Reader comments
FLDS grand jury indicts three people on felonies

53 comments   |   Read story

nosugrof | 10:18 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008
These people need to investigate CPS.Indict Angie Voss. She abused over 400 children.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Gal50 | 10:55 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008
Sounds like a big day for the grand jury and it seems there will be more indictments by the end of the day.

It is hard to read into this, but I was thinking that the strongest cases will be presented first. So, today could either be a continuation of strong cases or it could be the weaker cases. It seems that the number 10 has been floating around as the number of statutory rape or underage marriage cases, so today could be as heavy as the last grand jury day.

I would expect the next grand jury proceeding to be focused on local cases and not so much on the FLDS.

The case of Warren Jeffs is confusing to me. There is evidence that he married more than one underage girl. So, is he going to be indicted over a period of time for each criminal charge or is he just going to be indicted for the case with the most evidence? I would have thought that all indictments against him would come down at the same time.

Recommend
Recommendations: 0
realitycheck | 11:05 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008
obviously these women aren't going to testify. They don't want to go to jail for child endangerment. Hopefully there is enough evidence that they and their husbands can both be prosecuted. That would solve the "should the children go to foster care" question since raising children from prison is very difficult.... lol

There's no doubt abuse occurred. And if you think training your daughter to marry an old man isn't abuse, then you are extremely naive (and have a very warped sense of right and wrong...)
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Gregory | 11:20 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008
Gal50 salivates at the thought that maybe a few of the kids will be suffering again, pines for the good old days when 440 little ones cried themselves to sleep at night.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
common sense | 12:02 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
Did anyone really think the women would testify? They didnt at the last Grand Jury hearing. But this time, there is new evidence for the Grand Jury to hear about different men and women. I would Love to see Barbara Jessop indicted, and any other woman who encouraged and okay underage girls to testify.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
common sense | 12:03 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
The Grand Jury has enough evidence through DNA they dont need the girls testimony. Women should be indicted to!!!
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Abby | 12:41 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
To Gal50:

You are correct that there is evidence that Warren married 4 underaged girls between 2004 and 2006. However, only one of those underaged girls had a child. This is what Jeffs is being charged for. There is no proof that the other marriages were consummated, hence no charges at this time.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Sexual Abuse | 1:18 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
Sexual abuse is not restricted to consumating a marriage. There could be photos and diary entries that could prove sexual abuse that did not involve consumation.

Simply fondling a child can be grounds for a conviction for felonious sexual abuse.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Cats | 2:35 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
I have a lot of anger toward some of these women and I would love to see some of them indicted, too. However, we need to remember that the women are victims, too. They have been programmed from the minute they were born.

The women have no power and if they oppose their husband they could be severly beaten and, even worse, their eternal salvation can be taken away. They are just told just to "keep sweet" and do whatever they are told. this is a sick system that has become more and more perverse over the years.

The role Elissa Wall's mother played in the crimes that were committed against her is disgraceful. But, this poor women is also a victim. It's just a vicious evil thing that has been visited upon these people to the "third and fourth generation."

Something drastic needs to be done and it needs to include the women. But, we must remember, these women need help, too.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
re Gregory 11:20am | 2:36 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
and it appears you are heartbroken, pining for the good old days when you could hand off your daughter to a pedophile so he could stick his tongue down a 12 yr olds throat.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Cosmo | 3:01 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
Re:Cats;The real victim in the larger picture, is the Constitution. Almost all the arguments, pro/con
appear in Reynolds vs The U.S.
The Supreme Court created a problem that has resurfaced over and over, throughout the years. And
it will continue to do so.
Should old farts be doing little girls? don't make me hurl. But we have two issues here that need to be
intelligently addressed.
The one is at the end of a rope. The other will require a reversal by the Supreme Court. It won't do
any good venting emotional baggage. It is a time for cool heads, logic, and some good old Constitutional application.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
common sense | 3:02 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
I beleive they have enough evidence without any girls saying a word. Utah and Arizona didnt have this kind of evidence when they were trying to convicted men on underage marriage. They needed the word of the women, and the women refused. Surely these people and Willie Jessop and Rod Parker arent stupid enough to believe they will get away with this again? I hope not! Because they wont.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
FLDS or Not? | 3:32 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
It seems quite clear from some of the postings on this and previous articles that a lot of FLDS men and women are posting comments. It's easy to spot -they defend their actions and their religious rights, and attack everyone else.

I am not FLDS, and never would be, and disagree completely with their position. I do not believe all FLDS men marry underage girls, but cannot even begin to fathom men 30 to 40 years older than their 'brides' not being seen as abusers. That the women are indoctrinated to believe this is natural, normal or even a privilege is obvious. I have no idea what can change their mindset when they have lived through it themselves and witnessed it all of their lives.

I also believe that some of the actions of the authorities in Texas were not well thought out, and actually inflicted damage on the innocents, the children, and some of their mothers who seemed to be loving and caring toward their children. Separating mothers from nursing children was cruel and inhumane, for example. Taking the men out of the compound and letting the mothers/children live there under supervision I think would have been better.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Joey | 3:35 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
I'm glad Texans are devoting all their resources to investigating a handful of *possible* 'underage' sexual assaults among a cluster of Utah imports. Meanwhile the Texan barrios and inner cities rot with decay, filth, and criminality, which Texans choose to ignore.

When this is all over, assuming the evidence that was stolen and/or planted without a warrant even counts, Texas will have what, 2 or 3 convictions, costing 150 million or so? And that total doesn't count any Federal civil rights law suits judgments awarded to the innocent individuals and families from YFZ, that Texas wrongfully imprisoned, kidnapped, and abused.

Here's a tip for Texas: use a little logic in your thinking: Don't break the law to enforce the law. Weigh the pros and cons of your actions. Use Common Sense.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
x | 3:39 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
This whole situation sounds like a complete mess. I am wondering if the higher up courts think that sending men to jail and sending young girls to foster care will fix the over all problem. My question is why were all these children sent back with their parents before the whole investigation was done. The CPS says there was abuse and a judge says there was no abuse. Two months later 5 men were charged with sexual assults and the CPS wants to remove all teenage girls from their homes. Something isn't right, but one thing is for sure, that tax payers money is being spent foolish. Maybe the CPS should be pointing the finger at the person who performed the under aged marriages. I am not saying those other men are in the right either. I never read any articles about what the men had to say about not marrying under aged girls. And the courts want women to promise that their teen girls will not marry before 17. If the girls mother refuses, then she may be thrown out of her home with out her children. If this happened would CPS step in take the children? who knows??
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
re Cosmo 3:01pm | 3:40 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
I really don't think the founding fathers anticipated parents that are this callous. Back then, parents would do anything to keep their children safe. And today's parents (the good ones anyway) would die for their children.

so perhaps the constitution doesn't cover pimping out a 12 yr old girl with the parents blessing.

but that doesn't make it any less sick.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Call the fashion police too | 3:50 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
Someone needs to do something about those FLDS hairdoos. Isn't the Texas Fashion Police under the jusridiction of the Grand Jury? The FLDS women could use a good Texas beauty queen training session from one of the lovely locals.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
getreal | 3:59 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
Wonder what Willie had to say under oath and how much it differs from what he spews to the media. Bet there are LOTS of differences.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
re - getreal | 4:19 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
actually, the FLDS believe it is ok to lie if you do it in whatever they consider to be the best interest of the church. So I have no doubt he said whatever he needed to in order to protect everyone - or he pled the 5th.

I really don't think telling the truth was one of his options, and he probably didn't even considered it.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Anonymous | 4:20 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008
Texas = Courage to do the right thing!
Recommend
Recommendations: 0

No. Utah sees a major earthquake every 350 years. Last one? 350 years ago.