Trial delayed for woman who may have sparked YFZ raid

Published: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 9:30 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 

A jury trial in Colorado for the woman declared a "person of interest" in the phone call that sparked the raid on the Fundamentalist LDS Church's YFZ Ranch has been delayed again.

During a hearing in a Colorado Springs court on Wednesday, court records show the trial for Rozita Swinton, 34, on a charge unrelated to the Texas raid was vacated and rescheduled to begin Aug. 31. Swinton is charged with a misdemeanor count of false reporting, accusing her of pretending to be a sexually abused teenage girl in Colorado Springs who was chained in a basement.

Swinton is also facing a probation violation charge in the Denver suburb of Castle Rock, stemming from her conviction on a similar false reporting charge there. A hearing is scheduled there next week.

Story continues below

Texas authorities have repeatedly said that Swinton is a "person of interest" in their investigation into the phone call that sparked the raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch last year. Someone pretending to be a pregnant 16-year-old named "Sarah" who was trapped in an abusive, polygamous marriage called a family crisis hotline in San Angelo, Texas. Similar calls were made to hotlines in Utah, Arizona, Washington and Florida. The calls prompted authorities to respond to the YFZ Ranch to investigate. On site, authorities claimed to have found other signs of abuse, which prompted a Texas judge to order the removal of all the children.

Approximately 439 children were returned when a pair of Texas courts ruled the state acted improperly. A dozen FLDS men, including polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs, have been indicted on criminal charges related to underage marriages.

E-MAIL: bwinslow@desnews.com

Recent comments

Here's a first, Rozita is NOT on the "Call Off" list for her pre...

Hugh McBryde | Oct. 28, 2009 at 9:37 a.m.

I agree that really nobody knows exactly what happen here, it's...

Anonymous | Oct. 28, 2009 at 8:37 a.m.

This is only a misdemeanor charge, not a felony charge like 12 men...

Rita | May 18, 2009 at 10:04 p.m.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

Seattle University and Idaho, come on Utes this an embarrassment to the...

This makes Utah States loss look really bad. Do they still claim to be the...

Utes fall to Seattle U. at home

You took the Sonics right down to the wire. how many other college teams...

RSL's Russell left exposed

Honestly, I know nothing about the rest of the MLS. I consider myself to be...

Sorry from the beginning they were Rahe's players and not Craven's seeing as...

Y. focused on 10-win season

BYU loses to the Utes, who do not pound inferior opponents, but will almost...

Coaches decline to call BYU-Utah

I am not coaching anymore so I can pick the game as I see it. I go with...

of the portable type that you use for small infants are a great place for...

@ ryan All the classical Greek and Roman emblems, laurel wreaths, lyre...

Utes need Wide to run wild

send them home crying... 'Mama, RoJo picked me twice 'Dada, Eddie ran...

Advertisements