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Texas AG to be special prosecutor for FLDS criminal cases

And now comes the interesting part of this whole mess - the courts.

This is a really good move on the part of Texas because Judge Walther is overwhelmed and could use a few magistrates to handle the six to ten feet pile of motions that have been submitted to her court. Certainly, to take on a criminal case would be the death of her. Plus, the world is watching and there is some controversy involved as to whether polygamy should be prosecuted, so it is a good case for the Texas Attorney General's office. I may be wrong on this, but I think the AG's office may prosecute the polygamy since it played a hand in the statutory rape, the abandonment of the boys and the physical abuse of the children. I have to wonder if each person is going to be charged at once with all of his/her crimes or if the polygamy charges will be separate in case the polygamy charges are vulnerable to appeal. Also, there is a case to be made for charging additional wives with polygamy providing they are adults or were adults at the time of marriage. I have to wonder if women will be charged this time around.

Why is the Texas AG involved? Are they planning to seek the death penalty? When is enough, enough? I'm glad I'm not Texan.

I bet the criminal charges will include welfare fraud, and kidnapping amongst other obvious charges. The potential for being prosecuted for welfare fraud is one of the reasons nobody is willing to claim their children, which is why DNA testing has to be done. Apparently children were removed from other flds families in other towns and countries (canada) and brought to the compound and it will be interesting to find out what happens there.

I second that! Gal50 needs a wake up call! I'm proud to be an American, not a Texan! Time to move somewhere where people actually respect the Constitution that made this country great!

If you really want to see the constitution in action, come to Texas! There is more respect for the law, and more respect given by any peace officers here in Texas than in any of the other 6 states I've lived in. Yee haw!

Texas is doing what Utah and Arizona would not do, that is, try and protect children from abusive men who prey on the weak. When I watch they women on TV I am sickened on how much they appear manipulated, and are clueless as to what abuse really is.

Unfortunately Texas already has a black eye regarding abuse within the CPS system, and placing all these kids within a system with so many problems is not the answer. What is next?

May God bless all those attorneys in the Texas Attorney General's Office. For that matter, may God bless all people of faith, or otherwise, who become involved in the FLDS cases.

Perhaps to twart the Evangelical or Baptist bashers, let's keep in mind the religious diversity of the Texas population...

According to Churches and Church Membership in the United States 2000, Texas ranks:

� First in number of Evangelical Protestants, with 5,083,087.

� Second, behind Pennsylvania, in number of Mainline Protestants at 1,705,394.

� Third in number of Catholics, behind California and New York.

� Third in number of Buddhist congregations.

� Fifth in number of Muslims.

� Fifth in number of Hindu congregations.

� Sixth in number of Mormons.

� Tenth in number of Jews.

For a hundred years, or more, Utah has failed to address the hard issues of polygamy in our state.

Perhaps, now, with our friends in Texas, states will draw a line in the sand, suggesting that polygamists incur great risks in abusing young women and children.

One wonders how current day laws and social service groups would have dealt with "Mormonism" in the 19th Century...just a thought.

Getting convictions does not constitute a problem in Texas. Due Process does not exist in a Texas courtroom. The children and parents are supposed to have an individual hearing.
The sole evidence found were young women who determined to be underage strictly by visual observation. The sweeping siezure of over 400 children based on flimsy evidence is typical of Texas.

Nice going desnews for making this story a top headline for several weeks. It sure helps move people away from the confusion of lds and flds. Keep up the nice work.

Thank you Texas; Now that you gave us Lawrence vs Texas, you will be the instrument for allowing Plural Marriage in this country. When it goes to the Supreme Court, and it will, that will be the decision. The Muslims, various Native American Tribes, some Asian cultures, and of course you know
who, will all benefit from your flamming sword of justice.You should have remembered Abraham Lincolns
words, about plowing around a big rock or stump.
Sometimes it's better to just go around it. But no, not Texas, you dug it up now we are all going to be stuck with it. Texas; Take a Bow!

Way to go TX!!! And those who say TX doesn't respect the law? What about the law about marrying children? What about the law about not abusing (having sex) with children? I think TX is respecting the law by enforcing it. This has nothing to do with religion. It's about child abuse. Some 50 year old man tries to marry my 14 year old daughter and you bet I will call it child abuse and rape!!!!!!!!!!

Well precedence for criminal cases would have that not one shred of evidence collected could be used. Good luck, sound like one of Mark Shurleff sound bites, we are going to prosecute the FLDS for racketeering.

Gal 50 (Guardian ad litem 50?)
Lets take your allegations one at a time. (Which is what the court should have done.)

1) The AG's office may prosecute the polygamy...
The Truth: Lawrence v. Texas allows consenting adults to have sex with each other and these people are not legally married and are consenting adults.

2) ...since it played a hand in the statutory rape...
The Truth: The records show 5 girls age 16-17 gave birth to children. In Texas and Utah a girl can legally get married at the age of 16. There is no statutory rape.

3)...the abandonment of the boys...The Truth: There is no evidence that any boys in Texas were ever abandoned. You are referring to the lost boys in Utah and Texas does not have jurisdiction over those incidents.

4) and the physical abuse of the children...The Truth: The broken bones were no more frequent then accidents in all cities across America. If these 464 children were systematically abuse there would be at least some bruise when the children were taken into custody and there has not been one single bruise reported.

By the time this is over the FLDS will own half of Texas from the settelments that will come out of this.

Strangely, I would not necessarily prosecute polygamy. I would be careful about statutory rape when the young woemn involved think they are headed to heaven for the same reason. Sure it's illegal on the books, but I think going after the FLDS and not going after the various other forms of serial monogamy amd children with multiple women which exist in our society is flat-out religious discrimination. I think such prosecutions should get laughed out of court.

I also think the authorities should carefully weigh the state's interest in having fathers financially and personally contribute to the raising of their children. Whle key elements of FLDS theology are very different from my beliefs, these fathers are present and playing an active role in their children's lives.

I would like to see prosecutions for child abandonment for cases where teenage boys are kicked out with no resources. I think fathers who have been kicked out of the sect should consider their options for asserting their legal rights.

I think clear evidence of child abuse physical or sexual should be prosecuted regardless of the gender of the accused.

Hmmm, Lots of state rankings. How about FIRST in number of people found innocent after serving years in jail ?
Yes Texas is Number ONE in throwing people in jail on phony evidence. It's also Number ONE in sex crimes in foster care.

Due Process and Due Diligence really do not exist in Texas and by the comments, "Mormonism" of any flavor is the biggest problem.

In the docs submitted to the legislature, there is no indication of underage marriage or abnormally high numbers of minor pregnancies. So CPS lied when they said that was why they took the kids away. The only case Texas has is polygamy. They will convict some men, probably in absentia, but any convictions will be overturned by the US Supreme Court. Texas only aims to make life rough for FLDS for as long as possible so they will run to another state. There are two problems with that. First is, there really is nowhere left to run. Second, the age when you can run people out by legal harassment is past. I think FLDS will take a stand here. If they do, I think they'll win big, because Texas has screwed up huge.

Save the taxpayers the court costs, revert to 'shot while escaping', true justice expedited.

To Godbless TX

You don't read much do you?

The docs CPS submitted to the TX legislature show:

No marriages to girls below marriagable age. That means no 50 y/o married to 14 y/o.

The youngest 3 pregnant girls conceived between age 15-16. That means no evidence of systematic child abuse.

I can tell you are salivating over the prospect of years of crying children and desolate mothers, but the US constitution is going to have some say in whether or not you get your wish.