Texas officials deny ex-FLDS members involved in search warrant

SAN ANGLEO, Texas — Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran said Friday that Rebecca Musser, a former member of the FLDS church, did not help law enforcement obtain a search warrant to raid the YFZ ranch.

"That is totally inaccurate," the sheriff said in a telephone call to the Deseret News. "Rebecca Musser is an expert on the FLDS who assisted law enforcement and child protective services with cultural awareness and sensitivity issues. I networked with Becky; she is not my confidential informant."

Doran's jurisdiction includes the YFZ ranch, a sprawling 1,700-acre property that includes numerous buildings, houses, community gardens and the polygamous sect's first temple. Doran has said he gathered information about the FLDS over the past four years from a confidential informant.

Musser is an older sister of Elissa Wall, who was married at age 14 to a 19-year-old cousin by FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs. Both women provided key testimony that led to the conviction of Jeffs, jurors said following the trial. Musser also was married as a young woman to Jeffs' elderly father, Rulon.

Several jurors said that Musser's testimony helped convince them that Jeffs was guilty of two counts of rape as an accomplice by conducting the "spiritual" marriage. Musser and Wall testified that Jeffs refused to delay or stop the marriage, even though Wall objected to the union. Jeffs is awaiting trial on similar charges in Mohave County, Ariz.

Angie Voss, a Texas child protective service supervisor, testified Thursday that she consulted with two experts to learn more about the FLDS church. When questioned by an attorney for some of the fathers of FLDS children being held in state custody, Voss said she leaned on Musser and Bruce Perry, a child psychologist and cult expert who testified for the state today.

Perry's testimony Friday centered on his work with children raised in oppressive or controlled environments. In his discussions with Musser, he said, he learned that the FLDS definition of choice is "not a healthy one."

"I did talk to Becky Musser. She had been married to Rulon Jeffs, and when he died she was given the option of marrying Warren Jeffs. She refused that and left the group," said Perry, adding the impression he was given from Musser was that she had to "marry in the group or leave."

Doran's work with Musser continues on an "as-needed" basis, he said.

"Early on, after the search warrant was initiated, Becky helped us with questions concerning this group that would assist law enforcement," the sheriff said. "She is one among many people that I spoke to and she assisted child protection services with their investigations and with the questions they should ask."

Doran declined to identify anyone else he contacted to help him understand the culture of the FLDS faith. He also defended the work of Texas child protective service workers.

"Becky is trying to bridge the gap between the FLDS culture and the rest of us," the sheriff added.

Wall, who has filed a lawsuit against the FLDS church and is writing a book about her experiences, may have also been at the ranch and taken through the FLDS temple following the raid, although Doran would not confirm or deny the rumor.

"I was not a part of that. I can't say if she was or was not," he said. "What I can say is that I did not take her in the temple."

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E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com