Update on Polygamist Compound Raid-Documents Unsealed And Beds In The Temple
Posted on April 10, 2008
Cross posted from Wake up America
When the first of many sealed court documents were unsealed it was found out that a 16 year old young lady had called authorities and requested the police help her and her 8 month old baby escape the YFZ Ranch, located near Eldorado, Texas, which is owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
In that initial affidavit, she told authorities that she had been brought to the YFZ compound approximately three years earlier and two years after her arrival, when she was 15, she was spiritually married to an adult male member of the church, approximately 49 years old.
She further went on to state that she had been abused starting shortly after her arrival to the compound, saying that the man had “beat and hurt” her, whenever he got angry. She described these beatings saying the man would hit her in the chest and choke her while another woman from the compound would hold her baby and watch.
She alleged that one of those beatings had led to broken ribs and a hospital visit. She claimed the man would rape her and that she was pregnant again.
As the investigation into her allegations began, the police determined that the man identified by the teenager had been previously indicted in Mohave County, Arizona, on charges of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor in connection with a purported marriage to a minor in Arizona with whom he had conceived a child.
After obtaining a search warrant to hunt for the girl who had called and asked for help, investigators witnessed other pregnant teenage girls as well as teenage girls who had already given birth and had their own infants.
Investigators described a wide spread pattern of young female members of the group being conditioned to accept the sexual advanced of adult men upon being spiritually married to them once the leaders of the YFZ Ranch had determined the young girls had become of child bearing age, which is approximately 13 to 14 years old.
About 416 children have been removed from the compound to date.
Other court documents were released Wednesday, including a search warrant which outlined findings made by authorities searching the compound, which included allegations of beds in the temple which were used for sex between young girls and their older husbands.
The warrant noted that investigators, who had finally been allowed to enter the temple after some resistance, found several beds – one of which contained a strand of long hair.
There was a brief standoff as compound members tried to block access to the temple but after some tense moments, authorities entered and found multiple locked safes, locked desk drawers, locked vaults, as well as multiple computers and beds.
Other information contained in that warrant included:
• Investigators found several women in their early teens who were married or pregnant or already had babies. In an affidavit, Texas Ranger Leslie Brooks Long said authorities were told that one girl was under 16 years old and already had four children.
• Frederick Merril Jessop, the leader of the compound, first told authorities there were only 250 people living there.
• The compound includes a surveillance and guard tower near the front gate.
The FBI has now joined the investigation although they refused to elaborate as to why their agency is now involved.
Texas authorities report that they have concluded their search of the YFC Ranch and have left the property and as of yet have not found the or identified the girl that initially kicked off this massive raid and investigation.
Sheriff David Doran, at a press conference this morning said, “We very well may have her. Everyone is diligently working on that, to identify that person.”
Attorneys for the church are in court arguing the search of the compound and temple was unconstitutional and compared it to rummaging through the Vatican and prosecutors maintain that the 416 children removed from the ranch were in imminent danger of physical and sexual abuse.
Prosecutors also assert that religious freedom ends when alleged criminal conduct begins.
Andrew Cohen, a CBS News legal analyst says, “I don’t think anybody can stand up in court and say it is legal as a religious practice to lock somebody in the closet, or to abuse them physically or sexually or otherwise.”
The local investigation may have ended but the federal investigation, the details of which are unknown, has just begun and now it is up to the lawyers and the courts.
There will be a Special Master chosen to review the documents, computers and even family Bibles seized. His job will be to determine what can and cannot be used as evidence for legal or religious reasons.
As of this time, there has been 416 children removed from the compound, 139 women have chosen to leave to be with the children and two men have been arrested.
Previously:
Documents Detail Abuse at YFZ Ranch
Now 400 Children In Custody from Polygamist Compound- Updated, Second Person Arrested
Standoff at Polygamist Compound-Updated
Children Removed from Warren Jeff’s Polygamist Retreat in Texas
Polygamist Sect Leader Warren Jeffs Found Guilty In Utah
» Filed Under 1st Amendment, Child Exploitation, Illegal Activities, News
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22 Responses to “Update on Polygamist Compound Raid-Documents Unsealed And Beds In The Temple”
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The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is a part of the United States Bill of Rights. On its face, it prohibits the United States Congress from making laws “respecting an establishment of religion” (the “Establishment Clause”) or that prohibit free exercise of religion (the “Free Exercise Clause.
While I do not condone the abuse of children, I believe the government violated their First Amendment rights. So, ACLU, bring it on and restore these people’s rights!!
Frank no one’s been arrested for what they believe, only what they have done. This giant child rape house should have been shut down a long time ago. You can’t restore a right that never existed in the first place.
Gaaaaary: Over 500 people have been arrested, taking into custody, kidnapped,including over 100 mothers effectively in custody in order to care for their children. This website decries the ACLU being anti-Christian, and yet child brides is a doctrine of the Christian religion:
1. “Do not delay to offer up the FIRST OF THY RIPE FRUITS AND LIQUORS” or mense (Exodus 22:29). That is when the stream is the purest, at the source (at puberty).
This is why God, a very old man, came to the maiden (12-year old) Virgin Mary to sire Christ. Christ also began his adulthood at 12 in the Temple. It is the eternal Jewish Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah.
2. “Ye shall know them (my true saints) by their fruits, the purity from the source or from puberty, which the FLDS people are now well known for.
3. And He showed me a pure river (puberty). On either side (her mother’s conception, and her conception at puberty), Tree of Life bears twelve manner of fruits and yields monthly…for the healing of the nations (due to its purity at puberty). THEN there shall be no more curse (from the Garden of Eden, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him (or obey His law, not man’s).
That’s the Christian religion. Anything else is Anti-Christ, and joins with the ACLU and any other athiest organization, person, or nation, to make up the Anti-Christ.
Street
Well u call it giant rape house, I call it a house that is supposedly innocent before proven guilty. If they are proven guilty then they get what they get not what they deserve. Everyone is entitled to that right, the innocent before proven guilty although it can be a bit misconstrued in this current day and age.
Here’s are the cites for the second and third scriptural quotes above:
2. Matthew 7:16
3. Rev. 22:2
See, child bride is from sea to sea, cover to cover, Genesis to Revelation.
Now, this does not condone having sex like a dog with children. That is rape, as everyone has been saying. The FLDS practice the immaculate conception of Christ, according to the Christian doctrine:
1. “Touch not the forbidden fruit, lest ye die” (Gen. 3:3).
2. “Whoso looketh upon a woman…is an adulterer, and shall deny the faith (Matthew 5:28). Well, all the world has sex with their wives. Okay, so they are adulters and Anti-Christ, because to look upon a woman in lust is adultery and against the faith, and especially with one’s wife where the marriage vow of purity has been entered into.
The world has been grossly assuming the big lie of sexuality against the FLDS, because that is their own sin. They speak only from their own nature and experience, the nature of an animal, not a human, and certainly not divine nature. But the FLDS have “come OUT of the world, to be not partakers of her sins” (Rev.18:4).
All who violate these Christian laws, the Prophet Warren has consistently cast out. So why is he in prison?
“(The beast) shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws” (Daniel 7:25).
“In the latter times (today) ye shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits…FORBIDDING TO MARRY” (1 Timothy 4:1-3).
“By Satan’s sorceries are all nations deceived” (Rev.18:23).
Street
Hundreds of posts on this topic are available on the texas polygamy blog:
http://texaspolygamy.blogspot.com/
My take on it.
Texas law permitted 14 year olds to marry until 2005. They changed it to 16 after the FLDS moved there.
Personally, I believe young girls should have young husbands and 18 is a better age for marriage, 21 is a perfect age.
Any time there are a large group of children there is a probability that a few things will happen that shouldn’t. It may be the way they are throwing together ‘new fostor homes’ more harm will come from them than their compound.
They could be sent home with camera monitors used.
I don’t care how many of the adults marry the same man. It is called freedom of religion.
I agree more than a few rights were crushed in the raid.
Whatever happened to freedom of religion? Who are we exactly to be judge of these people? Are we better than they are? Are we the holders of the one and only truth…and they the sick and demented ones?
Separating 400+ children from their families. That is what happened. You might imagine that all 400 were abused…but what if they were not? What if there were a few cases…and hundreds of happy children now separated from the families by a country these people feel persecuted by? (Sound familiar? Just why did the Puritans leave England? At what age did they get married? We have become what we detestesd)
Yes any children complaining of abuse, rape, whatever…have the same rights that we do. Go to the police.
The women have no rights and seem to welcome not going back to a place where their children are raped and forced to marry, just as the mothers have been raped and beaten and forced to marry. The men are crying because they are no longer able to have forced sex with children and multiple women. What a sick world they live in. We must save those children who cannot save themselves.
Many people have their beliefs and views on this topic, having grown up in this type of enviroment not at this place but in the same type of situation its not just the morman beliefs but many religions take the bible and twist it to fit what they want. I was raised in a nondenominational church that was alot like that but if you have never been through that kind of mental and physical abuse you can’t really understand it.I was able to get out with the close on my back but time and a openness on the things that happened will heal your spirit,the hardest part though is leaving before its to late.
scott
First: this is a bunch of criminals – they do not belong to the Mormon church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, headquartered in Salt Lake.
Second: Rape house pretty much sums it up. Religion should be respected however first and foremost – you obey the Law of the Land. Period.
Third: How could the local authorities have left this go on for so long? Don’t tell me they didn’t know what was happening!
Fourth: They have peverted the Book of Mormon and will have to answer for that in the next kingdom.
To those who talk about “freedom of religion”. Freedom of religion doesn’t mean freedom from laws of the land. Someone who decides to worship some ancient god that requires human sacrifices, can still be persecuted for murder. A group of people can warship “god of thieves”, but if they commit theft, they can still be persecuted.
As to FLDS – it is enough to read onthestreet postings above defending marrying off 13-year olds to older man to see what FLDS is about. Polygamy, by the way, is against the law as well even though states choose not to enforce it in cases of consenting adults.
1. In this country the education is compulsory. Even home schooled kids have to follow the minimum standard. FLDS girls haven’t received this education. By denying the girls education and knowledge of “outside” world, FLDS violated girls’ right to choose. By conditioning the girls from birth to accept “husbands” in a early age, FLDS denied the girls’ freedom of choice.
2. Sex with a minor is against the law in most states. The only exception allowed in most states is for Romeo&Juliet cases i.e. two willing teenagers with small difference in ages. Marrying a 13 year old to a 50 year old doesn’t qualify. There is ample evidence that FLDS practiced it – the number of pregnant girls, girls with children, evidence provided by others that left the cult years ago, the case against their “prophet”.
3. By the time these girls are at the age when they can decide for themselves, they already have 4 or 5 children. Since in FLDS children are property of the father, the girls aren’t allowed to take the children with them, even if they want to leave. Isn’t this agaisnt the law as well?
Authorities are required to investigate any alleged case of child abuse. In any case or any family, if a young girl calls authorities and alleges abuse, the police will come to investigate. If they come and see evidence of such abuse (in this case – a bunch of pregnant teens), they can take children away.
I suggest that those above who claim “freedom of religion” spare a thought about the rights of these girls. I also suggest they research FLDS — there have been plenty of reports from women and girls who escaped for years now.
The First Amendment does not apply because the FDLS is not a religion. Why doesn’t the media call it what it really is, a SEX cult. Beds in the temple so the congregation can watch dirty old men have sex with their daughters! These people are an abomination in the eyes of God.
I come from there, lived within their families for decades. They don’t have sex, period. There were some who did, and were cast out from year to year. So the assumption that a bed in a building equates to rape makes you all rapists because there are beds in your houses.
If they didn’t have sex, as you say, where did all these children come from? Under the cabbage leaves they had planted. Give me a break.
I came here from Europe some decades ago. I have seen many crimes go unpunished, or just sort of slide by, but this is the ultimate. If those sick warped minded people can claim their rights under the banner of the costitution, and if the ACLU jumps to their aid and wins, we just need do dismantel all law and live like pagans, and wait for our doom.Their advocates and symphatizers can say anything they want to, and blow their words into the wind, but hard facts and testimonies of those who came out from among them stare all of us in the face. Yes, and I say YES, so do all decent, sane and sounminded people: The law authorities have every right and moral obligation to raid, search and stop in tracks every group, sect or whatever they call themselves to be. And ALL people who still have sanity are behind them. Even if it takes drastic measures those sick , perverted people, who dare to call themselves “church of Jesus Christ” need to be stoped, not just them, in this group, but all like them wherever they are. We as civilized nation have a obligation to pursue justice, and protect those who can not fend for themselves…
Sindy: If thoroughbreds don’t have sex, where do all those thoroughbredlettes come from? Their masters don’t let them breed. It is all by artificial insemination, duuuhhhhh! You didn’t know that? Must I teach even grandma’s about the birds and the bees, or do you prefer horses? Just don’t be a horse’s ass, okay. It takes the whole horse to make a horse, not just its ass. So when you allow men to have a piece of it, you’re not only a rapist and a whore, you’re also a sex-offender, and anti-Christ, see?
Christ was conceived without sex, and has taught the FLDS people the same.
Street
Are must of you people in here blind and deaf, just because you belong in a certain church group doesn’t give you the right to abuse children and rape them in the name of god. That’s why I find religion sicking and most of the comments in here sicking. Could you imagine marrying your child off to some sick perverted old man in the name of god my ass. Where is there god now? God brought the sherifs just will be serviced. There rights you say? Get a life.
Caino: Not, not get a life, Get a WIFE, and leave her alone, just like the Prophet Warren teaches us. For Christians to screw their wives is RAPE. That is what’s sicko, a nation of sex-offenders.
I don’t know all about what exactly happened there and if old men were illeagally married to young girls and raping them then they should feel the hand of the law.
Who however should have the right to say- the state can provide these already traumatized children a safer place? Who shall say that the state is right to separate the children over 4 from the mothers that came to the outside world with them?
D*** CPS! I’m sick to death of their lies and power. They who stand accountable to no one and care not what lies they spred. How can these women and children trust THEM? When most of our country do not. Where are they when they are TRUELY needed…NOWHERE!
The state needs to provide these innocent children a place to stay with their mothers, for surely if the children are victims of this so called evil so then are the mothers. I have no love for people who believe that they are the only ones that know what is best!
People of this country need to unite and find a way to stand by these abused women who are being abused again by a flawed system that cares not what it destroys for self glorification.
Don’t allow CPS to send abused and battered women the message that to report violence against then is to allow the state to come in and deem the mothers themselves unfit. I’d like to see oner of those nasty feminazi CPS workers ‘protect’ a child from the same situation if she were in ANY one of these women’s shoes!
Someone needs to help protect the rights of these victims, they should not stand alone.
April 15-Tx-OTS
IN ANSWER TO PRAYER (PART 1)
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/free-the-innocent-flds
Online petition to Texas authorities to free the FLDS (plus 120 comments of support).
Political Treatment:
To put the following outline of the political treatment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in context, it is important to understand the Church’s general support of righteous government as described in the canonical scriptures of the Church, in particular the Doctrine & Covenants; a body of scripture believed by the Church to be modern revelation received directly from Jesus Christ. As such, please consider the following:
D&C 98:1-12
1. Verily, I say unto you my friends, fear not. Let your hearts be comforted. Yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks (keep sweet); 2. Wait patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament: The Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted. 3. Therefore, He giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherein you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord. 4. And now, verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them.
5. And the law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me. 6. Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land. 7. And as pertaining to the law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this cometh of evil…10. Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold…12. I will try you and prove you herewith.
IN ANSWER TO PRAYER-PART 2
D&C 101: 77 and 89
77 According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;
80 And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose.
83. …AS A WIDOW BEFORE AN UNJUST JUDGE, 85. THUS WILL I LIKEN THE CHILDREN OF ZION. 86. LET THEM IMPORTUNE AT THE FEET OF THE JUDGE. 87. AND IF HE (or she) HEED THEM NOT, LET THEM IMPORTUNE AT THE FEET OF THE GOVERNOR. 88. AND IF THE GOVERNOR HEED THEM NOT, LET THEM IMPORTUNE AT THE FEET OF THE PRESIDENT. 89. AND IF THE PRESIDENT HEED THEM NOT, THEN WILL THE LORD ARISE AND COME FORTH OUT OF HIS HIDING PLACE, AND IN HIS FURY VEX THE NATION.
D&C 109:54
[In the context of the dedicatory prayer offered for the Kirtland Temple; a most sacred edifice erected for the worship of God; the first such edifice erected in the dispensation of the fulness of times.]
Have mercy, O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth; have mercy upon the rulers of our land; may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever.