| $10K reward offered for info on Warren Jeffs FBI joins the hunt as federal warrant is issued for fugitive prophet |
| The Eldorado Success |
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Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard announced a $10,000 reward Wednesday, for information leading to the arrest of fugitive FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs. Persons with information about Jeffs or his whereabouts are encouraged to call 1-800-526-1911 or 1-928-753-2141. Callers may remain anonymous. Jeffs was indicted on felony charges in Arizona and stands accused of Sexual Conduct with a Minor and Conspiracy to Commit Sexual Conduct with a Minor. The charges stem from his role in arranging marriages and performing marriage ceremonies between underage girls and older men who were already married.
Goddard’s press secretary, Andrea Esquer told the Success that the reward is being offered as a cooperative effort between the offices of the Arizona and Utah attorneys general and Mohave County’s Silent Witness Program. Each state is putting up half the money for the reward. FBI joins the hunt for Jeffs The Federal Bureau of Investigation is also joining the hunt for the elusive prophet. It was announced last week that a U.S. Magistrate in Flagstaff, AZ issued a federal arrest warrant for Jeffs on June 27 on charges of Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution. Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran told the Success on Monday that he was aware of the federal warrant and knew the FBI had joined the case but that word of the feds involvement was being withheld in hopes that Jeffs might be found moving between FLDS-controlled properties where he feels safe. Since the FBI is not restricted to one state of local jurisdiction, its entry into the case — coupled with the offering of the reward in Arizona — significantly raises the ante in the search for Jeffs. The agency will be able to devote considerable resources to pursuing the fugitive prophet between his enclaves in Arizona, Utah and here in Schleicher County where Jeffs are building a community, complete with a massive temple, on the YFZ Ranch. FBI Special Agent Bill Endorf from the San Angelo field office was not available for comment on this story, but it is known that he has met with Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran about the FLDS and developments at the YFZ Ranch. AZ jails 8 Jeffs followers
Randolph Joseph Barlow, Rodney Hans Holm, Terry Darger Barlow, Vergel Bryce Jessop David Romaine Bateman, 48, was apprehended at his home on Friday by Mohave County officers and was taken to the Mohave County Jail without incident. The remaining seven surrendered themselves Monday at the Mohave County Sheriff’s office in Kingman, AZ. They include: Rodney Hans Holm, 38; Donald Robert Barlow, 48; Vergel Bryce Jessop, 45; Terry Darger Barlow, 23; Dale Evans Barlow, 47; Randolph Joseph Barlow, 32; and Kelly Fischer, 38. Randolph Joseph Barlow faces the most serious charges, he is accused of Sexual Assault, a Class 2 felony under Arizona law. The remaining men face charges of Sexual Conduct with a Minor, or Conspiracy to Commit Sexual Conduct with a Minor, or both. Those charges are Class 6 felonies in Arizona. One of the men, Rodney Hans Holm, was previously convicted of bigamy and having illegal sex with a teenage girl he had taken as his third wife. He was a Colorado City police officer at the time of the incident. Holm served time in the Washington County, UT jail before being released on good behavior. Mohave County grand jurors met Thursday, July 7th, and handed down five indictments against the men, all of them members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a Mormon splinter group that continues to advocate and practice polygamy, or plural marriage. Of particular interest to the grand jurors was practice of marrying underage girls to older men. The indictments mirror earlier ones handed down by the grand jury against Warren Jeffs. Information included in the indictments was gathered by Gary Engels, a special investigator assigned to Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith’s office. Several Mohave County Sheriff Deputies descended on Colorado City, AZ on Friday, where they joined Engels in an attempt to locate the men. David Romaine Bateman was the only suspect apprehended at that time. Battle for the UEP The battle for control of the United Effort Plan Trust continues as several current and former FLDS members have expressed their interest in serving on the board. The UEP is a charitable trust that was once operated by the FLDS, but whose trustees, including Warren Jeffs, were removed by a Utah Judge only last month. The most recent to join the fight is anti-polygamy and child-rights activist Flora Jessop. A petition filed by the Child Protection Project of Los Angeles, CA, seeks to have Jessop appointed as a UEP trustee (See notice on Page 9). The petition also asks for the appointment of Pam Black, Laurene Cooke Jessop, Janet Johanson, Tracey Barlow, Carl John Holm, Linda Binder and Mohave County Supervisor Buster Johnson. The motion also opposes the appointment of a several prospective trustees now being considered by the court. It was Flora Jessop who first made Eldoradoans aware of the FLDS presence in Schleicher County on March 15, 2004, when she telephoned Success editor Randy Mankin and later spoke with Sheriff David Doran about the group. Prior to that time, locals believed the activity at the YFZ Ranch was nothing more than an effort by a Utah man named David Allred to build a corporate hunting retreat. Jessop traveled to Eldorado a week later where she held a news conference on the courthouse square. Since that time it has been learned that David Allred is married to one of Warren Jeffs’ daughters and is one of the FLDS prophet’s most trusted lieutenants. Word came late Wednesday that Utah District Judge Constandinos Himoas, who has been overseeing the UEP case, recused himself from the court hearing slated for July 21 at which time he was expected to appoint new trustees. It is unknown at this time if the hearing will be rescheduled or when a new judge will be appointed to handle the case. Neither is it known why Judge Himonas stepped aside. The judge was unavailable for comment. |
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MyEldorado.net Originally published July 14, 2005 |
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