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Texas Moves to Seize Warren Jeffs' Ranch

He's imprisoned, but his polygamist sect remains on 1,600-acre spread

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 28, 2012 12:52 PM CST

(Newser) – Texas authorities succeeded in getting polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs locked up for life for sexually abusing underage girls, and now they want to shut down the massive ranch where his followers still live, reports the Salt Lake Tribune. The state attorney general today took the first step in seizing the 1,600-acre property near Eldorado, arguing that it was purchased with laundered money as "part of a failed attempt to establish a remote outpost where they could insulate themselves from criminal prosecution for sexually assaulting children."

It's not clear how many people still live on the ranch, but an attorney for Jeffs' Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints says authorities are "punishing the victims—these aren't the people who committed the crimes." The Tribune doesn't think a federal raid is imminent; this one could wind through the courts instead.

This Aug. 9, 2011, file photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows polygamist leader Warren Jeffs in Huntsville, Texas.
This Aug. 9, 2011, file photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows polygamist leader Warren Jeffs in Huntsville, Texas.   (AP Photo/Texas Department of Criminal Justice, File)
In this 2005 aerial photo, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints compound is shown under construction near Eldorado, Texas.
In this 2005 aerial photo, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints compound is shown under construction near Eldorado, Texas.   (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 53 comments
Winston_Smith
Nov 29, 2012 12:10 PM CST
I recently read one of the books which have been published by FLDS refugees (this one was "Stolen Innocence") and I am convinced that something like this really does need to be done, evenif the legal justifications are rather flimsy. Calling it a "cult" is if anything an understatement; the FLDS has become something like a miniature totalitarian state, with Jeffs playing the role of Big Brother.
milosleubner
Nov 28, 2012 10:07 PM CST
Those   humans  and  zombie entities  who   claim publicly that they realy  want   to   save "children"  then they   should   start  such  a  task in  the  bowels  of inner  cities  of  this  land ,in  the  suburbs   where  only  "sign  of  life  is  a  television  with  lies  spewing  out  of  it   and   where  the  birds   don't   sing   but   stereos  blast  ,where  the people   smile  and   talk  only  when   their  ear  is  glued  to  a  cell phone ,  where   the   the  human  expression of  love  and  friendship  are  subject  to  political  correctness  and  are  therefore   silent  ,where  the  canned  laughter  is  the  toxic  image  of  song  of a soul. In a  ghettos  of  all colors  where  fatherless  children  gather on a  street  corners to  let  the  dogs  tear  each  other  up ,,where the mechanical toys steal our life force ,where  the  mechanical  life is  sold  shamelessly as  the   American  dream   to  confused and  lonely ,  where the  endless  hunt for  money  and  power  is  poisening   any  purpose  of  human  life  as  offered  to  us  by  the Creation  .   I  don't  know  much  about  Mr.  Jeffs  and  his  plan  and  vision  and neither do you,the chained barking dogs will always swallow and excrate that which is the only dog food allowed to them.    If  you  believe , and desperately want to believe , that   the  children  of  this   unknown  life   needed  to  be  subjucted  to  the cruel violence   of  the  powerful  and insane ,  rather  then  loving  care  of  their  mothers and  families  , the   drones  above  your  heads    will only  assist  you further  in  your  walk  to  hell.  for  the "dust  you  are  and  in  dust  you shall return " .
Marelicia
Nov 28, 2012 9:40 PM CST
What about considering seizing the real property of J. Paterino, J. Sandoofsky, B. Madock and the all of the real property owned by the Catholic Churches Incorporated? They all, directly or indirectly, knowingly facilitated serial child molestation, serial child abuse and serial child neglect and sucessfully covered up criminal activities against children for decades.  I could careless if any spouse of these criminals are made HOMELESS. They should considered themselves very %$#$ lucky that they too are not imprisoned as co-conspirators. It seems to be big money in serial child molestation because all of the above-mentioned criminals appear to be extremely wealthy.
 

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