Colorado City men surrender in child-sex cases ARRESTED IN GRAND JURY INDICTMENT
 Former policeman Holm among those indicted; Jeffs still at large
 
By Patrice St. Germain
patrices@thespectrum.com
 
ST. GEORGE - Seven Colorado City men, including former Hildale/Colorado City police officer Rodney Holm, voluntarily turned themselves in to Mohave County authorities on Monday after being indicted on charges of sexual conduct with a minor.

Last Friday, a team of Mohave County Sheriff's Office deputies and a Mohave County Attorney investigator arrested David Romaine Bateman, 48, at his residence in Colorado City on charges of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor.

All of the men who surrendered to authorities were booked into Mohave County Jail and released on bond.

Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith has been successful in getting grand jury indictments against nine men in Colorado City on charges stemming from their participation in spiritual marriages to girls younger than 18.

Of the nine, only Warren Jeffs, prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is still at large. The FBI is assisting the Mohave County Sheriff's Office in the hunt for Jeffs, whose location is unknown.

Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith was not available for comment Monday, but Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said he was very proud and highly supportive of the efforts by Mohave County.

"You cannot commit crimes against children and call it religion," Shurtleff said. "This is not about religion and the good news is things are happening."

Smith's secretary, Beverly Brooks, said there were six grand jury indictments handed down Thursday, including the one for Jeffs. Three other men were indicted on June 16 and turned themselves into authorities on Monday.
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published July 12, 2005
 
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