Utah ends probe of apparent hoax
"We referred it back for local law enforcement to look at," said Ken Wallentine, the Utah Attorney General's chief of law enforcement.
The Division of Child and Family Services received a phone call in April that alleged abuse in the FLDS border town of Hildale. DCFS has declined to release specific details about the call, but said it alleged child abuse and neglect and "may be related to an ongoing criminal matter," referring to the hoax call investigation in Texas.
"There seems to be some contextual similarity," Wallentine said, noting it would be more appropriate for a local law enforcement agency to investigate.
A spokeswoman for DCFS said Tuesday that local law enforcement did review the case, but nothing came of it. The call also lacked specific information about a victim and an address of the alleged abuse.
"We didn't have enough information to pursue a case," said Liz Sollis with the Utah Department of Human Services.
Arizona child welfare authorities investigated a similar call and also took no action.
Meanwhile, an arrest warrant has been issued for the woman considered a "person of interest" in the phone call that sparked the raid on the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch.
Court records said Rozita Swinton, 33, failed to show up for a court hearing in Castle Rock, Colo., on Monday to face a probation violation for a misdemeanor false reporting charge.
Swinton is accused in that 2005 case of making a series of hoax calls to police in Castle Rock, claiming to be a 16-year-old girl named "Jessica" who had just given birth, planned to abandon her baby and kill herself. She pleaded guilty and was given a deferred sentence. Swinton is also facing false reporting charges in Colorado Springs, accused of pretending to be a 13-year-old girl named "Dana" who claimed to have been drugged, chained in a basement and being sexually abused. Police later learned it was a hoax.
In Texas, authorities are investigating Swinton for calls made by a 16-year-old "Sarah," who claimed she was pregnant and in an abusive, polygamous marriage to a man named Dale Barlow. That prompted authorities to respond to the YFZ Ranch to investigate.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
Comments
Rozita Swinton
- Draper temple 2:32 p.m.
- Mouseketeer dies at 64 2:31 p.m.
- Cell phone ban 2:27 p.m.
- Inaguration funds 2:21 p.m.
- Mall shooting investigated 2:10 p.m.
- UTA receives $428 million 2:06 p.m.
- Three arrested 1:45 p.m.
- Grand jury indicts Baltimore mayor 1:36 p.m.
- Utah: painful recession ahead 1:31 p.m.
- Hunter's death 1:15 p.m.
- BYU's '09 football opener is OK
187 - LDS silent on issues164
- U. season greatest in our history146
- Collie to NFL136
- Shurtleff considers BCS probe135
- Utes finish No. 2 in AP poll116
- Official 2009 BYU football schedule111
- Utes earned crown on field100
- Polygamous leaders arrested89
- FLDS mother requests jury for case87
Really, the teams they lost to this year are the best he has lost to over the...
What do ANY of these comments about Obama, McCain, Bush, Cheney, Republicans,...
The first eleven games of the WAC season have ended with the home team losing...
Can you say, "easy to treat?" The biggest cause is a deficiency of...
I graduated from Escalante and played 2,3,4, and 5A schools throughout...
I think that all of you who are being disrespectful to not only Collie, but...
Doesn't 10% of this money go towards executive bonuses and perks?
HSFAN - you are a complete idiot. all of that you said was of the same...
Hucklabee, understands where Mormons are coming from-- it not too hard. He...
First, I have watched Collie play for two seasons now and he is better than...
You can be the first to comment on this story.