BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, personally appeared Ruby Gutierrez who was sworn by me and deposed as follows:
"My name is Ruby Gutierrez, I am of sound mind, over the age of 18, and capable of making this Affidavit.
I am a caseworker for the Department of Family and Protective Services (the "Department"), and I am authorized on behalf of the department to make this Affidavit. I have reviewed the Department's Petition for Order in Aid of Investigation of a Report of Child Abuse or Neglect, and the facts stated in the Petition and in this Affidavit are within my personal knowledge and are true and correct."
1.) Facts Necessitating Need Of Investigation Of A Report Of Child Abuse Or Neglect.
On March 29, 2008, the Department received an intake report at 11:32 p.m. According to the intake, Sarah Jessop a/k/a Sarah Jessop Barlow ("Sarah Jessop"), a 16 year old female, and her 8 month old infant (name unknown) were living with a 49 year old male, Dale Evans Barlow ("Dale Barlow"), and 12 other adult females at a housing facility located on the YFZ Ranch located near Eldorado, Schleicher County, Texas, which ranch is owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and which is inhabited by a number of members of that church.
Sarah Jessop had called a local family violence shelter several times that day expressing the need to leave her current living situation. Sarah Jessop reported that she was brought to the YFZ Ranch by her parents from Colorado City, Arizona, about three years ago, when she would have been 13 years old. She stated that about two years after her arrival on the YFZ Ranch (or about one year prior to the date of this report), which would have been when she was 15 years old; she was spiritually married to Dale Barlow according to the tenets of the church. Sarah Jessop indicated that Dale Barlow was also married to several other women and that she was wife number seven.
Sarah Jessop stated that she began to be abused shortly after she started living at the YFZ Ranch. She advised that Dale Barlow would "beat and hurt" her whenever he got angry. According to Sarah Jessop, this would include Dale Barlow hitting her in the chest and choking her and that while such abuse was occuring one of the other women in the home would hold her eight month old child. Sarah Jessop reported that the last time Dale Barlow beat her was on Easter Sunday 2008. Sarah Jessop advised that, on a previous occasion, Dael Barlow had beaten her so severely that it result in her having several broken ribs, for which she was taken to the hospital. The doctor wrapped her torso in an ace bandage and told her to "take it easy for a few days." Sarah Jessop also indicated that Dale Barlow would hurt her explaining that he would force himself on her sexually. She also indicated that she was several weeks pregnant.
Sarah Jessop stated that she was not allowed to leave the YFZ Ranch, unless it was to receive medical care, in which case Dale Barlow would drive her and one of the other women from the YFZ Ranch would go into the hospital with her. She indicated that she had tried to devise a plan to escape from the YFZ Ranch, by pretending to be ill and needing to receive medical care, but determined this would not work since she would not be allowed to take her eight month old child with her unless the child was also sick.
Sarah Jessop indicated during the conversations that she was calling using someone else's cell phone and she was reported to be very very quiet throughout the conversations for fear that she would be overheard and would get in trouble. Sarah Jessop stated that her parents do not live on the YFZ Ranch and that she has not had any contact with them to explain that she does not want to continue to be on the ranch.
Subsequently, on March 30, 2008, Sarah Jessop again contacted staff at a local family shelter. During thsi conversation, Sarah Jessop again stated that she and Dale Barlow had been married in a spiritual union through the church, but there was no formal marriage, and that Dale Barlow had three other "wives" living on the YFZ Ranch. Sarah Jessop reported that Dale Barlow had previously went away fora while to the "outsiders world", but she said she did not know why he went away.
The Department, as part of its investigation, subsequently determined that Dale Barlow was indicted in Mohave County, Arizona, on criminal charges of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor in connection with a purported marriage to a minor in Arizona, with whom he conceived a child. Dale Barlow pled no contest in August of 2007 to the conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor and he was convicted of that offense. As part of the plea agreement, the sexual conduct with a minor charge was dismissed. Dale Barlow was sentenced to 45 days in jail and required to serve three years probation. He is also required to register as a sex offender until he successfully completes his probation.
During the March 30, 2008 conversation, Sarah Jessop indicated that she was being held against her will at the YFZ Ranch and church members have told her that if she tries to leave, she will be found and locked up. Sarah Jessop also expressed during this conversation concerns about what would happen to her if she were to leave the YFZ Ranch. She reported tha church members have told her if she leaves the ranch, outsiders will hurt her, force her to cut her hair, to wear make up and clothes and to have sex with lots of men. Sarah Jessop also indicated that her parents, who had returned to live in Colorado City, Arizona, were preparing to send her 15 year old sister to live at the YFZ Ranch. At the conclusion of this conversation, Sarah Jessop began crying and then stated that she is happy and fine and does not want to get into trouble and that everything she had previously said should be forgotten.
3. Additional Facts Necessitating Need Of Investigation Of A Report of Child Abuse Or Neglect.
The Department, during its investigation of the allegations made by Sarah Barlow, obtained access to the YFZ Ranch. While at the ranch, the Department observed a number of young teenaged girls who appeared to be pregnant, as well as several teenaged girls who reported to the Department that they have already given birth and have their own infants. It appears that the culture and moral climate at the ranch is one in which young girls are conditioned to expect and accept sexual activity with adult men at the ranch.
The Department has also been advised that children at the ranch are deprived of nutrition as a method of punishment, as well as being forced to sit in closed closets as a method of punishment. A number of the children interviewed were unable to provide the names of their biological parents and were unable to provide information such as their birthdates or birthplaces. The Department is concerned about the possibility that some of these children have been denied a proper education.
Ruby Ruby Gutierrez
DFPS Caseworker
1.) Facts Necessitating Need Of Investigation Of A Report Of Child Abuse Or Neglect.
On March 29, 2008, the Department received an intake report at 11:32 p.m. According to the intake, Sarah Jessop a/k/a Sarah Jessop Barlow ("Sarah Jessop"), a 16 year old female, and her 8 month old infant (name unknown) were living with a 49 year old male, Dale Evans Barlow ("Dale Barlow"), and 12 other adult females at a housing facility located on the YFZ Ranch located near Eldorado, Schleicher County, Texas, which ranch is owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and which is inhabited by a number of members of that church.
Sarah Jessop had called a local family violence shelter several times that day expressing the need to leave her current living situation. Sarah Jessop reported that she was brought to the YFZ Ranch by her parents from Colorado City, Arizona, about three years ago, when she would have been 13 years old. She stated that about two years after her arrival on the YFZ Ranch (or about one year prior to the date of this report), which would have been when she was 15 years old; she was spiritually married to Dale Barlow according to the tenets of the church. Sarah Jessop indicated that Dale Barlow was also married to several other women and that she was wife number seven.
Sarah Jessop stated that she began to be abused shortly after she started living at the YFZ Ranch. She advised that Dale Barlow would "beat and hurt" her whenever he got angry. According to Sarah Jessop, this would include Dale Barlow hitting her in the chest and choking her and that while such abuse was occuring one of the other women in the home would hold her eight month old child. Sarah Jessop reported that the last time Dale Barlow beat her was on Easter Sunday 2008. Sarah Jessop advised that, on a previous occasion, Dael Barlow had beaten her so severely that it result in her having several broken ribs, for which she was taken to the hospital. The doctor wrapped her torso in an ace bandage and told her to "take it easy for a few days." Sarah Jessop also indicated that Dale Barlow would hurt her explaining that he would force himself on her sexually. She also indicated that she was several weeks pregnant.
Sarah Jessop stated that she was not allowed to leave the YFZ Ranch, unless it was to receive medical care, in which case Dale Barlow would drive her and one of the other women from the YFZ Ranch would go into the hospital with her. She indicated that she had tried to devise a plan to escape from the YFZ Ranch, by pretending to be ill and needing to receive medical care, but determined this would not work since she would not be allowed to take her eight month old child with her unless the child was also sick.
Sarah Jessop indicated during the conversations that she was calling using someone else's cell phone and she was reported to be very very quiet throughout the conversations for fear that she would be overheard and would get in trouble. Sarah Jessop stated that her parents do not live on the YFZ Ranch and that she has not had any contact with them to explain that she does not want to continue to be on the ranch.
Subsequently, on March 30, 2008, Sarah Jessop again contacted staff at a local family shelter. During thsi conversation, Sarah Jessop again stated that she and Dale Barlow had been married in a spiritual union through the church, but there was no formal marriage, and that Dale Barlow had three other "wives" living on the YFZ Ranch. Sarah Jessop reported that Dale Barlow had previously went away fora while to the "outsiders world", but she said she did not know why he went away.
The Department, as part of its investigation, subsequently determined that Dale Barlow was indicted in Mohave County, Arizona, on criminal charges of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor in connection with a purported marriage to a minor in Arizona, with whom he conceived a child. Dale Barlow pled no contest in August of 2007 to the conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor and he was convicted of that offense. As part of the plea agreement, the sexual conduct with a minor charge was dismissed. Dale Barlow was sentenced to 45 days in jail and required to serve three years probation. He is also required to register as a sex offender until he successfully completes his probation.
During the March 30, 2008 conversation, Sarah Jessop indicated that she was being held against her will at the YFZ Ranch and church members have told her that if she tries to leave, she will be found and locked up. Sarah Jessop also expressed during this conversation concerns about what would happen to her if she were to leave the YFZ Ranch. She reported tha church members have told her if she leaves the ranch, outsiders will hurt her, force her to cut her hair, to wear make up and clothes and to have sex with lots of men. Sarah Jessop also indicated that her parents, who had returned to live in Colorado City, Arizona, were preparing to send her 15 year old sister to live at the YFZ Ranch. At the conclusion of this conversation, Sarah Jessop began crying and then stated that she is happy and fine and does not want to get into trouble and that everything she had previously said should be forgotten.
3. Additional Facts Necessitating Need Of Investigation Of A Report of Child Abuse Or Neglect.
The Department, during its investigation of the allegations made by Sarah Barlow, obtained access to the YFZ Ranch. While at the ranch, the Department observed a number of young teenaged girls who appeared to be pregnant, as well as several teenaged girls who reported to the Department that they have already given birth and have their own infants. It appears that the culture and moral climate at the ranch is one in which young girls are conditioned to expect and accept sexual activity with adult men at the ranch.
The Department has also been advised that children at the ranch are deprived of nutrition as a method of punishment, as well as being forced to sit in closed closets as a method of punishment. A number of the children interviewed were unable to provide the names of their biological parents and were unable to provide information such as their birthdates or birthplaces. The Department is concerned about the possibility that some of these children have been denied a proper education.
Ruby Ruby Gutierrez
DFPS Caseworker
Sphere: Related Content
2 comments:
In other words, I walk into a small village. See some young pregnant girls. Hear some rumors. Disapprove of the culture. Tell this to my favorite judge, and get a warrant to raid the village and take all their kids.
Disgusting.
Is this the affidavit that was attached to the "Order For Investigation of Child Abuse" signed by Judge Walther on 04/03/08?
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