FLDS trial to start

CPS folded under public pressure. The evidence is clear, young girls , just after onset of puberty, where assigned by the prophet Warren Steed Jeffs to men most often twice their age, to become wife Number 2, 3 or whatever.The men needed 3 wives to go to Heaven and the females within the FLDS where brainwashed from early on age to buy into it, being told that through those assigned marriages it was the only way to the eternal Kingdom. The wordpressflds,com site has the prophets dictations on file, go and read them, they are an eye opener.

i hope that justice is served and the man goes to prison not only because of his sexual assault, but because he left the poor child in labor for 3 days just so he wouldn't get caught.

Excellant Article, thank you CNN for bringing the FACTS forward. This should be in all the media services, these are children , whom adults have been taking advantages of for years.
Trafficking is supposed to be illegal, yet this group has been taking little girls from mothers in one state, and transporting them to other states to marry them off to men 30 or 40 and older.
This is NOT a religion, this is breaking the law.

It's good these trials concerning felony crimes against children are finally to begin in Texas. I'm curious also if this is the same man who fathered yet another younger infant on another underaged girl in Texas, but hid the child after his birth?

It seems to me that about 25% of the adult males at that YFZ breeding ranch were indicted. Others, or most of them, also committed the same or similar crimes in other states, particularly UT and AZ, but those states have histories of letting these crimes go unprosecuted.

Beth nice coverage article, however, at the close Raymond Merril Jessop is facing second degree felony owing to a change in agreed to court filing, he now faces up to 20 years. First degree felony sentence criterion was changed after Raymond's alleged charges transpired, so AG Attorney's office modifird his Grand Jury injdictment to a second degree
felony. I understand that the defense has, also, added two expert DNA witnesses more recently with the 51st District Court of Texas, which suggests that the DNA evidence will be contested.

Wish Prosecutor J. Erik Nichols of the Criminal Justice section a strong and non-refutable evidence for this case and may justice and truth be served.

This will be a very interesting case, sure hope CNN covers the trial. So much has already come out about the crimes committed by this cult, so much more will come out with the evidence introduced in this trial. The girl he is indicted for in this case is not the only underage girl he has "married", I understand that there is a possibility for more indictments at a later date.

These people are pedofiles and should be prosecuted as such.

Thanks for the article!

This group is like Tony Alamo – only 10 times larger with 10 times the crime.

Its kind of sad that there are groups out there that require our society to have prisons and organizations like CPS – but hey, there ya go,

Job security.

Great article, Beth. Let's hope these guys get convicted and are sentenced to the max. That's the only way these children and teenagers will have even an ounce of hope!

Now lets see. The state nabbed 400 children, an act that the judge found unsupportable. After all that they found evidence against 12 people, plus one girl is still in custody. She's still underage. The state wants to build up public emotion by introducing unrelated acts that they hope will ramp up public opinion in their favor. Why? If they have evidence on the charges, let us hear it. Otherwise, some people will conclude that the charges are efforts to save face on the part of the state.

Enough. Focus on the charges, stop the innuendo and produce the evidence.

I am so glad the laws are finally being enforced against these perverted mormon nutjobs. They are nothing but a cult of male sex addicts who prey on their own people and hide behind a so-called 'religion'.

People who advocate for the rape of little girls, telling them its their "duty to god" are sickening. Those monsters need to be thrown in jail for FOREVER.

In the United States, religion and state are separate and distinct. The state has a right to prosecute the Mormons in this case, but it does not have the right to infringe on religion and its practices. Mormons get the idea that it is okay to have many wives and as much children from the Israelites such as Abraham in the old testament. In accordance with freedom of religion, the state has absolutely no right to interfere in their religious way of life i.e. the many wives and children.....But, if someone files a complaint from that family, then the state has a right to intercept.

It's long past time the law was enforced with this bunch. What they are doing with children, "marriages" and money is not new to anyone. What an outrage that they have been allowed to get away with snubbing the laws of this country for so long.

These people are the sickest of the evil doers. They molest and abuse children and women in the name of God. I hope they throw the book at this SOB, so he can not hurt anyother child as long as he lives.

My personal opinion of this article is to say that the Creator probably has changed his position on multi-number of love slaves one can have. The Old Testament has a number of records of their prophets having many wives. The true meaning of wife is (source of life) wife is the source of procuring life. My son means so much to me because I raised him alone when my wife left but my wife was the source how I got my son, so the source of life is the wife. If you want to have wives, then you must be very rich and want lots of sons. I know they want to find the (doctors), the gifted ones. From one wife, usually one of the children is the doctor, very gifted, he/she does the negotiating for the family, maybe that is churches like them procure children from more than one wife. What do you think?

It's about time we stopped this child abuse and rape that the FLDS calls religion. These are children not adults and is NOT about religion . It is about ABUSE and RAPE of children....

this is a nightmare! A child is a child NOT for sex or marriage! I have Been watching the news and CNN regarding this since last year.

"The alleged victim, who was 16 at the time, was in labor for three days in August 2005. She was not taken to a hospital “because of her age and the associated governmental pressures against the Prophet,” according to the motion which quotes Warren Jeffs."

oh what husband material! The 16 year old was not fully developed thats why she was a minor! Sexual preditor to go after a child. One man and ONE woman! A 12 year old is a child and a baby let me guess a 3 year old would be okay to marry in his eyes.

Thank goodness the Texas Attorney General's Office is moving forward with this case. These people are criminals and need to be held accountable for thier actions.

I'm totally confused - and I'm sure all other viewers are, too. I see what's posted on this Web site, the start of the FLDS trial in Texas, but what I see on TV is the Leppert trial in Florida. Can you please explain what's going on? Thanks.

Underage marriage is wrong especially when forced. But for discussion where do we see polygamy outright outlawed in the Bible?

The weather in Eldorado, Texas on Monday morning is colder, overcast and raining. some jurors spotted in line include FLDS congregants dressed conservatively, including women dressed in their 'prairie' dresses and braided hair. Cynics say not even 12 jurymen may be selected out of a 300 person pool, time will see if such a skeptical viewpoint. Changing County venues to find enough jurors could develop into a necessity, law abiding Texans are not in short supply in any neighboring counties.

Let's be clear to separate Mormons from the Bible. The two are distinct and separate. The pologimy of the Mormons comes from Joseph Smith's "Book of Mormon" and Brigham Young's "Doctrines and Covenants" writings. It shows ones ignorance of the subject when you mix Mormonism and the Bible we know. Oil and water. I have an original copy of the BoM and D&C that haven't been "cleaned" over the years. The Mormons had to drop pologimy to get Utah's statehood but never did any of their so-called Prophets ever deliver a "edict from God" that they were to abandon the practice. So, you see where it comes from? And, why it's still practiced today? It doesn't take much digging to find the truth.

Reply to "s" : "...where do we see polygamy outright outlawed in the Bible?" I don't think this is about Biblical law. It's about the laws of this country. There are other countries where polygamy is allowed. The polygamist cults are free to move there. However, having lived in one of those countries, I doubt the Mormon's would be happy there. Polygamy was allowed only to the extent that the man could and would properly provide for multiple wives and treat them equally. A man who did not could find himself in trouble with the law. And in the true polygamist societies (as opposed to cults) that I've seen or heard about, children were valued, not abused.

's' – Is this a trick question about the Bible? What State in the Union has legalized polygamy/bigamy/polygyny? The laws that outlaw polygamy go back to English Common Law and not the Bible. Monogamy is the exclusive form of wedlock and has numerous reasonings behind why singular and exclusive couples make for the preferred brand. Polygamy laws are mainly a result of penalizing any choices beyond monogamy as not acceptable or lawful, this preference goes back to Greek and Roman times that predate Christianity, arguing this from a Biblical point-of-view is trying to make this a religious rather than civil disagreement of law.

Barry Kitchkeesic-Wynn look up Supreme Court ruling of Reynolds vs. United States, before you state incorrectly that the Government doesn't have a right to interfere with a religious practice that avows breaking the law or committing a Felony. There are recognized constraints on religious practices that could/would/do upset our Law & Order. Please, don't defend criminal acts as worship, it insult the posters here intelligence.

Reply to "s": I don't think this is about Biblical society. It is about the laws of this country. There are other countries where polygamy is legal and the Mormon cult is free to move there. Having lived in one of those countries, I doubt Mormons would be happy there. In polygamist societies (as opposed to cults) that I have seen and heard of, a man was allowed to have only the number of wives he could properly provide for and the law demanded that all the wives be treated equally. Children were treasured, not abused.

S – what does it matter whether polygamy is outlawed in the Bible or not? It's illegal in this country.

I would like to remind those people that are refering to these people as "Mormons" that they aren't, in fact, "Mormons", and have nothing to do with Mormons (latter-day saints) or the LDS/Mormon church.

Are FLDS members registered to vote? that's wierd if they are. If theyre not they cant be jurors...

Shawbrooke – You need to familiarize yourself with criminal cases. In every criminal case, be it the lowest level misdemeanor or a capital murder case, the state files a notice of its intent to offer extraneous offenses or prior bad acts when relevant. The state has the right to use this evidence, particularly when it shows a history or pattern of the Defendant engaging in criminal conduct, AS IS CERTAINLY THE CASE WITH RAYMOND JESSOP! It's relevant in the punishment phase to help the jury decide whether this guy should be free to continue his pedophilic behavior or whether he should be locked up with the rest of society's unsavory characters. The state is not attempting to stir up public emotion...this is standard procedure. If you've followed this case at all you would know that the state has ample direct evidence to convict Jessop of the charge for which he is currently indicted.

Mike – I realize FLDS is not mainstream Mormonism, but they are still Mormons who rely on the same teachings. The faiths stem from the same beginnings. I agree, though, that it's important to differentiate the mainstream church from the FLDS church.

Klaatu – yes, after the raid and the indictments came down, the FLDS ordered over 600 voter registration cards...there are 10 FLDS on the jury panel

Thanks Mike.
Yes "Mormons" is an acceptable nick name for the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (5.5 million members in US, 12.5 million worldwide) LDS for short.
FLDS (less than 10 thousand members) should not be confused with the LDS Mormons.
LDS members share with others the abhorance of this FLDS practice.

Cg – Perhaps they relied on the same teachings in the early 20th century (when they were formed by excommunicated Mormons) but saying they rely on the same teachings -now-, is like saying "the Westboro Baptist Church relies on the same teachings as mainstream baptists, because they both use the bible" – I am sure most mainstream baptists would find the WBC abhorrent.

The FLDS church's practices, especially the marriage practices, are not just "different" than mainstream LDS, but they are abhorrent to mainstream LDS.

And also, the point I wish more people understood, the practices of this FLDS group are not "just how the mainstream church used to be" – they've gone off in a totally different direction, and invented their own practices. And whatever the motives of those original excommunicated Mormons, and FLDS founding members who wanted to "preserve polygamy" back in 1912 – what goes on there -now- is completely alien to "Mormons"

Calling the FLDS adherents "Mormons" now is at best, confusing, and at worst, misleading.

i just wonder if any of the mothers ( that got their kids returned to them) even remotely tried to do the followup they had to do( like parenting classes,ect) or even removed their kids from contact w/ these pedo-creeps in the compound...my guess would be NO!
id be willing to be these secret underage "ceremonies" are still being done... behind even tighter closed doors now.

Satasabufima I recall that the last time round, there was no evidence for many of the items reported in the media. Who knows how many of the media reported items will actually stand up when observable facts must be produced? So my point is tell us what the evidence for the charges is.

If their case isn't strong enough to proceed with out using emotion generated from extraneous situations, why are they going ahead? Is this "16 year old girl delivering a baby outside of hospital" going to turn out to be a 21 year old who had a home delivery, because someone didn't check her documents and a rumor got started, like last time when they thought that a 21 year old was underage?

The media reported lots of stuff that turned out to be wrong before, so I am waiting to see what the government can come up with before jumping on any bandwagons.

I don't give a rats behind what this so called "Religion" is about. These people use their religion as a cover for the crimes they commit. It's obvious they know what they are doing is wrong! They claim the "outside" world are sinners, yet the men in these groups secretly have computers, cell phones, tv's etc... They also hate the govt. but their women are made to collect welfare and hand the checks over to the men. No child should be made to marry ; it's wrong and immoral. These perverts should be prosecuted to the fullest extent

I'm surprised that the there hasn't been more news made of the similarities between the FLDS group and the extradition and prosecution of Roman Polanski. I understand that there are a littany of differences between the two cases, but the root, abusing young girls, is essentially the same. Polanski sedated his victim with champagne and ludes, the FLDS sedate their victims with religous teachings. Sadly, there seems to be less sympathy for the FLDS folks than for Polanski. I think the same level of outrage should be applied to both. As a father of two young girls, I'm saddened and mystified by the support that Polanski has recieved from people both inside and outside of the entertainment industry. I mean, the guy raped a 13 year old...how could that EVER be okay?

Ok, so this case shows that having child brides can be handled by conventional anti-sex-with-a-minor laws... so why is polygamy illegal again?

The arguments usually seem to come down to 'God said so', 'it has been that way for a long time (which is ironic considering most of that 'long time' included child brides), or 'to save the children!'.

Mike, I hope you are right about the majority of LDS members. I do personally know many, though, who defend the FLDS practices.

Christa-Maria, everyone is brainwashed into believing what they believe, but it is a matter of choice to go along with it in the long run (even when the decision is a tough one to make). That said, there is NO excuse for marriage to a 12 year old, and all that goes with it. Multiple marriage, if that's what ADULTS want in an organized internal society is fine if that's what floats their boat (the bigamy charges will be difficult to prove against the men with their willing participant women – secondary 'wives' simply could have no rights under state law vs their internally recognized entitlements within their group) – but children are not adults, and adults have a responsibility for their children's care and well-being. These men who abused their responsibilities to these barely pubescent children deserve all they get.

How did their magic undergarments not protect them from this tyranny?

Not Mormons??? Are Catholics, Lutherans, Protestants and Episcopalians not all Christians?

I suggest anyone interested in this read a book by Warren Jeffs nephew Brent Jeffs titled "Lost Boy." It chronicles decades of sexual abuse by the FLDS in Sandy, UT "Short Creek" aka Colorado City, AZ/Hilldale, UT and more recently Eldorado City, TX. The Texas DFPS certainly should.

These pedophiles will finally be nailed by something other than hearsay ... DNA. Can't have a 5 year old daughter and a 18 year old mother ... legally. And finally, can't confuse parentage.

Also, the mothers being given certificates? I guess they've never heard of the FLDS policy of "keeping sweet" and "bleeding the beast."

Pedophiles are pedophiles are pedophiles and they do not smell anything like a rose.

"there is no way to know how the children are faring"? Is Texas really that barbaric? Rhetorical question.

The "Mormon Church" or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is in no way related to the FLDS Church or Warren Jeffs.

This isn't about persecuting religious beliefs by saying that the group can't practice polygamy...it's about them using underage girls to do it. Although I think they should follow the law just like the rest of us, the whole point of this court case is that they are exploiting children. And not only are they abusing the youth of girls in their sect, they are doing it to boys when they are thrown out of the society. We need to be focusing on the children rather than if we agree with their lifestyle or not. Children first!

I am no fan of FLDS or their tactics. However, stepping on/neglecting the rights of those who were guilty of nothing is not the way this should have been handled. The end does NOT justify the means.

What makes these people different from Phillip Garrido?

Klaatu, you do not have to be a registered voter to be a juror. Yes they do pull juror panels from voter registration cards, but also from drivers license records.
And I do believe these people should pay for the horrible acts they are doing and teaching these children! Not only should they pay in this life, but they will pay in the after life as well!

...since this is a very contraversial trial- anyone know why INSESSION is NOT broadcasting it? thanks

i meant broadcasting – "Live" – thanks

richard, I sure wish INSESSION was broadcasting it live, but since right now all they are doing is jury selection, maybe they will cover it when the actual testimony starts? We can hope!

Doesnt Texas have a pimping and pandering law, apparently these
people are not above selling young girls and boy's sexual services
for profit .

Is the trial going to be covered live??

First off, the "F" in FLDS stands for Fundamentalist.. This means they believe that all statements made in the bible ie: Book of Morman; are literally true. Second these FLDS elders get around the polygamy issue by not getting a state issued marraige license to wife number two and above. There is nothing illegal with having sex with more than one woman, even having children with them. Just watch Jerry Springer some time. The crime is having sex with someone under the legal age and holding them against their will. Religlous belief does not supersede the laws of our country or states.

Raymond Merril Jessop should be executed. His followers should loose all custody rights to there children. These parents and individuals that followed this mental case also need help. These children are the victims of being raped and abused. The parents are also at fault. This compound cult should be shut down and not allowed to operate any where . Lets hope justice is done for this sicko.
The USA justice system sure is failing to protect the children.

The statutory sexual assault charges and sentences are adequate to mete out a criminal justice. Death 'Angel' is not a fair nor just punishment and goes right to the Defenses claims that terror and genocide is being proclaimed, when really prosecution of felony crimes and punishment is what is called for Law & Order to do. This is not a Capital crime and taking life is not a legal option, please, don't inflame the rhetoric to exceed the just punishment. Yes the children need added protections and our Judicial system is being tested but let us insure that Justice is derived and adequate enforcement is performed. If the Public outcry is such that more legislation or punishment is needed then changes in our laws must be enacted. Damage to these FLDS Church members both physical, mental and psychological need to be adequately proven then the Legal System can act properly to remedy this situation.

response to Angel -

I understand your emotions, but Jam Inn's comment makes sense...I think it's fair to say that anyone who is a decent human being would love to meet a pedophile in a dark alley and mete out their own sense of justice. Fortunately we have the best judicial system in the world and that type of barbaric action is not necessary.

What I think Jam Inn is trying to say is that the FLDS is utilizing every resource it has in an effort to make the public believe they are victims of some wide-spread conspiracy to destroy their organization simply because they're a minority religious group. The comments you made tend to support that irrational "conspiracy theory". This is not a witch hunt or a crusade to bring down a religious sect.

Noone is trying to burn these guys at the stake or make them suffer any greater consequence than any other adult male convicted of sexual assault of a child. Unfortunately, pedophilia is not a capital offense. There is, however, an outcry begging the courts and the jury to overlook the "whoa is me, i'm just a hard-working, Christian fella" image and treat these guys as you would any other Tom, Dick or Harry who engaged in sexual relations with a child!

Beth,

Living close to the YFZ Ranch and to the local media coverage, people have to understand that the FLDS split ways with the main Mormon church. Make no mistake about it. The men of this sect are media savvy. Crimes against a minor should be punished, according to the law of the land, even for those who don't believe in it. I wish someone would interview Judge Walther. But I guess we have to wait for the book to be published.

I hope that he rots in prison forever! He may have gotten away with it for a while in this life, but God always has the last say. That's when he'll get REAL justice.......then and only then will the victoms and their families have their well deserved peace of mind that was tragicly taken away from them, and knowing that there will always be someone in the world who'll support them in times of hopelessness.

Read a book called Escape, by a woman who was married to this guy for many years and bore him 8 kids before she escaped the cult and with all her children! tells it like it is/was, and it is getting worse.

He should be put to death and all followers that go into a religion that takes advantage of young children should be shot. In prison he may not like the reception he receives i dont see him living long.

Religion and justice are one in the same in this country. They are both self serving. Who can tell the most believably lie or the most money. I wish we went after all criminals in the US the way they are here. A nation of laws but not for all.

I worked with 4 of the mothers and 32 of the children while they were removed.I have to tell you although I do not agree at all with the lifestyle, They have some of the most well behaved children. Many times I wished I had instilled the traits they have as children...After the removal some mothers never returned to the ranch, I was no longer a gentile...and my two hardest siblings hugged me before they left...Kurtis & Wade....
The male adults know better we may say, but do they? After all they were brought up this way. What will the states of Utah and Arizona do now? Continue to act as if it does not exist? I could write a noval based on all the things I learned from the mothers & children, but I believe they are entitled to their privacy too. This is a historical time for all of us....what will the outcome be?

Teresa I trust that the outcome is that Democracy and not theocracy proves to be the political system we adhere to in America, that monogamy and not polygamy is upheld as our sole form of wedlock and that religious doctrine that teach out right Ownership of women and children to a Priesthood(father) and a Priesthoods(fathers) that are Owned by their Prophet will be viewed as slavery and the 13th Amendment is fully enforced to end/stop this unconstitutional practice(s).
No reigion has the right to deny anyone their US Constitutional rights under the guise of some church teachings/beliefs.

Jam Inn, I completely agree with your most recent post. The way that the FLDS functions is far more like a religious theocracy, which is not the basis for the U.S. Constitution. And you're right that no religion has the right to deny anyone, woman or man, their legal rights. The U.S. Constitution is what runs this country, not biblical law.

"Answer Them Nothing" was the pronouncement of their Prophet Warren S. Jeffs. Raymond Merril Jessop's defense attorney, namely Mark Stevens, put up no defense as their response to the charge of sexual assault. The FLDS Church and leadership is standing defiantly before the Texas Courts as being tried by an unjust 'Gentile' kangaroo court and are attempting to adhere to their religion to the exclusion of American Law & Order. The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled on limits to 'Religious Freedom' in its decision of Reynolds vs. the United States, basically anyone has the right to believe anything they chose, except initiating an action that is against the Law is not defensible on religious grounds. You can not use your faith as a defense to wantonly break the Law.

If "answer them nothing" was Jeffs' primary defense at his trial (I didn't get to see all of it when he was on trial in '07), he shouldn't have been that surprised to be found guilty of the crimes he was charged with.

Susan, more recently the dispute over all the landholdings of the FLDS Church in Utah focuses like a laser what the 'Answer Them Nothing' edict is all about. Read Ben Winslow's report, "Division over FLDS land grows wider"(on Google search). The FLDS Church has refused to cooperate with a Federal court appointed Trustee for 4 years and the land trust is languishing as a result of their organized sect's obstinacy.
All legal efforts are to solely obey, protect and defend their prophet.

Okay, I admit I guess taking a shot in the dark about the "Answer Them Nothing" comment by Warren Jeffs. I shouldn't be surprised that I was way off the mark. Thanks for the direction on the report, Jam Inn, I'm looking forward to reading it.

After reading Mr. Winslow's report over the division over the FLDS land, I understand now what Jeffs' comment was all about. I'm wondering how long the FLDS church will be able to keep that dispute going, considering that their "prophet" will very likely be incarcerated for a very long time. Even with an attorney for the FLDS handling the matter, the state may win that legal battle. You're absolutely right, they can't claim religious persecution as a defense for breaking the state's laws. Not indefinitely, anyway.

When this guy goes to prison let him walk on the maine yard and do not put him in protecitve care then let see how he fairs he should be treated like his pers

I did not see the verdict on the Galek trial and had to look it up online which was surprising difficult. Did I miss something? Was it announced? Did it get overlooked in all the "last day stuff"?

can some-one plz tell me the verdict on the Galek trial? sry, i missed it...
i can't even comment on this...all i can say, is that Jessup will have his day of judgement...