Posted on 05/24/2008 5:23:27 PM PDT by MizSterious
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, May 24, 2008
The state's decision to put hundreds of children from a polygamist sect into foster care bogged down in legal maneuvers this week, but authorities said Friday a criminal investigation into sexual-abuse allegations at the sect's West Texas ranch is moving ahead unimpaired.
However, it's unlikely that any charges will be filed soon, officials said.
"The Rangers and the DPS are methodically going through all the evidence," said Tela Mange, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, which is heading the criminal probe.
"We're going to take as much time as it takes to make a case that the D.A. and the attorney general's office can prosecute."
Jerry Strickland, a spokesman for Attorney General Greg Abbott, whose office has been named special prosecutor in the case, echoed the sentiment: "We'll continue to work with local, state and federal law enforcement in reviewing the items seized and continue to investigate the case."
Mange said the criminal case is separate from the child-abuse investigation by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services that triggered an April 3 raid at the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint's nearly 1,700-acre ranch near Eldorado.
(Excerpt) Read more at statesman.com ...
FYI ping. Interesting details in the body of the article, well worth the click.
The government has virtually unlimited resources vs. the little guy (you and me, for example). So if the government becomes fascist or socialist, as we are, or already have become, we will have the thought police, organizations such as EPA, CPS, and other government agencies telling us what we can think, or say, or do. Even the filthy rich can be brought down by the government. It would be nice if the State would focus its considerable resources on borders, language, and culture instead of assisting people with a baseless, hate-based agenda, or with no real oversight, IMO. But, instead, now the government has to prove that what it did, or be embarrassed by its utter failure. The State has the resources to look until it finds something on somebody that it can use to justify its position. This is a colossal waste of resources.
Such slow pokes. These people just do not move fast enough for freepers:’)
Details about the criminal investigation of the sect have been tightly guarded since the raid, as investigators have quietly continued work and in several instances had documents sealed by court order to prevent details from becoming public.
Apparently, there's a lot going on that all the "experts" on these threads aren't aware of. Imagine, no one consulted with them first!
;)
Apparently, there's a lot going on that all the "experts" on these threads aren't aware of. Imagine, no one consulted with them first!
Were you a die-hard supporter of Nifong when he tried to railroad the Duke lacrosse players? The Texans are pulling the same crap and you believe them.
No, I wasn’t. I could tell the Duke thing was a frame job. I can tell this one isn’t.
No consulting with Freepers and hourly reports? Who do these people think they are? The Texas Rangers?
So they got in on this hoax too. Wonder how many other agencies managed to get into that compound under cover of this lie?
I'm not saying it will happen, but I see the possibility that a lot if not all of this evidence will be considered tainted because of the hoax and thrown out.
“Were you a die-hard supporter of Nifong when he tried to railroad the Duke lacrosse players? The Texans are pulling the same crap and you believe”
No! We Texans prefer that Utah keep all of its polygamists with old geezers “marrying” 13 and 14 year olds.
My advise to non Texans: do not let your suspicion's of CPS personnel trump common sense and/or common decency
In the Lacrosse frame Crystal Mangum told a different story every day, and most reasonable people took that as evidence that she was lying.
In this case the FLDS adults have told story after story and now you are insisting that the State must be the one lying.
In the Lacrosse case the boys were eager to get the DNA evidence to prove their innocence.
In this case most of the males have scattered to who knows where and the lawyers for the accused are trying their damnedest to make sure DNA evidence is never produced.
but you are so insistent that that just goes to prove there doesn’t need to be an investigation.
I don’t think you are doing a very good job of producing parallels that support your position, and I don’t expect the Texas supreme court to throw this thing out
BTTT
Interestingly, *the government* is not some monolithic all agreeing *thing*. Witness the disagreement between courts in this very case.
susie
Apparently, there’s a lot going on that all the “experts” on these threads aren’t aware of. Imagine, no one consulted with them first!
___________________________________________
OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
However will this case be completed successfully without them ????????????????????????
The FLDS are not out of the woods yet.
Warren Jeffs likeness is not plastered all over their compound for nothing.
They should just get some of the freepers on the jury who already have convicted the lot of them. It would make putting a case together much easier.
I won't be surprised if Texas authorities have more information that they haven't publicized. I've had that thought and hope its true.
Right on! Interesting how someone who disagrees with you resorts to desparate comparisons to convince you you're wrong.
The CPA acted in good faith, as far as I can determine. Did you ever think that the "hoax" may have been a blessing in disguise?
If you choose to be so defensive of polygamous communities which follow the whims of their leaders (who claim that God speaks to them), I think it's fair to ask if you are a member of one of these groups. If not, why not?
Actually the State has been telling more than it's fair share of 'stories'. Actually, they've been telling lies.
How many 14 year old girls have now morphed magically into 27 year old women?
How many Arrest Warrants were based on lies?
How many Search Warrants were based on lies?
These CPS freaks have been lying their asses off since this mess started.
And the SC of TX is going to toss this thing out on it's ear early next week.
L
Take a drive through the west and south sides of Chicago and you'll see Huey Longs and Che's plastered all over buildings.
For that matter drop by any Chicago Public High School on the West Side and count the pregnant 14 and 15 year olds. Hell, they've got frigging Day Care centers built in.
Ain't nobody raiding what's left of the housing projects there....
L
I have as many gripes with government agencies and "big brother" as any other conservative, texican, but I know we need laws to prevent evil deeds. I also believed that all the info from the criminal investigations of this cult could very well be "under wraps".
That this investigation of the FLDS began with a hoax phone call is completely irrelevant. It is a sick cult, IMO, and no child should be brought up in that environment.
So you say. I say you’re wrong.
“Among the items seized were computers, clothing, and marriage and family records that showed some men had several listed wives, according to documents filed in court in San Angelo as part of the child-abuse inquiry.”
They took a bunch of ‘white dresses’. Why?
Were these wedding dresses? Would they have DNA from the bride, and groom?
What other conceivable reason would there be for taking some white dresses?
“but I see the possibility that a lot if not all of this evidence will be considered tainted because of the hoax and thrown out. “
Did you read the article?
It states why the evidence they gathered is not even affected by the first warrant.
Look at the list of items taken as evidence.
That contains the clue.
Well, if you are going to claim that what happens at other FLDS compounds in Utah, Colorado, and Arizona has nothing to do with the YFZ Ranch, then what goes on in Chicago neighborhoods has no relationship to this case either.
Yep. The Duke case and the FLDS case, just the same.
And the ‘raid’?
Just like Waco.
Texas went in and surrounded the FLDS compound with tanks and helicopters, and the FLDS was under siege for two months, while negotiations for child hostages went on.
After shutting off the water and electricity to the FLDS compound, the Military went in with Ahbrams tanks which had flamethrowers on them. They tied the adults up to crosses, and then set them on fire. Then the CPS came in, and with the help of the Baptists, and MHRH, ripped the children from their dying mothers while they were still nursing at their breasts.
Interesting that you have the ability to joke about dead children and men who had their lives ruined by false accusations.
Quite digusting. Says alot about your lack of character.
Do the burnt corpses of children amuse you? Do the false accusations of whores titillate you? Seems so. How very Jerry Springer of you.
If there was any speck of respect that could be had for you; you destroyed.
the DA should be charging the child protection service and its agents involved in this abortion of justice with kidnapping. Our children do not belong to the state.
Some of these religious zealots running around here driven by bigotry, following the CPS crap hook line and sinker should be held accountable when these, all these children are returned - even those that might be in imminent danger of abuse. They are just as culpable for the ineptitude of the CPS and the costs that are going to hit the Texas taxpayers.
Was it a set up by the sect? They will likely enrich themselves for the trampling of civil rights done to try and fish. On the thread that CPS dropped the Sarah thing, they are holding on to 5 potential abuse cases that are still in play. Will we find out those cases were fraudulent CPS lies as well? Then what.
I am disgusted as well.
They were holding adults with verifiable proof of age as children. A little loophole. Then they seized control of the children born in captivity - of course the mother could stick around in captivity to produce milk for the state if they desire. Kidnapping is right.
I've never made any such 'claim'.
What I did was make an 'anology'. Look it up.
It's turning out that there are more pregnant minor girls at an average Chicago Public High School than there were at this 'compound'.
L
A lot more, and just in one classroom.
The state should rightly take away children who are being abused.
Get over it. Some people (obviously not YOU) think laws should not be broken, child abuse and sexual slavery laws included. If you had bothered to read any of the material they actually found when they raided the place, you’d know they also found plans for using cyanide. Jim Jones, anyone?
(Applauding wildly) Your neighbors to the north agree--with one more suggestion--boycott Utah as long as they permit this atrocity to continue.
Really? Based on what proof? Please provide documentation.
I was wondering about those, too. You could be right.
I support a full criminal investigation. I submit that the disgusting behavior of the dirty old men be punished to the full extent of the law. And if the mothers pimped their daughters out the need to be punished also.
Now what about the civil case?....over 400+ kids and their families...Has FreeRepublic become the bastion of collective guilt, guilt by association and group punishment? Rumor and innuendo substituting for evidence? 3 minute trials? Stop the child abuse AND stop the legal abuse.
You want to talk about lack of character? What kind of sleaze denigrates the memory of the dead at Waco by trying to make a false comparison to a completely peaceful and legal operation by the Texas Rangers? They do it for ONE purpose only, and that is to try and drum up sympathy for the indefensible—the organized child rape and sexual slavery operation at the fLDS ranch. They are USING the dead at Waco to try to make a bogus point. This was NOT Waco, not even close. How dare they?
You’re right. When it comes to child rape and sexual slavery, I’m completely bigoted against it, and anyone who supports it.
Are you aware of how child abuse cases are handled EVERYWHERE? Usually, if they believe one child in a family is being abused, they remove ALL of them. That’s how it was done here. They acted correctly.
Kindly name for me one person from this 'compound' who has been indicted on either of these charges so far.
In fact I'd appreciate it if you can name one single person who has been indicted on any charge whatsoever stemming from this 'raid'.
You people in Texas are going to take it in the neck on this one, and quite rightly so.
This one has been handled even worse than the Short Creek Raid.
L
They do not believe the court fight will have any impact on the criminal investigation.
Don't mess with Texas, and the fat lady isn't even warming up yet.
I hope, if there was wrongdoing, that the wrongdoers are punished. I also hope all the stories of abuse, suspected abuse, and rumor are found to be mere rumors and allegations without foundation. Just like there was no 14 year old pregnant, and the stories of hundreds of underage pregnant girls were found to be not true. I want it to not be true - For the Children. You hope otherwise right? You hope children were abused right?
Problem is that your wild assertions of tens of underage pregnant 12 and 13 year olds isn’t true. Matter of fact I don’t know if any underage girls were pregnant since everyday CPS is having to backtrack on pronouncements and the number of alleged victims.
How many 12 year old girls have to be raped before you consider it a serious matter? Shouldn’t even ONE be enough? (But there is proof of many more in the Bishop’s Record.)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.