Beware of FLDS enforcers, Texas told

Texas police have been standing guard outside the home of the Texas judge who ordered the removal of all the FLDS children from the YFZ Ranch. The heightened security was ordered after authorities from Utah and Arizona warned them to be on the lookout for FLDS "enforcers," the Deseret News has learned.

Every officer guarding Judge Barbara Walther's San Angelo house was provided dossiers and photos of 16 FLDS men and women whom Utah police deemed a threat. However, e-mails obtained by the Deseret News from the Washington County Sheriff's Office warned Texas authorities to be suspicious of everybody, not just those on the list.

"There are many individuals who are willing to give up their life for the cause and you can never underestimate what a religious fanatic is capable of," according to the e-mails, which were obtained through Texas' public records law.

Police were also keeping close tabs on witnesses, as the "enforcers" might try to "intimidate kids and other witnesses, watch foster homes where kids may be placed, bribe witnesses, appear at court hearings, and make attempts to contact FLDS kids," according to an e-mail from an investigator with the Tom Green County District Attorney's Office.

Law enforcement in Texas has been on alert since a Fundamentalist LDS Church-related Web site published Walther's home address and work and home telephone numbers.

Walther signed the original order to remove all of the FLDS children from the YFZ Ranch in April and place them in state custody.

An attorney for the FLDS Church said its followers are peaceful people and that law enforcement has nothing to worry about.

"Have they ever seen an act of intimidation or violence against law enforcement from the FLDS community at all, ever?" Rod Parker told the Deseret News. "Before they start spreading those kinds of rumors, they ought to be able to ID an example of them ever doing that in the past."

As for the threat to "pay Ms. Walther's home a visit," on the site www.flds.ws, Parker said the site is not sanctioned by the FLDS Church. The site is run by Bill Medvecky, a Fort Myers, Fla., man who has donated to the fund for captive FLDS children, Parker said.

Once Parker told church leaders that the post could be construed as a threat, they contacted Medvecky and had him remove the judge's address, he said.

However, Walther's work and phone numbers are still listed on the Web site. The site calls Walther the "leader of the Gestapo," and includes a link to a petition to impeach the judge.

Medvecky doesn't see the harm in publishing Walther's address on the Internet. After all, it's in the phone book, he said.

"They are not confrontational whatsoever. I am," Medvecky told the Deseret News. "They are not me, and they have nothing to do with the site. We support them 100 percent."

Texas law enforcement wasn't aware of the threat until early June, but the dossiers "regarding any FLDS members who may engage in acts of intimidation or violence against law enforcement and/or potential witnesses" started circulating April 16.

The dossiers track individuals in FLDS leader Warren Jeffs' circle of trust, as well as a few "wild cards" that make Utah authorities "uncomfortable."

The list includes Willie Jessop, who has acted as one of the main spokesmen for the FLDS Church after the April 3 raid on the Yearning For Zion Ranch. The dossier calls him — William Roy Jessop — "the most serious threat associated with the FLDS religion."

Others included on the list are Lyle Steed Jeffs, Warren Jeffs' brother; and Lindsay Hammon Barlow, who witnesses described as Warren Jeffs' "muscle," among others.

"It is very obvious that Washington County officials do not let the facts get in the way of a good story," Willie Jessop said. "These are the types of paranoid allegations that can hurt a lot of innocent people if they are allowed to go unchecked.

"I don't know what the remedy is, but it should alarm everyone when an investigator does not even bother to fact check what he is supposed to be investigating."

The dossiers include the persons of interests' last known address and possible vehicles.

Washington County sheriff's deputies compiled the dossiers by tracking individuals during Warren Jeffs' 2007 trial, where he was convicted of rape as an accomplice after performing a marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. He was sentenced to a pair of five-to-life prison terms.

Police believe Jessop, also known as "Willie the Thug" or "King Willie" in the dossiers, is the primary FLDS "enforcer" and has a passion for violence, weapons (legal and illegal) and explosives.

On the third day of Warren Jeffs' trial, Jessop was banned from the courthouse after "it was determined he was attempting to intimidate the witnesses, after he was observed numerous (times) staring menacingly at the witnesses," according to the dossiers.

Jessop said he and other FLDS men and women who attended Jeffs' highly publicized trial were there as observers, nothing more.

"The fact that we would show up in court and then to have them turn that around on us shows how biased these public officials are," Jessop said. "There are no facts, no history of violence, not a shred of evidence to support these irresponsible allegations. Not one bit of it is true and these officials know it."

Other FLDS members showed up on the dossiers for a variety of things, from staring down and intimidating witnesses, being an active member of Warren Jeffs' security team, or holding a high rank in the FLDS Church's hierarchy.

Utah police also warned Texas officials of so-called "wild cards" or "religious fanatics," including Ruth Cooke, a woman police said is "blindly devoted to Warren and the FLDS religion," according to the dossiers.

"She is just the kind of person who may be capable of doing something crazy but justified in her head," the dossiers state.

Dee Yeates Jessop is another "intimidating enforcer" who police described as a fanatic who blindly follows Jeffs. Witnesses told police Dee Yeates Jessop is "relatively unimportant" in the church's command structure.

"His social status makes all the more dangerous. What would he do to improve his standing?" according to the dossiers.

Several other high-ranking church officials show up in the dossiers, like William E. Jessop, a high-ranking elder in the FLDS Church, and David Allred, who is involved in the church's finances and is "fairly high in the FLDS pecking order." However, the dossiers said the men were unlikely to be considered a threat, but could be involved in the decision-making process because of their positions of power.

Both Willie Jessop and Parker, who has also acted as a spokesman for the church, discounted the dossiers.

"If they are going to malign people's character like that, they ought to have something better than someone staring at somebody or looking at them funny," Parker said. "This is the same kind of rumor-mongering that I've been complaining about for a long time. These rumors tend to feed on themselves."

I think a suit against the CPS, if filed, will fail, and I would frankly be surprised to see such a suit filed because of the intense scrutiny which would be placed upon the internal workings of the flds sect.

I tend to agree that the FLDS doesn’t want the scrutiny that they will receive if they take this to a civil jury for damages. However that said if and when any criminal charges are brought and trials held then they will get tons of internal exposure so at that time another trial in the civil courts may not produce that much additional exposure.

I would guess the plantiff lawyers are lined up trying to get them into a civil actions so they can get their 40% or so cut of any awards. Also I agree I don’t think you’ll find a Texas jury that will agree in the required number to award any large sums. I know it’s not unaminous but don’t know the number that needs to agree in order to find for the plaintiff.

Some have speculated it will be in the Federal courts that this action will occur so as to take it out of the state court system. If that occurs then it would still have to be moved out of state to get it away from a Texas jury.

Time will tell as we are far from this event being over.

You are doing the mental gymastics thing again. You assume that if they stack the roles in the community they are going to do it so they can break laws. I still don’t see where they have broken any laws yet. In my hometown, the Catholic Church has enough membership to vote the Catholic mayor in every election. Should I call that a sudden light of patriotism? You should sleep with the light on perhaps. The State and the CPS made the bed that perhaps a sheriff in town has to lie in for the upcoming election. I say too bad. Constitutionally you can’t stop them.

Since there have been no crimes documented yet, you have to take a pretty big leap to say what you say about their intentions.

“I would be concerned that the State is using that remote possibility to sway public opinion about their actions.”

Of course. Politics in involved, so there is a lot of CYA going on.

There are ‘too’ many other people, and other entities that have a ‘stake’ in what happens at the YFZ Ranch, not to think that there isn’t a lot of misdirection coming from all sides.

That is what makes cases that make the headlines for months at a time so controversial.

And this case has everything. Every hot button issue you could imagine.

If you live in that county, you can at least do something, if you think they are trying to ‘takeover’ the political system, like go vote yourself.

Scheilcher county is very rural with something like 1900 registred voters. Even with that small of a number the FLDS would have to have many more adults registered than they originally had onsite when this event begin to unfold. I read somewhere they were requesting or thinking of requesting some 300 voter registration cards. I also think the county will vote together to keep them out if they attempt a take over.

Wasn’t it in AZ that they took over the gov’t via the ballot box and finally the state had to step in and take control?

“Wasn’t it in AZ that they took over the gov’t via the ballot box and finally the state had to step in and take control?”

I believe so.

Is that where the mayor was an FLDS and got thrown in jail?

Doesn’t the FLDS own Colorado City?

In addition to the scrutiny which would come from criminal cases, if any, there is also the matter of the custody cases which are still ongoing. So I guess whether the flds sues or not, they are going to get looked at. In Texas courts, the verdict has to be 10-2 on all issues for a judgment to result. In Federal Court, which would be far more likely, suit would be filed in the Western District of Texas. The western district has divisions in Austin, San Antonio, Del Rio, El Paso, and Midland. Offhand, I don’t know which of those covers San Angelo. The State would like to have it in Austin, I bet, and oddly enough, if I were the plaintiff, Austin would be my choice as well, if you even get a choice. In federal court, you’re probably looking at a six person jury.

I think that there are options.

It could be that the request for 300 voter reg. cards was just a ruse to ‘scare’ the local politicians.

It could be that the FLDS has new leadership, and that they have witnessed that the State took their kids, then gave them back, and is going after the criminals these people were slave to.

Maybe they intend to show they follow the law, by registering to vote. Even if they never vote.

Maybe they think registering will be acceptable by the court as showing they no longer wish to hide.

I know that the top ‘leaders’ , the ones loyal to Warren, have ‘flown the coop’.

There was an article and thread where the report discussed the fact that they had a ‘new leader’.

So, while I may be skeptical, and wonder if it’s the first option, I’m hoping it’s the second.

The sooner the FLDS people can be separated from those who would use and abuse them, the better.

A new leader who doesn’t lie to his faithful flock, to ensure personal gain or commit illicit acts, would be the best outcome of this all.

Evidence presented in the trial court indicated that the Department began its investigation of the YFZ Ranch on March 29th, when it received a report of sexual abuse of a sixteen-year-old girl on the property.

On April 3rd, the Department entered the Ranch along with law-enforcement personnel and conducted nineteen interviews of girls aged seventeen or under, as well as fifteen to twenty interviews of adults. In the course of these interviews, the Department learned there were many polygamist families living on the Ranch; a number of girls under the age of eighteen living on the Ranch were pregnant or had given birth; both interviewed girls and adults considered no age too young for a girl to be “spiritually” married; and the Ranch’s religious leader, “Uncle Merrill,” had the unilateral power to decide when and to whom they would be married.

Additionally, in the trial court, the Department presented “Bishop’s Records” — documents seized from the Ranch — indicating the presence of several extremely young mothers or pregnant “wives”[1] on the Ranch: a sixteen-year-old “wife” with a child, a sixteen-year-old pregnant “wife,” two pregnant fifteen-year-old “wives,” and a thirteen-year-old who had conceived a child.

http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/historical/2008/may/080391d.htm

IANAL, I am a mathematician, so this is worth what you paid for it -

Assume the case of the 37-yo woman.
File in federal court, naming TX, CPS, the various police agencies, and each individual involved.
Immediately move for change of venue (hey, it might happen...)

Concede, for the purposes of the case, the legitimacy of the raid.
Narrow the case to the fact that the 37-yo was taken (and held), who did it, and under whose orders.
Establish that she preseted ID (BC and DL) prior to being taken.
Establish that she was later released, with no further proof, than same DL and BC.

If TX presents evidence that they varified the documents, establish that that could have been done from squad car on ranch before taking custody of woman.

Put woman in front of jury, ask if she looks closer to 37 or 17.

Collect award (less in TX, more if moved out of state).

“One could hope they find leadership that wants to make sure rules apply to everyone, including their “flock” as you call em.”

I hope no one takes offense to the word flock.

It is what I would call the members of any particular church.

Parish seemed too Catholic. Congregation is hard to spell.

>> You must also realize the slippery slope of having a *religious* group in our state who is or may be openly violating the laws of said Constitution.

I don’t have any problem with prosecuting lawbreakers, as long as evidence gathering is done in accordance with our constitution and the rule of law is followed scrupulously.

I have a big problem with over-reaching government agencies playing nanny out of “belief” and relying on false reports to deprive citizens of their rights.

I recall that, in this case, a TX appeals court and the TX supreme court said that the law was NOT followed.

I don’t believe that these two courts found CPS in disregard of the law out of favoritism to FLDS or a desire to “let them slide”. Do you?

No, Uncle Merrill. Nevertheless, it was just an aside. I for one hope that wrongdoing is punishable within the limits of the constitution, and power to overreach isn’t supported wholesale for the sake of perceived justice which makes slippery slopes for potential government abuse. I am a realist and see that some of the history within the sect seems to be against basic fundamental law in this country, but freedom of religion and being harassed in group think is wrong, basically when you have people being violated by the state for beliefs rather than actions. Actions can be against the law, but beliefs and thoughts can not. If one contrasts this action by the state to the lack of action wherein lies a wholesale culture of this in the inner city one can see the hypocrisy of it all.

Colorado City is entirely FLDS just like YFZ compound. The FLDS controlled it completely. They did not control the Mohave County government. The trouble was that Colorado City was on the north side of a big hole in the ground and it was a 270 mile trip to the county seat of Kingman (took about 4 1/2 hours just to get there). Even the DPS officers were FLDS.

How about just members. I mean, you use the word flock to illustrate their inability to think on their own don’t you? If that were the case, while spending several months outside the church - don’t you think one or more than one would have talked about the injustices you make up or others manufacture ? One?

No, Uncle Merrill.

"Uncle Merrill" has been MIA for about two months now.

Do you mean this fellow?

This is Willie Jessop who's become the new FLDS spokesperson. Merrill & Willie’s dad are 1st cousins.

Willie was one of Warren’s faithful spies who turned Winston Blackmore in for insubordination during Warren’s church take over. He was also the main thug who stood at the door of the meeting house turning good people away from meetings, funerals and other social activities.

Willie was one who enjoyed evicting people from their own homes at the whim of Warren. His first statement to the media when contacted in Texas was “do unto others as you would have them do to you.”

His wives are Kristina and Cynthia, two of Milward Barlow’s daughters. He has a fifth grade education and his profession is 'dirt digger'.

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