Reader comments
Texas AG to be special prosecutor for FLDS criminal cases

Denise | 11:38 a.m. May 6, 2008

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

Gal50 | 11:55 a.m. May 6, 2008

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.

Your kidding | 12:08 p.m. May 6, 2008

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.

Comments continue below

tll | 12:44 p.m. May 6, 2008

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.

Guy30 | 12:48 p.m. May 6, 2008

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!

Texan50 | 1:20 p.m. May 6, 2008

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!

JoeMama | 1:30 p.m. May 6, 2008

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?

God bless Texas ! | 1:32 p.m. May 6, 2008

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:

ï¿½ First in number of Evangelical Protestants, with 5,083,087.

ï¿½ Second, behind Pennsylvania, in number of Mainline Protestants at 1,705,394.

ï¿½ Third in number of Catholics, behind California and New York.

ï¿½ Third in number of Buddhist congregations.

ï¿½ Fifth in number of Muslims.

ï¿½ Fifth in number of Hindu congregations.

ï¿½ Sixth in number of Mormons.

ï¿½ 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.

Thomas | 1:35 p.m. May 6, 2008

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 | 1:39 p.m. May 6, 2008

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.

TheMadNuker | 1:39 p.m. May 6, 2008

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!

GodblessTX | 1:41 p.m. May 6, 2008

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!!!!!!!!!!

Phil | 1:48 p.m. May 6, 2008

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.

The Truth | 1:59 p.m. May 6, 2008

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.

Tim | 2:04 p.m. May 6, 2008

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

Anonymous | 2:07 p.m. May 6, 2008

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.

Eric | 2:10 p.m. May 6, 2008

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.

Don | 2:18 p.m. May 6, 2008

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.

Sam Houston | 2:37 p.m. May 6, 2008

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

Douglas F | 2:41 p.m. May 6, 2008

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.

too "God bless Texas ! | 1:32 " | 4:01 p.m. May 6, 2008

Tallking about blurring the line between FLDS and LDS... You mention the percentage of the Texas population that is the various religions, but you don't even mention the FLDS census... Is that because you combine FLDS with LDS in your mind?

Since this thread is about the FLDS I would think they would at least get mentioned in your comment.

Too all self-reightous Texans | 4:24 p.m. May 6, 2008

Too all the self reightous Texans patting themselvs on the back for cracking down on the imoral and disturbing behavior behavior at YFZ ranch... Do you really think the FLDS need to be more like you to be morally acceptable?

Is this the same Texas where football is more important than church and the quarterback's dad gives his son a wink and the thumbs up when he finds out he got the high school cheerleader pregnant?

How many unmarried-pregnant teenagers are there in Texas...? And all they can worry about is a married 18 year old on the YFZ Ranch?

Getting married early and skipping the traditional dating and screwing around with various partners until they are 30-something is part of their culture. When it is done TOO young or by force there should be consequences, but that isn't as common as some people would have you believe.

The way to change the abhorant FLDS practices is to councel with them, reason with them, and help bring them into the 20th century peacefully. Do you think a crack-down in Texas will change FLDS thinking world-wide? It just fulfills their leader's prophesies and warnings this would happen!

russ | 4:34 p.m. May 6, 2008

Counsel the FLDS men who are facing rape and child abuse charges? Those charges are just over the hill. They are headed this way.

Counsel? R U Mad? Why not throw open the prison doors and let out all of the rapists and abusers and "counsel" them. Just make sure when you are done that they live in your city, your neighborhood. OK?

I have heard some weird things before but that takes the proverbial cake.

Matthew | 6:28 p.m. May 6, 2008

Hey Russ,

No evidence of abuse. No evidence of rape, let alone satutory rape.

How many cases of satutory rape (by Texas' legal definition) go unprosecuted every year in Texas? A conservative estimate would be 10,000,000. So someone suggesting constructive engagement as a way of dealing with one or two dozen cases (at most) over 3 years isn't madness. Completely ignoring those other 10,000,000 is what is madness.

Everyone needs to open their eyes to Texas' hypocrisy in this matter.

History repeats again | 8:08 p.m. May 6, 2008

Why is the LDS church so determined to destroy the FLDS? seriously, Deseret news has had a dorky mud throwing article every day since the Raid, are they that determined to slander the FLDS and make them all out to be Bad guys, chances are there just people like you and me, some of every kind, I just donï¿½t know why they are doing a daily smear if they actually have a case? The Fact that no charges have been filled yet, ï¿½4 weeks laterï¿½ and some news papers are determined to paint them all bad, makes me think they may be incent, am I all alone in this View?

Justice | 8:28 p.m. May 6, 2008

Who prosecuted the murderers of the Davidians ? Not the STATE OF TEXAS - See THE STATE OF TEXAS IS A LIAR by Daniel Shindzing. A bankrupt legal fiction. How do murderers acquire "Authority" where you live. Do you think the Due Process clause is to protect rabbi's at the pentagon that misappropriate 2.7 trillion dollars, and covinously conspire to commit massmurder ? Oh that's right, the single cave theory. The stupidity in this country is reaching the proportion of an outrage....I hear that justice is coming down. Might as well celebrate 60 years of massmurder with the owners of your "government" a wholly owned zionist enterprise.....How about harrassing the 20 million uninvited invaders and the "boys" in town with their pants hanging around their knees ? AG hasbara...encore !

Rich | 8:31 p.m. May 6, 2008

The LDS Church is not determined to destroy the RLDS? The Deseret News editors and reporters are attempting to report the facts. The Texas authorities are keeping a great deal of evidence under wraps, while releasing some evidence or alleged evidence that they see as supporting their actions. What is the DN supposed to do -- ignore what is really the news and come to the defense of alleged criminals who are FLDS? Seriously. Look at the Salt Lake Tribune -- its reporters and editors are reporting basically the same set of facts. Look at CNN, CBS, ABC and the other major media -- all are reporting as much as possible, or at least as much as they think their viewers and readers might digest. Keep in mind tha tthe media are in it to make money, and they won't do a lot of followup stories and backup articles and sidebars if there isn't interest among the public. In Utah, there is plenty of interest, not just among the LDS, but among the FLDS as well and also among readers of other religions or no religion at all. I applaud the DN for reporting in detail.

Go Texas | 9:03 p.m. May 6, 2008

The FLDS has brought this on by following the bad lifestyle advice of Warren Jeffs. They blow millions defending themselves and hopefully rethink snubbing their noses at the law and hiding behind the constitution. After Waco, Texas has no patience for these cults and will come down hard on them, as they should.

uh! | 9:26 p.m. May 6, 2008

Texas made claim that FLDS had some married as young as 13. Why didn't they post that evidence with the bishops lists? What became of witholding the names of underage victims? Doesn't The Big Tex have any laws to keep identity of supposed victims private. So much talk of welfare fraud c'mon Tex if you want to post names show those who are defrauding the welfare system. uhh! maybe you don't have any. I didn't think such a secret self sustaining people would give out their personal info just for a few welfare handouts.

bilbo to Til and others: | 9:43 p.m. May 6, 2008

Houston Chronicle:
"Numerous readers, some of whom apparently heard repeated assertions on CNN in the past weeks, want to know why we're not also reporting another scandal involving West Texas members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints.
The scandal is that they were also collecting massive amounts of welfare payments, since all but their first wives were, for legal purposes, unwed mothers.
Here is the reason we haven't reported it: It isn't true.
How we know that:
Stephanie Goodman, spokeswoman for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, said privacy laws prevent her from disclosing who gets welfare payments. But she's quite confident none of the women at the compound in Schleicher County receive welfare.
How can she be sure?
Because not one of the nearly 3,000 souls who lives in Schleicher County receives welfare, more formally known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
Some 203 people do get food stamps. But that's down from 212 in 2003, before the polygamist group moved into the county.
The number of children enrolled in the Children's Health Insurance Program has also declined, from 111 in 2003 to 63 currently

Go Texas!!! | 10:32 p.m. May 6, 2008

Do you not see all the lies that keep coming out of the YFZ ranch. "They don't marry girls under 16, they don't have houses in hiding, they don't abuse their kids,ect." I can't believe all these people from Utah freaking out about Texas going and doing something. Try living in St George and watching all this first hand. Maybe Texas will get more done that Utah has.

Anonymous | 10:35 p.m. May 6, 2008

It has come to my attention that the state of Texas will not recognize birth certificates of the children they have illegally siezed. Where do they get their almighty power from? These are legal documents issued by the state in which the child was born. The state of Texas is holding adults and claiming they are minors because they, Texas, will not recognize a legal document issued by another state in this the "United States of America". This is a slap in the face to these states because Texas is stating by there actions that these legal documents are fraudulent. I am outraged and would expect the states this affects to be outraged as well. I think these states, mostly Arizona and Utah, should take legal action against the state of Texas. If something is not done about this than we, as citizens of the United States, are in jeopardy of having any legal document dimissed at any time as being fraudulent. I think we need to be fully aware of the actions of the governments we are subject to and hold them accountable to the laws they have created. Texas should not get a free pass.

Anonymous | 10:56 p.m. May 6, 2008

Texas is going to have to answer for the way it has handeled this so called "child protection service" for these cildren.

Anonymous | 11:46 p.m. May 6, 2008

They cannot prove polygamy since they are not married through the state. They have spiritual marriages. In the states eyes it is viewed as adultry and therefore cannot be prosecuted. If they were to try and prosecute the polygamy deal, there would be a firestorm of all proportions. The FLDS would claim a constitutional priviledge because of the freedom of religion clause. Freedom of religion is a giant Pandoras box and if Texas were to open it all hell would break lose, because other religions would then be forced to help the FLDS because the churches of the US do not want to see rights being eroded.

Dountoothers | 12:54 p.m. May 8, 2008

They also need a change of venue. There is no way in Hades FDLS parents will be given a fair trial in San Angelo.

JoeG | 3:44 a.m. May 20, 2008

No arrests, no charges filed. no case

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