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FLDS Willing to Cooperate with Texas Authorities

2008-07-23 19:42:14

By Donald Richter

 

On Tuesday, July 22, 2008, the grand jury in Schleicher County, Texas, delivered indictments against Warren S. Jeffs and five unnamed members of the FLDS Church. An indictment is a formal accusation and does not amount to a finding of guilt. The grand jury merely determines if there is enough evidence to require the accused person to stand trial on the alleged offense.
 
According to an AP article of July 23, “The identities of the Jeffs’ followers who were indicted were not released Tuesday because the indictments remain sealed until authorities can arrest the men.” Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is quoted as saying, “There will be an aggressive effort to apprehend them.”
 
We are deeply concerned that this “aggressive effort” not involve another raid by Texas authorities on the YFZ community near Eldorado. The last thing our women and children need is the additional trauma associated with such an action.
 
When Sheriff Doran and the Texas Rangers arrived at the gate of the YFZ Ranch in April searching for Dale Evans Barlow, our people gave full cooperation, located the man requested, and allowed the sheriff to talk to him on the telephone. The massive military force used to invade the community was entirely uncalled for. As the raid by Arizona authorities in 1953 also attests, the FLDS are a peaceful, nonviolent people.
 
The same AP article of July 23 quotes FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop as saying, "We're actually quite shocked. As soon as we know who they're looking for, we'll try to face it. We believe in our innocence."
 
Willie Jessop told the Salt Lake Tribune, "As soon as we know who they are looking for we will make contact with the sheriff's office and make arrangements for those people to appear on the charges."
 
 


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