Posted on 08/10/2011 8:07:41 AM PDT by greyfoxx39
Fox 13 has obtained dozens of photographs of polygamist leader Warren Jeffs and many of his so-called "brides."
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The pictures were seized by law enforcement during the raid on the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' YFZ ranch in Eldorado, Texas in 2008. In all, lawyers connected to the case have estimated that approximately 1.7 billion pages of evidence was taken in the raid.
Combined with diaries, audio recordings and dictations, Texas prosecutors painted a damning portrait of the FLDS leader that they showed to the jury.
"If the world knew what I was doing they would hang me from the highest tree, and they would do worse than that," Jeffs said of underage marriages in one of the dictations dated Jan. 25, 2004.
"I knew and understood him to be that kind of man," Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff told Fox 13 on Tuesday. "We just had to have that evidence to do it. Texas finally had that evidence."
The gargantuan amount of evidence could find its way to Utah, where prosecutors here are anxious to see it. Washington County Attorney Brock Belnap said he is "very interested" in seeing what Texas obtained.
Shurtleff said Texas has agreed to share the evidence, once it finishes with the trials of the remaining FLDS members charged in connection with underage marriages. Besides Jeffs, seven FLDS men have been sentenced to prison.
"We're anxious to get our hands on some of that evidence down there in Texas and see if there's any additional crimes that we may have to look at prosecuting here," Shurtleff said.
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The Texas Department of Criminal Justice said that Jeffs was being evaluated to determine whether to place him in general population, safe keeping or protective custody.
Jeffs would not be considered for parole for at least 45 years, a prison spokesman said. He would be 100 years old when that would happen.
For his faithful followers, Jeffs will likely be viewed as a martyr, said an ex-FLDS member.
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Fox 13 spoke to sources in the FLDS strongholds of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., who said there has been little -- if any -- reaction to Jeffs' Texas trial. Jeffs has forbidden his faithful followers from watching TV or checking the Internet, ex-FLDS members in the communities say, preventing them from hearing about the volumes of evidence presented against him.
Those faithful who are aware of the trial insist that it is a test of faith and told ex-members in the town that "God will intervene."
"The key is obviously getting the word to those members the truth...as to what kind of man Warren Jeffs is," said Shurtleff. "Not only did he abuse little girls, but he abused all of them."
Shurtleff would not rule out re-trying Jeffs in Utah, where his conviction on rape as an accomplice was overturned by the state's Supreme Court. Jessop, however, told Fox 13 she was skeptical if law enforcement would ever really address what she said was consistent, criminal behavior in Hildale and Colorado City.
"I think the same crimes will continue," Jessop said. "I think the only way that can change is if law enforcement in Utah and Arizona will actually enforce the law down there."
The “FLDS” is what the Theocrocy “State” known as “Deseret” would have been like. The ONLY reason that “Utah” was admitted was that “poligamy” was specifically outlawed and THEN Utah(Deseret) was admitted into the United States.
It’s like he’s some creepy home grown Islamic...
He is a sick and evil bastard using religion to satisfy his perversity. He should be castrated, and I hope he gets the crap beat out him in prison...daily.
It’s like he’s some creepy home-grown radical muslim... Not all Islamic are this dreadful...
How’s godhood feel now, Warren?
Enjoying it much?
Too bad they didn’t have the Mann Act back then, because I’m pretty sure Joey Smith transported a lot of underage women across state lines for immoral purposes!
Harry Reid's "calling" in an official Lds "home teaching" capacity got a positive comment @ the recent FAIR Conference in Sandy, Utah. [FAIR is the "apologists" who attempt to defend Mormonism]
See post #3 @ Perception of Mitt Romney election to presidency would be similar to that of John F. Kennedy...
I missed that. My mistake.
Yeah... Sure....
Do NOT let these 'lawyers' do your taxes!
Song of Solomon 8:8 (niv)
We have a young sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister for the day she is spoken for?
>
~ Wilford Woodruff, 4th LDS President
The three Nephites are immortal: not the porpoises.
He should be “Dahmered.” Extra rations for the prisoner who does the deed.
“State of Deseret”: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Deseret
“State of Utah”: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah
“During the 1870s and 1880s laws were passed to punish polygamists, and in the 1890 Manifesto, the LDS Church banned polygamy. When Utah applied for statehood again it was accepted. One of the conditions for granting Utah statehood was that a ban on polygamy be written into the state constitution. This was a condition required of other western states that were admitted into the Union later. Statehood was officially granted on January 4, 1896.”
Thanks for posting this, Foxx.
I like it when apostates (of any religion) are caught with their pants down. ;o]
That is not entirely correct. Polygamy - mormon style - was illegal throughout the entire course of its existance. When the manifesto was issued, the most recent law provided 'teeth' to enforce existing law - disinfranchisement of the mormon church and jail for its leaders and polygamists.
The prophet saw the writing on the wall. However, it was the secret plan to continue polygamy in secret and try to overturn the laws in place. Hence the leadership continued the practice - until slapped down by the law again via the Smoot hearings. Polygamy continued under cover by leadership into the early 1900's.
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