Colorado woman investigated as polygamy-hoax caller

WorldNutDaily ^ | 18 April 2008 | Staff Writer

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

A 33-year-old Colorado Springs woman has been questioned about a telephone call that sparked a raid at the polygamist Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints compound in western Texas two weeks ago.

Rozita Swinton was arrested at her home Wednesday night by Colorado Springs police for an incident that occurred in February. Members of the Texas Rangers were also in Colorado Springs as part of their investigation.

"The Texas Rangers were in Colorado Springs (Wednesday) as part of their investigation involving the compound in Texas. They left and have not filed any charges on Rozita Swinton as of this time," said Colorado Springs police spokesman Lt. Skip Arms.

Colorado Springs police said the arrest warrant has been sealed and refused to release any other details, reported Deseret News.

[taxcontrol]

Fry? I thought it was standard practice to burn religious fanatics at the stake.

[Balding_Eagle]

You’re so right.So many posters FEEL that the Constitution can be damned that I need to post a sarcasm tag.

I was mocking those who think that this case overrides the Constitution.

Where the hell am I anyway? I shouldn’t even have to say that.

[RightWhale]

Okay. Broil.

[Prokopton]

I wonder, if this turns out to be a hoax will all the evidence they found be inadmissible?

The question is not whether the information was accurate but whether their was a reasonable basis for the finding of probable cause for the search. If it was reasonable for the magistrate to find probable cause based on the information given to him, even if the information later turns out to be incorrect, the search would be legal and evidence of criminal activity discovered in the search would be admissible.

[Abathar]

Exactly, I had to assume the sarcasm, but way too many times I later find out that people can be serious.

Didn’t know to rip into you or laugh along with you.

Well done.

[Jaded]

mark

[beltfed308]

It appears the cult defenders are counting chickens before they hatch.

Naw....we are just expressing our concerns with this case before the mob shows up.

I heard this cult also had guard towers in the compound also. I am just waiting for the the bunker and meth lab to be found eventually. Just helping out with buzz words.

[Abathar]

Thanks - I am biased on this story, I am looking at a picture of my 13 year old daughter on my desk who is quite mature for her age.

I am also mentally picturing the gun in my desk pointed at the heart of some 50 year old man who would sexually lust after her like these men do and would be stupid enough to act on that lust.

[SouthTexas]

Heard questions on the inital call the day of the raid.
We shall see what plays out.

[Navy Patriot]

Wonder how the gubmint jackbooted einsatzgruppen will spin their way out of this?

They got their W in the White House.

This is another time that Justice won't do squat when they should.

This unlike the McMartin Preschool case has gone sour early for the state.

[SouthTexas]

Good faith on faulty information?

Don't think "intent" will fly in court even though they're looking out for the "chillen".

[John D]

One problem we have is that you can’t use the Constitution only when you feel it is usefull.

Why not? Ron Paul does it all the time.

[John D]

One problem we have is that you can’t use the Constitution only when you feel it is usefull.

Why not? Ron Paul does it all the time.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

NO! This is far too important to be concerned about the Constitution.

Constitution, schmonstitution, it's for the children!

[greyfoxx39]

One former member, who has been an outspoken critic of polygamist practices, says she thinks she may have talked to Swinton on the phone, with Swinton claiming to be Sarah’s twin sister.

How would Swinton know to call Jessop unless she was familiar with the FLDS cult?

I posted this on another thread:

FLDS in Colorado

[ravingnutter]

Shake and Bake...because if the charges are true, I for one would be more than willing to help.

[kennyboy509]

Dey bin slappin de babies!!!!!!!!!!

[ex 98C MI Dude]

The police didn’t know at the time they were acting on a bogus tip, so the initial warrant will fly. The second warrant was based upon supposed herds of pregnant 13 y/o girls observed wandering the ‘compound’.

Those herds have been reduced to 5 girls under the age of 18 being pregnant, and a suspicion by a CPS investigator that some of the mothers had given birth before the age the law allows, even though they really can’t match child to mother. That will prove very problematic for the State’s case.

[HungarianGypsy]

I'm no fan of the Mormons, and especially of their polygamist FLDS offshoot, but all the same, if this all happened because of a hoax....whoa, big news! Wonder how the gubmint jackbooted einsatzgruppen will spin their way out of this?

Which will make it even harder with cases like this in the future that are not hoaxes.

[jude24]

Good faith on faulty information? Don't think "intent" will fly in court even though they're looking out for the "chillen".

There is an established "good faith" exception. Most courts (NY being the only notable exception I am aware of) suppress evidence only to deter police misconduct. If the police go and get a warrant, it will presumptively stand unless the police acted with reckless disregard for the truth in obtaining that warrant. There is no evidence suggesting they did so in this case.

The supporting affidavit requesting a warrant showed that they had corroborated a significant amount of detail that stuff was going on in the compound. The anonymous tip + corroboration constitutes sufficient probable cause to justify a search or arrest warrant.