Posted on 08/19/2011 8:30:24 AM PDT by MizSterious
SAN ANGELO, Texas — While polygamous sect prophet Warren Jeffs settles into his life prison sentence in Texas for sexually assaulting two underage girls, law enforcement officials continue applying pressure against alleged corruption in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah, where the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is based.
A 30-count criminal indictment returned by a Mohave County Superior Court Jury Aug. 4 in Kingman, Ariz., alleges misappropriation of public funds by Colorado City Fire District Chief Jacob Barlow. Three counts are for participating or assisting in a criminal syndicate while the other 27 charges are for "violating the duties of a custodian of public monies."
Another man charged in portions of the Aug. 4 indictment is unnamed because he has not been served or arrested.
Deputy Mohave County attorney James Schoppmann said the investigation began in January 2008 after a manager of a restaurant in St. George, Utah, reported that Barlow, 55, used a fire district credit card to purchase lunch for his wife. The probe led to searches of fire stations in Arizona and Utah in April 2010 as well as the homes of Barlow and David Darger, the Colorado City town manager who also was serving as fire district treasurer/secretary at the time.
An affidavit for the search warrants indicated authorities were investigating alleged misuse of fire district credit cards and funds for computer equipment, travel, motels, meals, groceries and furniture. Boxes of evidence seized during the unwelcome raids were transported to Kingman, where Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith said it would take months to review to determine whether charges would be filed.
(Excerpt) Read more at gosanangelo.com ...
Good questions. (Just wondering how long before the defends show up.)
Warren Jeffs trial pinglist—if you want on or off, let me know via freepmail.
This is actually the aftermath of the trial. We’re not seeing a lot in the news, but a lot is going on!
A letter sent by email and snail mail urges the followers of polygamist leader and convicted pedophile Warren Jeffs to "come clean ... or you are going down with the wicked and the damned."
It's signed by two former leaders of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or FLDS, including former Jeffs spokesman Willie Jessop and William E. Jessop (no relation to Willie), who some consider the rightful successor to Jeffs. The message is the first visible sign of a possible schism in the polygamist faith in the wake of Jeffs' conviction in Texas for sexual assault of "wives" 12 and 15.
Also this week, criminal indictments were announced for two FLDS members who are public officials in Colorado City, Ariz., where the FLDS Church is based. The two are charged with misusing public funds and participating in "a criminal syndicate."
The letter directly addresses FLDS members in general and Lyle Jeffs, in particular. Jeffs is the brother of the convicted FLDS prophet and is believed to be running the day-to-day affairs of the group while Warren Jeffs serves a life sentence in Texas.
"There is responsibility to see to it there is no iniquity in the church, and to protect the virtue, and values of our church," the letter says. "You all have had five long years and numerous opportunities to clean this immoral mess up, and you have not!"
Lyle Jeffs' phone number in the FLDS stronghold of Hildale, Utah, is now disconnected.
(Excerpt, read the rest here.)
A bit of irony here, with former thug-of-all-trades Willie Jessup now talking about "going down with the wicked and the damned."
Good questions. (Just wondering how long before the defends show up.)
I’m sure the countdown has begun. ;) We’ll hear all about how they’re “glad” Jeffs is in jail, but golly gosh, didn’t aunt Mathilda get married at 16? And jiminy, what about those rounders who have mistresses? They forget: we’ve seen it all before, and choose not to even wear the teeshirt, let alone give any credence whatever to such idiotic arguments.
when will the parents be indicted?
What about Jeffs Lieutenants?.. his supporters..
What vetting do they get?... Are they still performing his orders?..
Do they get off Scott free?...
Wish I knew. It looks like they’re casting a wide net, and I’ve read on some blogs that there could be some indictments coming down the pike for parents. As for supporters—well, just my guess here, but supporting Jeffs is not against the law. It’s the illegal actions that’ll get ‘em. I can’t imagine anyone being hauled in for supporting the rotter.
YES!!!!!
[ It’s the illegal actions that’ll get ‘em. I can’t imagine anyone being hauled in for supporting the rotter. ]
They could hang for their OWN crimes... Jeffs didnt do this ALONE...
I haven’t been around much due to health reasons. Can’t believe anyone could defend this stuff.
Hose, I agree with you in theory—wouldn’t mind at all if they hauled every last one of them in.
But our system requires evidence, and it needs to be done carefully and methodically. That takes time. It took quite awhile before Warren Jeffs was finally sent to Huntsville, but there he sits, in all his shaved-head glory.
I have to hand it to Texas (holding judgment on the other states involved) for doing it right, and as I said before, they’re still working on indictments according to some who seem to be in the know.
Personally, I think RICO laws should apply—and I think the feds should be prosecuting as well. There are state and international borders which were crossed with the children; there is the welfare fraud; stories abound about interstate drug traffic, stolen vehicle traffic, and more—in addition to the child abuse, and according to one teevee commentator, possible child porn as a result of some videos that might have been sold of some of these “weddings.” Not to mention all the aiding and abetting of all of the above.
I appreciate that TX has been so meticulous. So far, every case they’ve tried has resulted in convictions. Let’s keep that perfect record.
The defense is kinda like: so disgusting BUT........ blah blah blah.
And yes it is hard to believe.
[ Personally, I think RICO laws should apply—and I think the feds should be prosecuting as well. ]
Hell Jeffs and all his cronies are WHITE...
So Holder couldn’t have much trouble with that..
NOW if Jeffs were BLACK.. there would be a problem...
Don’t expect any investigation of the Nation of Islam soon..
You know... Louis Farrakand..
On the plus side, Holder and Obama will be gone in (best case) another year or five (worst case). Things might change.
Well with Ann Coulter as Attorney General.. IT WOULD CHANGE!....
It goes to show how bad things are in those groups. Willie might actually be a bit of an improvement.
Unwelcome raids? How often are raids welcomed? :p
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