Arrest Warrant Issued for Warren Jeffs
 
The Eldorado Success
 
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of FLDS Prophet Warren Jeffs on charges of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor, according to Gary Engels, an investigator with the Mohave County, Arizona attorney's office. Engels told The Success late Friday afternoon that the charges came after a Mohave County Grand Jury indicted Jeffs on the two counts.

Warren Jeffs became the prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints after his father, the former prophet Rulon Jeffs, died in 2002. Allegations of underage marriage and sexual abuse of under aged girls have swirled around the FLDS community for years. The group is a fundamentalist sect that broke away from the mainstream LDS or Mormon Church when it gave up the practice of polygamy in 1890.

FLDS faithful have lived in near obscurity for decades in a small town on the Arizona/Utah border. Originally known as Short Creek, the twin cities of Hildale Utah and Colorado City, Arizona, is home to an estimated 10,000 FLDS followers, many of who continue to practice polygamy.

In recent months, investigators in Arizona and Utah have stepped up their efforts to bring Jeffs and some of his followers to justice. Last year a Colorado City policeman was convicted of sexual conduct with a minor after he entered into a polygamous marriage with an underage girl.

Even as the long arm of the law began closing in on Jeffs, many of his followers began relocating to the YFZ Ranch near Eldorado in Schleicher County. One of Jeffs' lieutenants, David Allred, purchased the 1,671 acre ranch late in 2003, supposedly to build a hunting retreat. Eldoradoans soon learned, however, that the property was intended as a new community for Jeffs followers who were moving from C-City/Hildale. Already the group has built 14 large residential buildings and work is underway on a new temple, a building so large that it rivals the LDS temple in Salt Lake City for size.

Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran was notified of the warrant late Friday afternoon. He said that the criminal allegations were not unexpected, but did say that he had not anticipated the charges would come at this time.

"This changes the dynamic," Doran said. "Civil charges and allegations are one thing, but a criminal warrant is another."

The Sheriff went on to say that he did not know where Warren Jeffs could be found, adding that he has no reason to believe the prophet is staying at the YFZ Ranch. Doran concluded by saying that he would be meeting with other law enforcement agencies, including the Texas Rangers before proceeding.

For his part, investigator Gary Engels said he was pleased that his work in Colorado City was paying off. "The next step is to bring him to justice," Engels stated.
 
MyEldorado.net
Originally published June 10, 2005
 
Back