FLDS pay taxes on 12 properties
 Those who comply include brother of Jeffs; others are put on notice
 
By Ben Winslow
Deseret Morning News
 
More high-profile members of the Fundamentalist LDS Church are being put on notice to pay their property taxes or face the possibility of eviction from their homes.

It comes as 12 properties in the polygamous border towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., abruptly paid their taxes — including one home that sits inside the compound belonging to fugitive FLDS Church leader Warren Jeffs.

"In Arizona, they paid on the whole tax parcel," Jeffrey L. Shields, a lawyer for the court-appointed special fiduciary said Thursday. "In Utah, they just paid the property that we sent the letters to. Some parcels have 20 to 25 homes on them."

One of those homes sits on the walled-off compound belonging to Jeffs. Alvin Barlow, the former superintendent of the Colorado City Unified School District, was served with papers at that Hildale address.

Others who abruptly coughed up the money included Warren Jeffs' younger brother Seth, who recently pleaded guilty to federal charges of helping keep his brother on the run, and Wendell Nielson, believed to be a first counselor in the FLDS Church. Earlier this week, $63,000 was paid for five parcels of land in Colorado City where homes sit for more high-ranking officials, including the town's interim mayor, Terrell Johnson.

More letters are now being mailed and hand-delivered to homes in Hildale and Colorado City, urging them to make payments on land owned by the United Effort Plan (UEP) Trust.

"They're all prominent, well-heeled houses," Shields said of the 11 properties being served.

A list of possible targets for property tax notices obtained by the Deseret Morning News includes dossiers on these people. Some include a Colorado City Town Council member, bishops, priesthood leaders and people believed to be members of Jeffs' private security forces.

The UEP Trust is the financial arm of the FLDS Church, with an estimated $110 million in assets. In 2005, the state of Utah asked a judge to freeze the assets and appoint a special fiduciary to take control.

Since then, accountant Bruce Wisan has set up an advisory board and has been trying to get people in the towns to pay their property taxes. However, Jeffs has reportedly told his followers to not pay the taxes. Shields did not know what the sudden payment of property taxes means.

"We're delighted. We're glad they're paying," he said. "That's less money that will go to Warren."

Warren Jeffs has been named to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, and a $100,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest. Utah and Arizona authorities have charged him with crimes related to forcing teenage girls into polygamous marriages with older men. Federal prosecutors have charged Jeffs with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

The former No. 3 man in the FLDS Church believes Jeffs is enjoying his new status as one of the FBI's Top Ten fugitives.

"If I were to bet on his thoughts, I would say that he probably enjoys being on that list," Winston Blackmore said in an e-mail Thursday to the Deseret Morning News.

Blackmore was one of the top leaders in the FLDS Church, heading up its Canadian sect in British Columbia. After he was ousted by Jeffs, about half of the FLDS faithful in Canada went with Blackmore.

Blackmore himself is facing a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigation in Canada. One of his purported wives said the polygamy investigation is wrapping up and she expects charges in the next couple of weeks.

"It is hard to think that Canada, the home of free lovers and legalized same sex marriages, not to mention legal wife swapping clubs, could waste their time on people who live like we do," Blackmore wrote. The RCMP said no charges are imminent.

Three of Blackmore's purported wives are facing expulsion from Canada after their requests for citizenship were denied. The women say they believe it is because of their lifestyle. Blackmore also blamed Jeffs.

"I believe that the girls are being rejected more because of the FLDS troubles than anything else," he said. "With Warren in the news, we are always linked to him. Sad, really."

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
 
deseretnews.com
Originally published Friday, May 12, 2006
 
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