Polygamist Compound Update
Reporter Kris Gutierrez and I are outside the coliseum in San Angelo, Texas where most of the children from the YFZ Ranch are staying until a judge decides what happens next. The children were taken from a polygamist compound during a raid that began almost two weeks ago. During the raid, a total of 139 mothers agreed to leave with their children. Now many of them have returned to the ranch, after being asked to leave by Texas Family and Protective Services. Mothers with children four and under could stay—that’s a majority of the children. Mothers with kids over four were told they could go to a “safe place” but they couldn’t stay with their children. A rep for TX DFPS says the agency checked with lawyers and therapists and decided this was what was best, that victims of child abuse feel safer, more ready to talk, with parents not around.
Media reports suggest some of the mothers who left felt tricked into leaving. CPS says they were straightforward with everyone, and in any other case, a potential child abuse victim would have been taken from both parents right off the bat. But as this case is proving, it is anything but usual. That will continue Thursday with an adversarial hearing. CPS must prove to a judge why it should continue to keep custody of the children. Parents will have their first opportunity to try to get their children back. The sheer numbers will make this hearing unlike anything Texas has seen. Each of the 416 children gets his or her own attorney and attorneys for parents and the state will also be present. The hearing starts at 10am. It’s anyone’s guess as to when it will end. All day today, attorneys from around the state who have volunteered to represent a child have been filing in to the coliseum to meet one on one and talk with their young clients.
Maggie Lineback is a field producer in FNC’s Southwest Bureau. Based in
Dallas, she has been on a variety of stories, covering everything from
shuttle launches, to illegal immigration, to destructive hurricanes. 
As bad as we see the event surrounding the so called “Polygamist compound’, I believe the real danger is not in their way of life but the events of how we assume the crimes that are being committed. The “Janet Reno” aproach of our government and the high enfleunce of lawyers turned news people is leading our country into a continued loss of our civil rights. I see no concrete evidence of what is assumed or claimed. We have found no 16 year old abused; the claimed child molester wasn’t even near the compound nor did anyone there know him. The children were taken under false pretenses and the news see only the assumptions that are in their minds. Our government at work with the blessing of the vulture news media.
When will we just report the news as it happens and not make assumptions based on our own bias and bigotry. I do not condone the marriage of more than one wife and believe that anyone who commits a crime should pay the penalty. That goes for illegal aliens, corportate thieves, presidential candidates who support terrorism and the wealthy who seem to have the ability to buy their way out of any crime including murder. The “Polygimaist compound” seems pretty trivial in these days unless your looking only to create sensationalism from your program.
If you truly are fair and balanced, check out the method used for the authorities used to take these children from their families.
Thank you
Arlen
This whole scenario is astounding. I agree that these poor children are abused and will have a difficult time being brought into the mainstream. I question why there is not the same focus on the inner city youth who along with abuse, suffer poor nutrition, lack of education, no role models and a never ending reliance on government. Who is being more mistreated?
Th govenment has no case if marriage is not defined between a 1 man and 1 woman Any one can get maried to who ever, then they lost the case. as far as the child abuse case they might win if the court wants to define the seperation between state and religeous rights. i agree by our standards its wrong. but are you willing to give up your rights to teach your faith to your children as you see fit? somebody might think that your wrong and arrest you. where does it stop? dont judge others just because its not what you think is rite or wrong.
I don’t know what the legal age to marry is in Texas - but doesn’t the government have an obligation to say “here is a child, who can’t legally marry, who has a baby - therefore she has been the victim of statutory rape”. As we learned from the Jamie Lynn Spears episode, statutory rape in many states has more to do with the age difference, than the forcing of the younger half of the couple.
I don’t think anyone can say- if they find the 16 year old that started all of this or not - that a teenager with multiple children by an “older male” is not being abused.
You can’t marry in texas Under 16, Not even with parents permission.
It;s against the law to marry more than One Person in Texas and Most States.
Can you imagine how many Pedifiles run to join these cults, so they can Molest any female child at any age they want to , and get away with it?
Barlow is a Sex offender and is a member of this same cult in Arizona. Think he feels he hit the JackPot?
The Bible clearly says obey the laws of your land.What Bible do they go by?It is better to hang a millstone around your neck and sink than to harm or cause a child to sin!If the men truely thought it was ok they would be in the trial for their kids.It is our job to stick up for the ones who cant stand on their own. God Bless
As others have mentioned, look to the funding questions. It took alledgedly $22 million dollars to build El Dorado and that money came from the work the men of the FLDS sect performed in government awarded contracts. Look to the money flow… there is a fair amount of money for attorneys and some will look rightfully so, to state and federal government contract offices. No one could sign a contract with FLDS officials, and not know that their organization practices illegal behavior that disenfranchises women and children. Blind eye practices….this will open up some very uncomfortable issues before it’s all over.
My solution:
Let the women and children return to the compound, where they will receive protection and supplies from the government. Round up all the boys 5+ years old and send them to be rehabilitated from the brainwashing this cult has performed on them. Round up all the men and put them on a deserted island somewhere in the Pacific because most, if not all, are pedophiles guilty of statuatory rape, destroying the lives of many young girls. The fact that these “men” think they have the right to physically, emotionally, and sexually abuse a woman and/or a child really burns me up. The god they worship is certainly not the God I know. The God I know would never, never approve of this sick way of life.
My solution:
1) Prosecute the pedophiles.
2) Sieze the assets of the FLDS.
3) Return all funds wasted on the members of this cult by the goverment, to the goverment.
4) Find permanent homes for all of the children.
5) Take all of the homeless in Texas that can work to the ranch and give them a new home.
6) Make the convicted pedophiles care for the homeless now living on the ranch instead of jail time.
7) Convert the rest of the ranch to a bio fuel refinery and make gasoline from the crops.