Arizona prosecutors drop charges against Colorado City polygamist

Prosecutors in Arizona have dropped criminal charges against a Colorado City polygamist accused of having sex with an underage girl.

The Mohave County Attorney's Office said Tuesday that prosecutors dismissed the charges against Terry Barlow, 25, after his defense lawyer provided information showing the alleged crime took place outside Arizona.

"Defense proved that Victim and Defendant lived outside Mohave County during time charged in the Indictment," a statement from the Mohave County Attorney's Office said.

Barlow was scheduled to go on trial Nov. 14 on charges of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor. He is one of eight Colorado City men facing similar charges in Kingman, Ariz., accused of participating in underage polygamous marriages with teenage girls.

All the men are believed to be members of the Fundamentalist LDS Church, based in the polygamous border towns of Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Ariz. The FLDS Church's leader, Warren Jeffs, is facing criminal charges in Mohave County accusing him of performing child bride marriages. He is currently jailed in Utah, where he has been charged with rape as an accomplice, a first-degree felony.

A trial scheduled to begin Tuesday against another man has been delayed because an expert witness was not available to testify. A new trial date has not been set yet for Dale Barlow, 48, the Mohave County Attorney's Office said.

Trials have also been postponed for Vergel Jessop, 46; Rodney Holm, 40; and Randy Barlow, 33.

Of the eight men, one has been convicted. Kelly Fischer, 39, was sentenced to 45 days in jail. Donald Barlow, 50, was acquitted of a single charge of sexual conduct with a minor.

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