County battling financial giant
 
By Brian DiTullio
Today's News Herald - Havasu City
 
Two county officials dedicated to prosecuting polygamy in Colorado City explained some of the obstacles they face Monday night.

County Attorney Matt Smith and Special Investigator Gary Engles spoke at the London Bridge Republican Women dinner on Monday, telling the tale of a young girl who escaped Colorado City who still is being manipulated by forces from within the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Smith said it's been difficult getting indictments and moving trials forward as the church's fugitive leader, Warren Jeffs, still controls the church from his various hiding spots around the country.

"We're fighting a financial giant," said Smith. "He has two to three million dollars a month coming in from his congregation. He has more resources than we have."

The FLDS, whose members still practice polygamy, owns much of the property in Colorado City and the adjoining border community of Hildale, Utah. The church also operates a large compound in Eldorado, Texas, and has land holdings in British Columbia.

Jeffs is wanted on a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution on an Arizona charge that he arranged a plural marriage between a 16-year-old girl and an older man.

Both Smith and Engles spoke about the harassment investigators are the subject of when trying to do their job, even from the town's local law enforcement agency.

"I've been followed by off duty police officers in that town in their own personal cars," said Engles. "I've had people swerve at me on the road."

Engles also spoke of an ambush plot set up one day using a woman as a decoy, but Engles, figuring that there might be trouble, arranged for some backup.

"I brought some people with me," he said.

County Sheriff Tom Sheahan said there has been an effort to decertify the police force in Colorado City, but Arizona law only allows that to be done one officer at a time. Therefore, Sheahan said he has filed a civil suit with the federal government that would allow them and the Sheriff's Office to take over the law enforcement duties in Colorado City.

Meanwhile, a trial is pending in one of the cases against Jeffs, but Smith said there has been trouble getting the witness to the courthouse due to interference from other church members. The latest crisis has been resolved, said Smith, and he's hoping to proceed very soon.

Smith and Engles also were presented with plaques thanking them for their efforts in prosecuting polygamy.

You may contact the reporter at ditullio@havasunews.com.
 
havasunews.com
Originally published Monday, April 3, 2006
 
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