his second wife. It was a union that was arranged by Warren Jeffs, the man considered "prophet" by the Fundamentalist LDS Church.

Law enforcement called the arrest of Jeffs "good news" but remained leery of potential fall-out and turmoil within the polygamous border towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz.

"Hopefully, we can get some resolution to the process so that Mr. Jeffs and his followers are going to get on with their lives," said Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith.

In Hildale today, Smith ordered increased patrols from his deputies to keep an eye out for any problems. At the FLDS Church's enclave in Eldorado, Texas, Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran said he broke the news of Jeffs' arrest to faithful followers there.

"It was very somber," he told the Deseret Morning News. "It was hard news for them to swallow."

Doran said he planned to fly over the FLDS Church's sprawling ranch sometime today to make sure there was no trouble. On the YFZ Ranch, the FLDS Church has an enormous temple that is believed to have been recently completed. YFZ stands for "Yearning for Zion," after a song Jeffs wrote.

In addition to its headquarters in Hildale and Colorado City, the FLDS Church is believed to have enclaves in Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, British Columbia (Canada) and Nevada.

Recently, many FLDS-linked businesses have begun relocating to Nevada. Several construction businesses were setting up in the Mesquite area. A major manufacturer from Hildale had relocated to Las Vegas.

The FBI has been on the tail of Warren Jeffs for some time. At first, he was placed on the "Most Wanted list." After first-degree felony charges of rape as an accomplice were filed by Washington County prosecutors in St. George, Jeffs was added to the "Ten Most Wanted" list. A $100,000 reward was offered for information leading to his arrest.

Police developed a break when they arrested Jeffs' brother, Seth Jeffs, in Pueblo, Colo., in October 2005. Stopped during a traffic stop, police discovered more than $142,000 in cash, pre-paid credit cards, cell phone cards, cell phones and documents related to the FLDS Church. Letters addressed to "The Prophet" were there as well as a change jar with Warren Jeffs' picture and a label reading "Pennies for the Prophet."

Seth Jeffs, 33, pleaded guilty in Denver's federal court to harboring a fugitive. He was sentenced to probation.

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard told the Deseret Morning News in June that he had information that Warren Jeffs had been in the Hildale/Colorado City area, performing more child bride marriages.

Recently, a judge in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court indicated she was ready to reform the $110 million financial arm of the FLDS Church. The United Effort Plan (UEP) Trust was taken over by the state of Utah in 2005, amid allegations that Jeffs and some upper echelon leaders of the FLDS Church had been siphoning money from the trust, which controls homes, buildings and property in the polygamous border towns.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com