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Jeffs, FLDS members indicted in Texas
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This is ALL they've got? 6 men with almost all having only 1 count each?
Before trial, at trial and/or appeal, the 9 total counts will likely be whittled down to -0- convictions.
And the FLDS, just like Short Creek 1953 Part Two, will leave its wake MORE destroyed political and judicial careers. While they just keep on keeping on and growing larger than ever, as they have for 100+ years.
After witnessng the flagrant voraciious lawlessness exhibited by Texas in the recent YFZ-FLDs raid and seizures, my faith in Texas state officials has been sorely shaken. Regardless, now the bottom-line is if individuals named, or any of them, have done as alleged, they need to be brougt to justice in the interst of the state.
The problem, however, is that even if the prosecution and conviction of these individuals is possible, it cannot and will not justify the state's havimg knowledge of the polygamous practices and permitting the same (including sex with "children), to openly persist unimpeded as if "unofficially sanctioned" for years.
Warren Jeffs and the other perpetrators are now being called to account before an earthly tribunal. I hope the State of Texas continues to follow through in bringing these individuals to justice. Of course, they will also be called to account, someday, before the judgment bar of Christ.
One can only continue to flaunt the law and live an immoral life for so long until it catches up. I hope the FLDS people will be able to face the truth now. That is that they have been following a false prophet and a criminal. Warren Jeffs has publicly admitted as much.
I applaud Flora Jessop, Elissa Wall, Carolyn Jessop and others who have had the courage to tell the truth and try to help those who are fleeing this oppressive society.
I sincerely hope these people can now be free and have a chance at a real life.
And here's hoping we in Utah learn from Texas authorities. This FLDS "church" is not some cute little anachronism that helps us reconnect with our roots. Rather, it's an abomination perpetrated on the ignorant by leaders engaged in open rebellion against God and decency.
These leaders, left to their own devices by their rebellion, have lifted up their own new god, one who sanctions a �prophet,� prepared for his office by depriving his own sister of �that which was most dear and precious above all things.�
Today this �prophet� speaks for his new god by bullying, lying to, cheating, and stealing from the poor mopes who follow him. He issues, in the name of his new god, �commandments� of the most despicable sort, requiring acts completely foreign, both to our roots, and to the norms of decent society.
Let "consenting adults" engage in whatever perversion they see fit, but the full weight of the law should fall hard on any of them that abuse children -- here or in Texas.
Hopefully a few of them will wake up and realize the truth that Jeffs is just a con-artist and child-abusing pedophile.
You wish!
It isn�t all they have; it�s all they�ve brought forward for now.
Unlike you, I�ll wager, I was in San Angelo yesterday at the Child Protective Services offices. The FLDS is toast.
I must admit I find it rather humorous that "Just the Facts Maam" is actually putting forth the idea that the FLDS are prospering and growing--like the rest of us can't see that they are nothing but a weird little cult of inbred people who are getting more isolated and weirder all the time. Do these people really think that the Lord would allow his work to turn into such a pathetic and insular little organization that is going nowhere fast?
I don't doubt that there will be those who will contintue to live in denial and practice the FLDS faith. I hope that there will be many who will now have a chance to get free of this bondage and have a real life. After so many years of brainwashing, it's going to be very difficult.
These criminals need to prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
I hope the child raping, beating, Kingston clan is next in line along with the other sick Polygs.
And the women are victims but also accessories to the crimes and should be treated as such.
The consequences of living higher laws must be paid. Everyone understands that.
Society's intended result = everyone stops practicing plural marriage.
The REAL result = Stronger devotion to the principle, increased membership from disgruntled mainstream mormons, and more secretive practices in the future.
This could turn out bad if a search warrant is issued for the compound to enter it to look for them.
Turn yourself in and defend yourself like you should.
Reese -- good try. Spell Jericho and Israel correctly and you might annoy me.
and yes, Reese - sure, right - the Lord told you to marry 14 yr olds - and so you did. Good job. Now go to jail.
I don't think Joseph Smith ever said to abuse children - although I never met him, I'm pretty sure he was a lot better than that. Forced (or coerced) marriages of 14 yr olds is your own thing. Now perhaps you all will stop treating women and children as property and start treating them with the respect they deserve.
And while you're at it, how about stopping preaching for dozens of hours a day and let your people live normal lives? You all remind me of the old westerns where the preacher is marching down the dusty street with 50 uptight women holding Temperance League signs. You know, everyone that ever saw one of those scenes thought to themselves "boy I'm glad my mom's not like that".
Unfortunately, you moms and dads are just like that. Your children have my sympathy.
I find Willie Jessop's comment that as soon as the FLDS know the names of those indicted, they will appear to face the law, to lack credibility given how quickly the men fled Texas.
There is still the possibility that other than a handful of FLDS, no others will serve time in prison for the crimes they have committed. But still, they are not exactly getting away with crime. CPS is monitoring the children. Perhaps 2/3rds of the families are living off the ranch. The men have fled Texas and their families. The six statutory rape victims have been removed from their husbands and are back with their families. Six FLDS are wanted and many are living nervously, not knowing which six. The U.S. Senate is holding hearings tomorrow. The grand jury in Texas meets again next month.
Google: Texas Marriage Age Requirements Laws
Legally, it is their right as long as the parents give consent. Morally, in this time and age, it is considered unethical.
I am not condoning what their culture believes in, however, they moved down to Texas to be able to sustain their lifestyle, legally. The only reason why there has been an upbringing is because of a "hoax" phone call that is still under investigation; which led to more investigating for the remainder members.
We, as a society, are so quick to judge another without seeing the others' perspective. Judgment, as well as political correctness and debauchery will be the downfall of this society if we do not change our ways.
The law is black and white on the definition of statutory rape. If the girls are underage, they're underage, and anyone forcing an underage girl into a sexual relationship is committing statutory rape.
We've moved past the blanket removal of children from the FLDS community. The criminal charges now are against individual members of the FLDS community, not the community as a whole.
It doesn't matter if only one girl or 50 girls were raped, everyone responsible should be brought to trial and be held accountable.
While nothing short of "special circumstances" should excuse any defendant for willfully violating the law, it would be good if legal prosecution for each defendant be given equal consideration and protection each of those commenting would expect for themselves.
Is it possible for the defendants to escape mass misapplied opinions formed before hand, the dislikes stirred by media bias and the holding of ill-informed knowledge and irrational feelings against these individuals before trial? With public opinion so rabid and diametrical toward the defendants, why hold a trial? Why not just charge in with troopers, guns, "patty-wagons" and ropes with nooses? Oh that's right; they have already tried that debacle, right?
So if at first you don't succeed, try and try and try and try again, ad infinitum vomitus.
Jeffs and his buddies are finally being brought to justice for sexually abusing young girls. What make this even more disgusting is that they're claiming that God told them to abuse the girls.
we'll see if the men indicted will continue to hide. I hope they do because it will give law enforcement in Texas and in Utah the probable cause to go in and have a look.
CUT OFF THE WELFARE! if you take the free money out of the mess, Colorado city and Hildale will dry up and blow away
You forget that Texas also has laws against bigamy and consanguity. Read my first post - most of these "marriages" violate both of these things. Texas is not discriminating against them - these laws have been on the books since the early 1800s. Parental consent isn't the only thing required.
MY, MY, MY!!! HOW TOUGH YOU SOUND UNTIL IT HAPPENS TO YOU!!! OH, AND YES, IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO OTHER FAMILIES BESIDES JUST THE FLDS--READ ABOUT THEM ON THE TRUTHWILLPREVAIL SITE AND GET EDJUCATED BEFORE YOU SO QUICKLY CONDEMN. I'D GUESS A PRETTY FAIR GUESS THAT ALL THOSE ON THIS BOARD THAT ARE SO QUICK TO HAVE THEIR SAY, HAVE SKELETONS IN THEIR CLOSETS. (FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING.)
"You forget that Texas also has laws against bigamy and consanguity. "
How do they enforce that on the FLDS if their plural marriages aren't even registered with the state? Granted, you can argue for bigamy on cohabitation grounds, but the courts have been striking down cohabitation laws as unconstitutional.
Now I'm all for prosecuting these cases of statutory rape, abuse, etc., but I fail to see how bigamy laws can even be enforced anymore. If you can't enforce cohabitation laws against homosexuals, you can't enforce them against a religious group either. After all, if the gay marriage rulings in this country are any indication, marriage is now a sexual arrangement with benefits rather than a union that offers legal protections and responsibilities for the parents and potential natural children. (Yes, I know homosexuals can adopt and that lesbians can bear children from other men.)
They are a break off group of rebellious people who chose to NOT live according the the laws of the land, and who chose NOT to live by GOD's Law either.
This garbage that they live a higher law and not live according to what a society says they should is untrue.
They (FLDS) want an excuse and use "their" religion (NOT MORMON RELIGION)as a back up or a way to hide the abuse that is inflicted on these underage "Children."
I would agree that mothers who knowingly give their daughters to a grumpy old man should be tried as well. What a joke.
Right is right and wrong is wrong.
Any jury in their right mind will put these evil people and their practices behind bars for life.
The children need to be free and need to be able to wait until they are of legal age and "Choose" who they wish to marry.
No need to yell. You sound all frustrated. Not looking forward to jail? Sorry - you should have thought of that before you handed over kids to some guy (you call prophet) to trade for favors, and before you let him reassign women and children to a "new father" (amongst other things) for the same reason.
and yeah - we believe everything on the truthwillprevail website.
Face it - you can't screw up people like you have been doing for years. You're complaining about CPS for 2 months? What about your practices for the last 20+ years? (and I'm being conservative and giving you the benefit of the doubt...)
By the way - did you ever ask your"prophet" how he got these "revelations"? Did he dream them? If so, I have revelations every night. Did they show up as a note in his mailbox? If so, I wouldn't believe him. Matter of fact, unless he showed you stone tablets, why would you believe it? Isn't he the son of your last prophet? You really think "prophesizing" is a hand-me-down ability?
If you all would just take the time to think.....
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First, although the crime alleged was committed 3+ years ago (3 years is the normal statute of limitations for felonies in Texas), sexual misconduct with a child does not have a statute of limitations in Texas.
Second, Texas law does permit parents to consent to their child's marriage or informal (common law) marriage when they are underage. In the FLDS community, Jeffs readily gets this consent. However, Texas law absolutely prohibits marriage or informal marriage to multiple spouses (bigamy) or to direct or ascendants or descendants or to uncles and aunts, cousins, siblings, stepchildren or former children, or nieces nephews. That's why Jeffs couldn't do what he is alleged to have done.
Finally, some may find it weird that the FLDS women went in to the grand jury without their lawyers, and came in and out of the courthouse multiple times. Texas law does not allow lawyers in the courtroom during grand jury proceedings (except the prosecutor). After all, grand jury proceedings are merely to find probable cause, not convict. However, witnesses are allowed to consult with their attorneys during questioning if they request it.