Judge turns back challenge to evidence collected during weeklong raid at polygamist sect ranchOctober 2nd, 2009 Texas judge OKs evidence collected in raid on sectSAN ANGELO, Texas — A Texas judge ruled Friday that prosecutors could use thousands of documents seized during a weeklong raid of a polygamist sect's West Texas ranch in upcoming criminal trials even though search warrants were prompted by faked reports of abuse. Attorneys for sect men charged after the April 2008 raid had sought to have the documents — including family photos, records of multiple marriages and journal entries by jailed sect leader Warren Jeffs — kept out of their trials because they were obtained using search warrants that relied on false reports to a domestic abuse hotline.
Canadian court quashes polygamy charges against leaders of polygamous communitySeptember 23rd, 2009 Canadian court quashes polygamy chargesTORONTO — A judge has quashed polygamy charges against two leaders of a polygamous community in western Canada. The judge said Wednesday the province's attorney general did not have the authority to appoint a second special prosecutor to consider the cases of Winston Blackmore and James Oler after the first special prosecutor recommended against charging the two men.
Utah judge authorizes sale of 400 acres of polygamous sect's land in bidding processAugust 24th, 2009 Utah judge orders sale of polygamous sect's landSALT LAKE CITY — A Utah judge has ordered the sale of a 400-acre parcel of land that is part of a trust established by followers of jailed polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs. In a ruling issued Monday, 3rd District Court Judge Denise Lindberg says a liquidity crisis of the United Effort Plan Trust makes the sale of Berry Knoll necessary.
Attorney for Utah man tied to conviction of polygamous leader asks for rape charge dismissalAugust 14th, 2009 Utah sect member asks for rape charge dismissalSALT LAKE CITY — An attorney asked a judge Thursday to dismiss a rape charge filed against a man whose 2001 spiritual marriage led to the criminal conviction of Utah polygamous church leader Warren Jeffs. Allen Steed was charged with rape by Washington County prosecutors in September 2007 — one day after a jury found Jeffs guilty of two counts of rape as an accomplice for his role in Steed's marriage to Elissa Wall.
Arizona jail says polygamous church leader Jeffs is off feeding tube, eating regular mealsAugust 11th, 2009 AZ jail: Polygamous church leader off feeding tubeSALT LAKE CITY —Arizona jail officials say polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs is eating normally and no longer needs to be force-fed through a tube. Mohave County sheriff's spokeswoman Trish Carter says a feeding tube that had provided Jeffs with liquid nutrition for about a week was removed Friday.
AP NewsBreak: Arizona jail force-feeding FLDS church leader Warren JeffsAugust 4th, 2009 Arizona jail force-feeding sect leader JeffsBEAVER, Utah — A letter from a doctor says polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs is being force-fed in an Arizona jail to prevent the possibility of "imminent death."
In a letter filed with the Mohave County Superior Court on Monday, county jail Medical Director Kirsten Mortenson told a judge that Jeffs has been refusing to eat and is no longer urinating. She says Jeffs's vital signs are worsening and he is suffering from malnutrition.
On a mission: Utah 7-year-old takes car, goes for joyride to avoid Sunday trip to churchJuly 29th, 2009 Holy car! Utah boy goes for spin to avoid churchPLAIN CITY, Utah — Police in Utah say a 7-year-old boy led officers on a car chase in an effort to avoid going to church. Dispatchers received reports of a child driving recklessly on Sunday morning.
On a mission: 7-year-old Utah boy takes car, goes for joyride to avoid trip to churchJuly 29th, 2009 Utah boy, 7, goes for spin to avoid churchPLAIN CITY, Utah — Police say a 7-year-old boy led officers on a car chase Sunday through Weber County in an effort to avoid going to church. Dispatchers received reports of a child driving recklessly on Sunday morning and Weber County Sheriff's Capt.
Final Texas polygamist custody case resolved after judge gives a relative custody of teenagerJuly 24th, 2009 Judge resolves final Texas polygamist custody caseSAN ANTONIO — The only child left in state custody after being swept from a polygamist sect's West Texas ranch was placed permanently with a relative on Thursday, ending one of the largest custody cases in U.S. history. Texas District Judge Barbara Walther signed an order giving permanent custody of the 15-year-old girl to a relative who is a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Utah judge rejects polygamous church trust settlement proposalJuly 23rd, 2009 Judge rejects polygamous church trust settlementSALT LAKE CITY — A judge has rejected a proposed settlement that would have returned control of a state-managed land trust back to followers of polygamous leader Warren Jeffs. The United Effort Plan Trust was formed in 1942 to hold the collective assets of members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Court-appointed manager of polygamous church trust enters not guilty pleas to Arizona chargesJune 17th, 2009 Polygamous church trust manager pleads not guiltySALT LAKE CITY — A court-appointed fiduciary of a polygamous church trust has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor trespassing and other charges related to his management operations. Bruce R. Wisan was charged in Mocassin, Ariz.
Only child from Texas polygamist sect ranch left in foster care to go to a relative's homeMay 8th, 2009 Alleged underage bride to leave Texas foster careSAN ANGELO, Texas — A judge is allowing the only child from a polygamist group's West Texas ranch still in foster care to move in with a distant relative. The 14-year-old girl was allegedly married to jailed polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs when she was 12.
Some residents in Utah and Arizona worry they may lose homes in polygamous church trust fightApril 30th, 2009 Some fear eviction in polygamous sect's land fightSALT LAKE CITY — Some former members of a polygamous sect on the Utah-Arizona line are worried they will lose their homes in the legal wrangling for control of the church's property trust. Residents no longer connected to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints say they fear that settlement talks may lead to members of the church winning control of the land and homes in the twin towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz.
Settlement talks called upbeat over control of polygamous church's property trustApril 23rd, 2009 Talks upbeat on polygamous sect's property trustSALT LAKE CITY — Settlement talks in a yearslong battle for control of a polygamous church's property trust ended upbeat Wednesday evening with all sides talking and trying to work out disagreements, the mediator said. "I feel like progress has been made today and I hope more can be made tomorrow," said the mediator, University of Utah professor Paul Cassell.
Settlement talks under way over control of polygamous church's property trustApril 23rd, 2009 Talks start on polygamous sect's property trustSALT LAKE CITY — Negotiations are under way in a yearslong battle for control of a polygamous church property trust seized by the Utah courts in 2005 after allegations of mismanagement. At stake are the assets of the United Effort Plan Trust, an arm of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
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