FLDS case may hinge on diaries, dictations

Diaries and dictations may be used to build underage marriage cases against Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs as a grand jury meets today in Eldorado, Texas.

Court documents obtained by the Deseret News focus on three marriages allegedly performed by Jeffs on July 27, 2006, including one in which Jeffs himself is purported to have been "sealed" to a then-12-year-old girl.

"I seek unto the Lord for his Spirit to be with me and guide this record-keeping," Jeffs began a dictation recorded that night.

The document said it was recorded "at the place of refuge R17," which Texas authorities say is another name for the Yearning for Zion Ranch. In the dictation, Jeffs said he had a vision.

"The Lord showed me a quorum of three ladies to assist. I thank the Lord for those gifts and blessings.

I was shown that I should perform three marriage sealings tonight, Brother Wendell's daughter (name redacted,) my daughter Teresa, and also Merril Jessop's daughter (name redacted)," he said.

The documents were exhibits in a report prepared by court-appointed child advocates in connection with the case of 16-year-old Teresa Jeffs. The girl is seeking to replace her court-appointed ad litem, Natalie Malonis, whom she accuses of not obeying her wishes in custody proceedings.

Teresa Jeffs wants to meet with Judge Barbara Walther in an attempt to oust Malonis from her case.

On Monday, Malonis filed papers seeking to have the report prepared by the Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) sealed, saying, "The report and attachments contain sensitive information pertaining to allegations of sex abuse of a minor."

Malonis acknowledged that the timing was a little late but said she was trying to protect her client. "It would prevent any further dissemination, at least from the court," she told the Deseret News Monday night.

Walther has yet to rule on Malonis' motion. The CASA report was made public late Friday when it was filed in the 51st District Court in San Angelo. CASA is an independent organization appointed by the courts to act on behalf of a child's best interests. Its report said that if Teresa Jeffs' wishes were to be followed, "it would place her in a dangerous environment and subject her to sexual abuse."

The evidence cited in the CASA report came from law enforcement and Texas CPS, the group said. The report urged the judge not to remove Malonis from representing Jeffs.

"The circumstances of this case certainly necessitate the attorney ad litem's substituted judgment for her client," it said.

Based on photographs, marriage records, letters and cards, CASA said it concluded that Teresa Jeffs was involved in an "intimate relationship" with her purported husband, 34-year-old Raymond Jessop.

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