Meeting planned on abuse claims in Colo. City
 
By Mark Hall
Today's News-Herald
 
Arizona and Utah authorities will meet in St. George, Utah, next week for a town hall meeting to discuss what officials are doing to help victims of abuse in the polygamist enclave of Colorado City and its sister city of Hildale, Utah.

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard and Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff will host the meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Holiday Inn.

The meeting will include an open for discussion and questions from the audience, to help officials better address the issues facing people living in the community. In the past few years, the closed society has become a hotbed of allegations, including sexual abuse, domestic violence and fraudulent uses of government aid.

Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson, who will be attending the meeting, said it is good both states are following up to a similar meeting that was held two years ago. Although he said the last meeting was not as productive as it could have been.

"We had the last meeting and it was split into two groups, law enforcement and public hearings. It could have been a lot more productive than it was," he said. "(However) it is good to have follow up. It's good to see that both agencies are working to see that the abuses are brought to an end, especially the abuses of government money."

Since that last meeting, agencies in both states have instituted programs to help prevent, treat and investigate alleged abuses in the communities.

Last year, Mohave County installed a multi-use structure for officials from the Sheriff's Office, the Arizona Attorney General's Office and Child Protective Services. In addition, the Board of Supervisors hired a temporary investigator to probe the alleged abuses in the area.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice recently awarded the Arizona AG's office with a $700,000 grant to help domestic violence victims in the area.

You may contact the reporter at mhall@havasunews.com
 
havasunews.com
Originally published February 26, 2005
 
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