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Jun. 12, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Officials ponder polygamy issues

Representatives of three states meet in LV

BY DAVID KIHARA
REVIEW-JOURNAL
HOME GUARDED

SALT LAKE CITY -- The home of a judge in Texas who ordered the removal of 440 children from a polygamist ranch is under guard after Utah and Arizona authorities warned of "enforcers" from the sect, a newspaper said Wednesday.

Police assigned to Judge Barbara Walther's San Angelo, Texas, house were provided dossiers and photos of 16 men and women deemed a threat, the Deseret News said.

Rod Parker, a Salt Lake City-based attorney for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, said law enforcement officials have nothing to worry about.

"Have they ever seen an act of intimidation or violence against law enforcement from the FLDS community at all, ever?" he told the newspaper.

Texas officials removed the children in April because of concerns they were being abused. But the Texas Supreme Court said the children should be returned.

The newspaper reported that law enforcement has been on alert since an FLDS-related Web site published Walther's home address and telephone numbers.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Law enforcement officials from Nevada, Utah and Arizona met Wednesday in Las Vegas to discuss polygamy.

Nicole Moon, spokeswoman for the Nevada attorney general's office, said Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto met Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard to "share information and open up lines of communication about polygamy in all of our states."

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    • The Salt Lake City Tribune said that U.S. attorneys from all three states attended the meeting.

    Moon said that she was unaware of any upcoming legal actions regarding polygamy communities in Nevada and that the meeting was held to share information.

    "We do know that polygamy is practiced in Nevada. Whether or not it's criminal is a different story," she said.

    The meeting stems from a request by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who said local officials needed help to prosecute polygamy sects, Moon said.

    In May, Reid sent a letter to Shurtleff and Goddard telling them that U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey appointed a federal prosecutor to work on polygamy issues.

    Texas authorities raided a polygamy sect two months ago and took dozens of children and teens living at the sect's ranch. Child welfare officials alleged that the sect pushed underage children into marriage. The children later were returned to the parents, but authorities said the sect was still under investigation.

    In 2006, polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs was nabbed by Nevada Highway Patrol troopers north of Las Vegas during a routine traffic stop. Jeffs, who was on the FBI's most wanted list at the time, was found with $54,000 in cash.

    Jeffs was convicted in Utah on charges stemming from the arranged marriages of two teenage girls to older relatives. He is in the custody of Arizona authorities awaiting trial on similar charges.

    Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.

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    Report abuse

    annoyed wrote on June 12, 2008 05:42 PM: Is polygamy really something other people should be concerned with? N.

    Does anyone else besides me get annoyed by the pompous, saint-like attitudes of government, so willing to interfere with private lives?

    Give someone a badge or other silly symbol of authority and look out.

    Meanwhile, millions (yes millions) of Illegal Aliens live among us, day after day after day. What a Country.


    Report abuse

    Herbert wrote on June 12, 2008 05:27 PM: Herb has an opinion on everything- But nobody cares


    Report abuse

    J wrote on June 12, 2008 03:03 PM: The whole issue of polygamy is complex, because there are so many different agendas and levels in the group. But the main issue is young girls should not be "married" to old men. When a 13 year-old girl is pregnant by a 45 year-old man, that is a problem! However, if consensual adults want to live this way, then let them.


    Report abuse

    INTERFERENCE wrote on June 12, 2008 02:20 PM: Why make polygamy unlawful?

    If the women find a great man who they like, so be it. A large, functional family.

    There are more relevant issues facing any country than challenging the Spirutal practices of others! How about immigration, crime, economic and health, and education issues?


    Report abuse

    Herb wrote on June 12, 2008 10:56 AM: The man is exactly right. This strange subculture could not even exist without the welfare state.

    There shouldn't even be a discussion about this. Polygamy is illegal. Adult men have sex with underage girls is illegal. Everyone involved should be sent to prison.

    The women should be de-programmed while in prison. They should et one more chance. If they choose to go back to this lifestyle they should be sent back to prison for the rest of their life, or at least until they lose their youth and looks and this cult no longer has use for them.

    It is very important to enforce this. Monogamy is essential to a civilized society. Every great civilization has practiced and enforced monogamy.


    Report abuse

    SLIPPERY-SLOPE wrote on June 12, 2008 10:50 AM: =


    CBS COVERAGE OF FEAR MONGERS SAYING THAT POLYGAMY IS THE NEXT THING, (AS A FALLACY).


    Available at:
    http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/04/politics/animal/main4152906.shtml



    SIGNED: RECKIPS



    =


    Report abuse

    SLIPPERY-SLOPE wrote on June 12, 2008 10:48 AM: =



    RUSH [POLYGAMY?] LIMBAUGH (NATIONAL RADIO TALK SHOW)

    HEADLINE: A CALLER ON POLYGAMY

    POLYGAMY: THE RIGHT WAY AND THE WRONG WAY


    http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_060608/content/01125117.guest.html



    SIGNED: RECKIPS



    =


    Report abuse

    fincenMIB wrote on June 12, 2008 09:24 AM: Polygamist Prophet Warren Jeffs Explains POLYGAMY

    http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fbudqrmFSDs

    Eldorado Texas YFZ Ranch Warren Jeffs on Polygamy Plural Marriage #1

    http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vfwGrCib4h0

    Warren Jeffs Damns his Defense Celestial Trianing to Girls 2

    http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=n4tXiIiuX5s

    http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eVzQZm75Nco

    Warren Jeffs Explains Celestial Marriage #3 to Teen Girls

    http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NIdh3RYi3HI

    Warren Jeffs on Marriage #4 Treat Boys as Dogs or Snakes

    http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gSEqH6aH3Dw

    Warren Jeffs #5 Explains Celestial Marriage to Girls

    http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qXsT7Q3alZw

    Warren Jeffs on Polygamy to Young Girls #6 Alta Academy

    http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=p0VxoWYBMwg

    Warren Jeffs GIRLS WANTED Child Brides needed! #7 Marriage Law Chapter 5

    http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oPzliyBc7kc


    Report abuse

    The Man wrote on June 12, 2008 08:18 AM: Tighten the Govn't handouts, and this would not be a problem. All the "spiritual wives" are single, unwed mothers in the eyes of the law... So they collect food stamps and welfare checks. It all goes into the "community trust" and divided up as the leader wants.


    Report abuse

    br wrote on June 12, 2008 07:49 AM: It is illegal to have more than one spouse at a time. It's called bigamy.



    It is illegal to have sex with a child below the age of consent. It's called pedopilia.



    It is illegal to hold a person agaist their will. It's called kidnapping.



    Forcing a person to work for no pay is illegal. It's called slavery.



    Doing any of the above under the guise of a "religion" is still illegal.



    The multi-state meetings to deal with polygamist cults is good effort to deal with the matter. We have a constitutional right to freedom of religion. We do not have the right to commit illegal acts stated above.


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