July 14, 2005

Bounty placed on fundamentalist

UNITED STATES
Deseret Morning News

By Geoffrey Fattah
Deseret Morning News

The elusive leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints now has a bounty on his head.
Utah and Arizona officials announced Wednesday a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Warren Jeffs on two counts of felony child sex abuse for allegedly arranging, and performing, the marriage of a 16-year-old girl to a man who was already married.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff publicly challenged Jeffs to turn himself in peacefully and face justice.
"I just think he thinks he's above the law — he's a coward," Shurtleff said. He then addressed Jeffs directly, "If you think it's constitutional what you're doing, hey, come in and face justice."
Jeffs has not been seen in public for almost two years. His last reported sighting was in the town of Colorado City, Ariz., just before many of his followers moved to Eldorado, Texas, and began construction of several buildings, including multi-family housing. It was also at that time that Jeffs drove out several members of his group.

Posted by kshaw at July 14, 2005 02:22 AM