Special Prosecutor to Oversee FLDS Ranch Raid Criminal Cases
The state attorney general will serve as special prosecutor in all criminal cases arising from a raid early last month on a Texas ranch run by a religious sect that reportedly promotes polygamy and underage “spiritual” marriages of teenagers to much older men.
It isn’t clear exactly what criminal cases will be pursued as a result of the raid on the Yearning for Zion ranch run by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. The raid resulted, at last count, in 464 children being placed in foster care, including one who was born afterward.
Although the complaint that led to the raid has never been substantiated, “once inside the compound walls, agents from Texas Child Protective Services claimed they found abused and neglected children as well as 31 teenage girls who were pregnant or had given birth,” the newspaper reports. The FLDS says 26 of the 31 were old enough to be married.
Additional coverage:
Deseret News: “Texas AG to be special prosecutor for FLDS criminal cases”
Salt Lake Tribune: “Texas used seized FLDS records against polygamous sect”
ABAJournal.com: “Texas Ranch Raid Sparks Senate Leader’s Call for Federal Task Force”
