Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

October 6, 2008 10:22:38 AM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Texas Court: Return Kids to Polygamy Sect

Posted May 22, 08 3:27 PM CDT in US 

(Newser) – A Texas appeals court found today that authorities, acting on "no evidence," and supported only by a "general allegation" of impropriety, should not have removed more than 460 children from a polygamist compound, the Dallas Morning News reports. The panel also said a local court "abused its discretion" in authorizing an April 3 raid and ordered the children returned.

“Even if one views the FLDS belief system as creating a danger of sexual abuse by grooming boys to be perpetrators of sexual abuse and raising girls to be victims of sexual abuse,” the court said, “… there is no evidence that this danger is ‘immediate’ or ‘urgent.' " Said a supporter: “It is a great day for families in the state of Texas."

Sources: Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, Austin American-Statesman

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Jeffs' Bride, 14, Ordered Into Foster Care

    Aug 20, 08 5:44 AM CDT
    Jeffs' Bride, 14, Ordered Into Foster Care A Texas judge has ordered a 14-year-old girl allegedly married to polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs at age 12 back into state custody, reports the Salt Lake Tribune. The judge said the parents of the girl, who was first taken into custody when the sect's compound was raided in April, had approved the marriage and refused to protect her in the future. The girl's father has six wives. Six other children will remain in the household.
    More »

  • 5 More Jailed in Sect Child Abuse

    Jul 29, 08 4:15 AM CDT
    5 More Jailed in Sect Child Abuse Five members of a Texas polygamous sect charged in a child abuse investigation are in custody after surrendering to authorities, the Dallas Morning News reports. Four of the men are charged with sexually abusing girls under the age of 17. The fifth, said to be the physician at the sect's Yearning for Zion ranch, is charged with failing to report child abuse.
    More »

  • Judge Sends Kids Back to Polygamist Parents

    Jun 2, 08 10:45 AM CDT
    Judge Sends Kids Back to Polygamist Parents A Texas judge ordered more than 400 children returned to their polygamist parents today, the AP reports. Parents could begin picking up their children at 10 this morning, but were ordered not to leave the state or interfere with ongoing child-abuse investigations. More »

  • Sect Kids Aren't Going Home

    May 30, 08 9:51 PM CDT
    Sect Kids Aren't Going Home The parents of children taken from a polygamist ranch in Texas will not see their kids on Monday after all. At the last minute, a lawyer objected to the state's deal with the sect and stopped the judge from ordering the children's release. Now the judge plans to get them home by canceling the original order to raid the sect, the San Antonio Express-News reports. More »

  • Sect Moms Say Kids Scarred

    May 29, 08 12:39 PM CDT
    Sect Moms Say Kids Scarred Taking young children away from their parents has harmful effects, say mothers from the polygamist sect in Texas, and numerous studies agree—which is why federal and state guidelines require a “reasonable effort” to keep children with their parents before removing them. Texas authorities don't appear to have done so, mothers and experts say, in taking 468 children from YFZ ranch, the New York Times reports. More »

Members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints depart from the Tom Green County Courthouse, Monday, May 19, 2008, in San Angelo, Texas.   (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Lydia Johnson, a mother of six children in state custody, leaves court Tuesday, May 20, 2008. Frank Johnson, an ex-communicated sect member and father of Lydia's children offered himself as guardian.   (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints members walk by law enforcement officials on their way into Tom Green County Courthouse, Monday, May 19, 2008, in San Angelo, Texas.   (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints mothers smile after a bystander told them the news of a court ruling in their favor in San Angelo, Texas.   (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Church members, and mothers, smile.   (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints mothers.   (AP Photo/LM Otero)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 4)

Tags

Texas  • polygamy  • Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints  • child custody  • Yearning for Zion ranch  • polygamists  • Child Protective Services  • US Appeals court  • Barbara Walther  • judicial


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other US Stories