Now Texas is afraid of the Big Bad FLDS Wolf

Ok, the "broken bones" story did not work, the "sexual abuse of male children" did not work, and when the state is losing, generally, they spread....rumors. The FLDS is a mafia type organization with heavies. Well, Willie Jessop does look a little chunky to me. The Deseret News.

"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."

Now we really are reaching. Why would "enforcers" have to intimidate witnesses. It's not like a crime has been discovered and needs to be covered up. Texas has not yet been able, after TWO MONTHS, to NAME a CRIME. They've had unprecedented access to YFZ evidence and records but they have no idea what the evidence indicates because they don't know of A CRIME.

If the FLDS had enforcers, they'd be just as challenged to intimidate witnesses because they have no idea WHO to intimidate. You can no more coach testimony or intimidate a witness or come up with reasonable alternatives to the state's version of events when you don't know what the state is planning to charge. There are no witnesses, there are no victims, there is no crime.

Frankly if I wanted to construe some of the remarks I've been getting in emails the way Texas does, I'd need protection too.

Here's the list of FLDS enforcers from the Deseret News. So far I know of none of them breaking into homes or churches or wielding guns. Honestly, they're winning, and winning BIG, why would they mess things up now?

William Roy Jessop
• AKA "Willie the Thug" or "King Willie"
• The most serious threat affiliated with the FLDS religion.
• Reportedly has a passion for violence, weapons (legal and illegal) and explosives.
• Accused of intimidating witnesses at Warren Jeffs' trial in 2007.
• "If anything remotely resembling violence or intimidation occurs, you can be fairly certain that William had a hand in it."
• Has acted as a spokesman for the FLDS Church after the raid on the YFZ Ranch.
• Lives in Hildale, Utah.

Ruth Cooke
• A "wild card" who is "blindly devoted to Warren and the FLDS religion."
• "We reviewed countless letters she had sent to Warren that confirmed her unstable behavior, as she talked of disturbing visions she had received and breaking down the prison walls in the name of the prophet."
• "She is just the kind of person who may be capable of doing something crazy, but justified in her head."

Lindsay Hammon Barlow
• Several witnesses describe him as Warren Jeffs' "muscle."
• Barlow was "clearly in charge of the group's security."
• During Warren Jeffs' trial, Barlow "attempted to seat individuals who could intimidate the witnesses in their direct line of sight."
• Lives in Hildale, Utah.

William E. Jessop
• "Respected as a bishop in the FLDS religion."
• "He is a very powerful man in the community, but I have never received any information that would indicate that he is involved in anything of a violent nature."
• "Could be involved in the decision-making processes due to his position of power."
• Lives in Hildale, Utah.

Lyle Steed Jeffs
• Brother to FLDS leader Warren Jeffs.
• Acted as wedding security during illegal marriages conducted in Nevada.
• "Minimal information to suggest that Lyle would be considered a threat to commit acts of violence or witness intimidation."

David S. Allred
• Involved in the financial areas of the FLDS Church.
• "Fairly high in the FLDS pecking order."
• "I do not have any specific information that would label David as a threat, nor do I have any that would discount him as a threat."

Nephi Steed Jeffs
• Brother and personal assistant to FLDS leader Warren Jeffs.
• "To the best of my knowledge, he is not involved in any FLDS security and has no known history of violence or intimidation."

Wendell Loy Nielson
• One of the presiding elders in the FLDS religion.
• "He is not likely at this time to be involved directly in any acts of violence or intimidation, but may still be involved in their development, planning and approval stages."

Rodney Hans Holm
• Convicted of unlawful sex with a minor in Utah in 2006
• "Known to have significant disdain for law enforcement."
• "Rodney also was under the close watch of our court security staff during the trial, as he appeared at times to be attempting to intimidate witnesses from his seat."

Rulon Daniel Barlow
• "Rulon seemed to be extremely focused on the routines of our court staff and repeatedly seemed to be staring down the prosecuting attorneys and their witnesses."

Dee Yeates Jessop
• "Appears to be another intimidating enforcer for the FLDS religion."
• Was more interested in intimidating witnesses with "menacing" stares during Warren Jeffs' trial than the trial itself.
• "He has been described as a fanatic, who is blindly devoted to Warren Jeffs."

Samuel Rapylee Bateman
• "Showed an unnatural interest in the security procedures and routines of our staff during the trial."

Donovan J. Stubbs
• "Seemed to be taking mental notes of the security staff present."
• "Donovan carried himself well and seemed to be respected by the other members of the FLDS group. When he spoke, others listened."

Guy Curtis Bauer
• "Seemed to "make it a point to be noticed by the prosecution's victim and witnesses whenever possible."
• "Seemed to be there for the purpose of intimidation.

Guy E. Nielson
• "Appeared to make several discreet attempts at intimidating the victim and members of her (Alissa Wall's) family."

Nathan Mead Jessop
• "Multiple witnesses confirm Nathan Jessop is a member of the FLDS security team."
• One of three men who came to a woman's home and informed her she was no longer a worthy member of the community, a task generally reserved for Warren Jeffs' security staff.

This list is about as lame as the one Billy Crystal gives in "Analyze This."

Sphere: Related Content