From Deseret News archives:
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.
"I really couldn't tell you if they've stopped or not, but I'm sure they've probably slowed down," he said. "Obviously, someone else is having to perform them now."
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.
Comments
- Start mammograms at 50, not 40 3:28 p.m.
- Pitta named semifinalist for award 3:11 p.m.
- Time Warner to spin off AOL 3:08 p.m.
- GMAC CEO steps down 3:07 p.m.
- Man arrested in '03 kidnapping 3:07 p.m.
- Tenn. loses 2 players to crime 2:48 p.m.
- Michigan didn't keep players logs 2:47 p.m.
- Barzee to plead guilty 2:47 p.m.
- Censors block call to free the Web 2:46 p.m.
- Vonage to settle investigation 2:43 p.m.
- MWC expand? Get rid of deadweight
- Relieved Cougs prep for Falcons
- Wounded Utes limp home
- Jazz rookies had to grow up quickly
- Big games keep UHSAA coffers full
- RSL surprised by Chicago's Fire
- Apostle's wife felt comfort in attack
- Jazz notes: Young bigs ride bench
- TCU stays 4th in AP; Y. 19th, U. 23rd
- Downtown S.L. thrived for a century
- TCU creams U.
233 - BYU happy to escape with victory
232 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
220 - Will state consider gay rights law?
157 - RSL heads to MLS title game
133 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
132 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - TCU stays 4th in AP; Y. 19th, U. 23rd
114 - Celtics crush Jazz
104 - MWC expand? Get rid of deadweight
104
The Gateway, 400 W. 200 South, will kick off the holiday shopping season...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
I cannot wait for this Sunday. I have been waiting for 5 years to see my...
Yes, he did it. But the natural mother was doing it before he did it....
i thought since it was bad weather that would favor you guys now you are...
You failed to mention a couple of important facts in your comparison: Top...
Just 2 years ago the same stuff was being said regarding our coaches in...
"Think about the protestors of Tianamen Square. Were they Conservatives or...
I Call BS. The line "We have decades of history of women trying to engineer...
By the two rooks playing well the past few games, will not impact Sloan one...
President Obama believes that criticism makes him a better leader??? Wow...
1A and 2A sports is awesome! You have to be raised and have roots in these...


You can be the first to comment on this story.