Federal grand jury investigates FLDS

They say Texas, Arizona authorities blocking efforts to find origins of YFZ raid

Published: Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009 11:39 p.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 

A federal grand jury has apparently been convened to investigate the Fundamentalist LDS Church in the aftermath of the raid on the Utah-based polygamous church's Texas ranch.

Lawyers for FLDS leader Warren Jeffs are accusing Texas and Arizona authorities of blocking their efforts to ferret out the origins of the raid on the YFZ Ranch.

In a court filing made public in Kingman, Ariz., on Thursday, Jeffs' criminal defense attorneys complain that Texas law enforcement officials forbade any inquiry into the apparent hoax call that sparked the raid, where hundreds of children were taken into state protective custody.

Excerpts of interview transcripts filed with their complaint also revealed the apparent federal grand jury probe.

"This is all part of what has become a pattern of obstruction on the part of Texas law enforcement authorities," attorneys Richard Wright and Michael Piccarreta wrote. "The state of Texas simply would not allow any questions showing that the Texas law enforcement authorities now know that their search warrant affidavits were full of lies."

Story continues below

Jeffs' attorneys are seeking to prevent evidence taken from last year's raid from being used in his upcoming trial in Arizona, where the 53-year-old is accused of performing underage marriages. He was convicted in Utah of rape as an accomplice for performing an underage marriage.

Jeffs' defense team questioned Schleicher County (Texas) Sheriff David Doran, one of his deputies and Texas Ranger Brooks Long. But when the attorneys started asking about Rozita Swinton, the woman suspected of making the phony phone calls, interview transcripts showed that Texas authorities objected.

"I can't comment on that simply because I would be violating federal law in reference to that particular question," Long said in the interview.

"And what, why is that, because," Piccarreta wondered.

"Because I'm on the 6(e) list," Long replied, referring to federal rules of criminal procedure on grand jury secrecy.

"A grand jury list," Piccarreta said.

"Yes."

"And all right, so in terms of those calls and whether or not they relate to Rozita Swinton, that's something that you don't feel that you can disclose."

"It's not me personally, it's just, I would be violating federal law if I commented on that at this time."

Assistant Texas Attorney General Eric Nichols also halted many of the questions, citing an ongoing investigation by the state.

Recent comments

Jeffs is one of the BIGGEST losers that I have ever read about.

Lowlife | Feb. 20, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.

Jo, Hey, Hugh and cats got it right. Information concerned Rosita...

Fifty | Feb. 20, 2009 at 11:41 a.m.

Jeffs is going down again. His lawyers (between drunk and disorderly...

Cats | Feb. 20, 2009 at 10:58 a.m.

Image
Mohave County Sheriff's Office

Warren Jeffs

previousnext

Latest comments

She's a babe alright. Don't see her posing for any of those girly magazines.

Good for them. Let's support their efforts and respectfully make our voices...

This man didn't even show up to his own 9/12 rallies. Beck is a fool...

Utah Utes whip SDSU

I have to say the rivalry game looks pretty good for next Saturday. Utah may...

Hatch, Bennett oppose health bill

It's good to see Bennett's/Hatch's true colors regarding health care in...

5A: Miners dig deep, claim crown

I have watched the game a couple of times now and can not find two of the...

They play Sunday night not tonight.

If you do not want gay marriage in temple, that is fine. However then,...

Broncos make Aggies pay

Respect your opponent. If you say he's inferior, and he beats you, what does...

Women athletes will never be on a par with men until they knife, pistol-whip,...

Advertisements