Utah and Arizona building additional criminal cases against Jeffs
"I'm hoping that other people come forward," said Gary Engels, an investigator with the Mohave County (Ariz.) Attorney's Office.
Engels confirmed to the Deseret Morning News he has additional investigations under way into Jeffs, who was convicted in 5th District Court earlier this week of charges of rape as an accomplice, stemming from a marriage he performed between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin.
Washington County prosecutors are now pursuing a rape case against Allen Steed, the groom in that marriage. He was charged Wednesday and is scheduled to be arraigned here on Oct. 4.
However, authorities are keeping tight-lipped about what else they are pursuing Jeffs for.
"To that, I can't speak to. I really don't want to comment on that," Engels said.
Engels said he has no evidence that child-bride marriages are continuing within the FLDS communities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz.
Jeffs is facing criminal charges in Mohave County, Ariz., accusing him of sexual conduct with a minor as an accomplice, and incest as an accomplice. Four criminal cases have been filed, but Mohave County prosecutors admit that at least two of them are in jeopardy.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has told the Deseret Morning News that his office has been conducting an organized crime probe into Jeffs and the FLDS Church. It stems from the court takeover of the church's financial arm, the United Effort Plan Trust, amid allegations that Jeffs and other FLDS leaders were siphoning money from it.
In 2005, the courts took control of the $100 million trust, which controls homes, businesses and properties in Hildale, Colorado City and the FLDS Church's enclave in Bountiful, British Columbia, in Canada.
Shurtleff and Engels said they would like to see the evidence the FBI seized from a Cadillac Escalade that Jeffs was riding in when he was arrested last year.
On Thursday, a Utah State Courts spokeswoman said that any documents sealed in Jeffs' trial here will remain sealed because of the potential impact they could have on the FLDS leader's cases in Arizona. That could include jailhouse statements that Jeffs has made.
Shurtleff said Jeffs now has an opportunity to cooperate with law enforcement.
"It'll be interesting to see if he decides now to be more cooperative or forthcoming," Shurtleff said in an interview earlier this week.
Comments
- Movsisyan to remain through season 11:22 a.m.
- Teacher faces new sex charges 11:19 a.m.
- Lawmaker: CIA dir. ended program 11:09 a.m.
- Ships ending search for black boxes 11:07 a.m.
- Charger RB wounded in shooting 11:06 a.m.
- Paris Hilton set to take stand 10:52 a.m.
- Papers plan boycott of Britney show 10:50 a.m.
- A look at the world in pictures 10:41 a.m.
- Arrests in near dragging of officer 10:35 a.m.
- Myths harmless, unnecessary 10:17 a.m.
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- Okur signs two-year extension
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Mall owner seeks to retain zoning
- Jazz rally for OT win at Orlando
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
140 - Letters: Palin mistreated
137 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
135 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
116 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Moon landing: Let's hear from you
79 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
73 - Letters: Single-payer system best
70 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
at least Okur wants to stay and help the jazz get better thats what its all...
The reason they are moving this facility from Fort Meade by DC is because the...
When I was at BYU, it wasn't Steve Martin, it was Bono of U2 who was...
How is this attempted murder? Vehicular assault is the most it could be.
The main culprit is the recession, which caused a 34 percent plunge in...
The increase in CO2 levels in lower atmospheric zones intensifies evaporation...
So the Jazz decided to keep their offensive minded center who doesn't play...
you can still buy pop rocks, they aren't even hard to find, and i don't...
I always laugh when I hear the myth from my non-LDS co-workers that Mormons...
It was your buddies in Washington for the last 8 years that caused this mess....



You can be the first to comment on this story.