From Deseret News archives:
Focus on polygamy may result in charges
"I absolutely think that there will be charges," Brett Tolman said Tuesday. "They may range in nature and scope, but there will be charges."
It comes as a coalition of law enforcement from several states Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Texas are beginning to share information about crimes within polygamy, particularly the Fundamentalist LDS Church.
Authorities confirmed a database has been created to share information between the law enforcement entities.
"It can be accessed by those that are investigating those particular crimes so that information can be shared," Tolman said.
Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith, whose office helped build the criminal case against FLDS leader Warren Jeffs, said the information sharing could help in future investigations.
"Whether it results in charges, I don't know," he said Tuesday. "Texas still has a lot of information they're going through."
Tolman, who will testify in Washington, D.C., on Thursday about federal intervention in polygamy-related crimes, has said he doesn't believe a federal task force is necessary. It is a belief that Smith shares.
"We in local law enforcement have been working really well with other state, local and federal officers," Smith said. "We don't need Sen. (Harry) Reid telling us how to manage this issue. We've been dealing with it for a long, long time, and we have gotten convictions."
Reid, the Senate majority leader, has been critical of states' efforts to combat crimes within polygamous communities and called for Thursday's congressional meeting.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
Recent comments
The problem is that there appears to be a lot of FLDS crime that is...
Gal50 | July 23, 2008 at 10:20 a.m.
I find it interesting that Sen. Reid is still is pointing fingers at...
Dixie | July 23, 2008 at 7:09 a.m.
- 'New Moon' wolfs down $140.7M 1:56 p.m.
- Holcomb wins bobsled gold 1:54 p.m.
- Sen. Dems at odds over health bill 1:17 p.m.
- Arrest in suspected child abuse 1:13 p.m.
- Mammogram guidelines spark debate 12:57 p.m.
- Man dies after SUV backs over him 12:39 p.m.
- At 6-5, hard time arguing firing Weis 12:24 p.m.
- $27M transfer for state Route 193 12:20 p.m.
- 'Christmas With King Family' DVD 12:16 p.m.
- Youn men help fill food-pantry needs 12:15 p.m.
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
- BYU records with win
- Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime
- Police link alcohol to murder
- Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals
- Utah Utes whip SDSU
- Former BYU professor remembered
- Cougars put the fun back in football
- Kirilenko heating up for the Jazz
- Y. coach Hill up for Portland State job
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
199 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
174 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
170 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
123 - BYU records with win
119 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
100 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
98 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93 - Huntsman pleased with Obama
87
A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
There's a lot of reason to leave your plastic home as you shop:
He is NOT a good example. He broke the Sabbath for a simple game and money....
Yes - the Catholic Church can take any stand they want for the Catholic...
Let it be heard and RISE AND SHOUT, the UTES are out. We claim ownership of...
IN 50 years of membership I have yet to hear a person of whatever position in...
It is non-sense to say one has to have religion to do good or to be good....
Please don't spend any taxpayer money on this.
be a Dietmer because he can never win big games. He will never be a Steve...
I find it interesting that so many who are so vocal about a perceived threat...
Fireboylen, you make want to drug test you with that comment, are you out of...
Oh really. "How many places other than DN..." is a stupid thing to say....

