Temple raid could help other investigators

"The whole thing is of interest to us," said Greg Hoole. "Whether or not it's something we're going to be using in our litigation, we haven't made any decisions."

Hoole is also the attorney for Elissa Wall, who was Washington County's star witness in its case against Jeffs. The FLDS leader was convicted of performing a marriage between the then-14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. Wall has been in Texas meeting with prosecutors about their case.

In Arizona, Jeffs is facing charges of sexual conduct with a minor and incest, accusing him of performing more child-bride marriages. Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith expressed interest in what was seized.

"Until we actually are allowed to view any evidence found at the Texas ranch, I cannot tell you if it would help us in any of our pending cases," Smith said in an e-mail to the Deseret Morning News. "I am hopeful that it will be of utility to our cases."

Jeffs is currently in the Mohave County Jail in Kingman, Ariz. If he is aware of the raid in Texas, authorities are not saying. The Mohave County Sheriff's Office would only say that during the hour each day that Jeffs is allowed out of his cell, he mostly uses the phone.

"Warren Jeffs is protected by the Fifth Amendment and his counsel and cannot be interviewed and will not be giving any statements to anyone," Smith said.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com