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  FLDS More Indictments Likely for Sect

By Paul A. Anthony
Abilene Reporter-News
July 23, 2008

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2008/jul/23/more-indictments-likely-for-sect/

SAN ANGELO — More indictments against members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are likely as investigators pore over mountains of evidence seized from the polygamous sect's Schleicher County ranch, said one of the case's lead investigators Wednesday.

A day after a Schleicher County grand jury returned seven indictments against six members of the FLDS, Texas Ranger Capt. L.C. Wilson said the investigation is by no means over.

"I think I could safely say that," Wilson said when asked if more indictments could be expected. "There's certainly other persons of interest and other suspects in this case."

Wilson, based in Midland, oversees all Texas Rangers in the West Texas region, which includes San Angelo and Eldorado. He recently replaced Barry Caver, the captain who oversaw the April raid on the sect's YFZ Ranch and retired in June to take an oil-industry job.

With the grand jury scheduled to meet again Aug. 21, authorities began making plans Wednesday for finding and arresting the five suspects not already in custody.

The Schleicher County Sheriff's Office received the indictments and arrest warrants Tuesday night, Sheriff David Doran said, and will work with the Rangers and the Texas attorney general's office to arrest the men named in Tuesday's indictments.

A sixth man, sect leader Warren Jeffs, already is imprisoned on similar charges in Utah.

The grand jury on Tuesday indicted Jeffs on a charge of sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony, in connection with an incident that occurred in January 2005. His bond was set at $100,000, according to the indictment.

The other five men were indicted on a mix of sexual assault, bigamy and failure to report sexual abuse charges — a total of eight counts.

"They all have attorneys," Wilson said, "so I think that method will certainly be used first."

San Antonio attorney Patrick T. Peranteau and San Angelo attorney Amy Hennington — who both represent men from the YFZ Ranch, although it's unclear whether any of their clients are among the suspects — did not return calls for comment Wednesday.

The sect will cooperate, spokesman Willie Jessop said, adding that he expects little trouble from the suspects.

Contact: panthony@gosanangelo.com

 
 

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