Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me?

Things are really bad, when you think 17 years in jail, is good.

From the San Angelo Standard-Times:

"(Eric) Nichols said Schleicher County has done its duty in presiding over three trials.

'The trials have been a tremendous burden on this county,' Nichols said.

FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop said Nichols was sore because he didn’t get 'as stiff a sentence' as he wanted, compared with the 75-year and $10,000 fine sentence an FLDS member received for the same charge out of Tom Green County.

'I think it was easily exploited in Tom Green County,' Jessop said, claiming that the FLDS presence was sensationalized.

Floyd West, a rancher in Schleicher County who has attended every day of court, said he is a neighbor to the YFZ Ranch and is disappointed with the sentence.

'I felt it was a slap on the wrist,' West said. 'I felt like he should have gotten a lot more.' "

Oh, you mean like the deferred probation your state gives out to teachers that jump little boys Floyd?

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Verdict Soon on Abram Harker Jeffs? Yes, after a short Deliberation.

Typically, it didn't take long, and he's been convicted of Bigamy I hear.

The Defense was spirited by comparison to previous trials, but not enough. I believe the FLDS needs to be pushing the concept publicly of Jury Nullification, but they're not. In addition, the short defense presentations amount to an admission of guilt in terms of perception. Here's last night's San Angelo Standard-Times article:

" 'You’ve heard all the evidence you’re going to hear' for the guilt or innocence phase of the trial, 51st District Judge Barbara Walther told jurors before dismissing them for Monday evening.

Jurors looked at documents sacred to the FLDS throughout Monday afternoon as the prosecution tried to place Jeffs and the alleged victim at the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Schleicher County at the time of the alleged offense.

The alleged assault of the 15-year-old girl when he was 34 allegedly occurred around May 12, 2006.

'I think this is the first time the jury has laid eyes on a priesthood record,' lead Prosecutor Eric Nichols told Texas Ranger Danny Crawford while Crawford was on the stand testifying to what each document was and what it said as the redacted documents were projected onto a screen for the jury."

Actually, copies of the Priesthood Records got out, and Eric knows that. Perhaps presenting them here is now a way to say that people have them now, because he used them in Trial. Right Eric.

To his credit, Brandon Hudson took a few jabs at the evidence in trial, and the fact that some witnesses are being paid. We can be sure we don't know the full extent of the payment issues between Texas and it's various "experts."

Sentencing is next. I imagine that will not take long either. The Bigamy conviction provides a platform for appeal of the length Abram's sentence, if it long, like the others. There will be appeals on the bigamy convictions on their constitutionality. Perhaps after sentences are adjusted, the convictions will be overturned just in time for a "timely" parole based on the average sentence of other "First Time" offenders.

My current thought is that after the heat dies down and FLDS men have spent some time in jail, there will eventually be a reversal of the evidence inclusion. My hope is that it's sooner than that.

Willie Jessop weights in today's edition of the Times:

"FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop said afterward he believed the state at last publicly has made the case a religious matter.

'For the first time, they’ve admitted it’s about religion,' Jessop said.

Jessop also stressed deprivation of rights, in the raid and in the trial, as an issue of prime concern.

'Disregard your first, fourth, fifth and sixth amendment rights, and anyone is in danger,' Jessop said. 'We need to have judicial notice of what’s happening.' "

This case, if not reversed, as I have stated for over two years, is a danger to us all. The only victims at YFZ in the eyes of the law are technically victims, there was and still is no "outcry," there are no defections from "Stockholm Syndrome" sufferers suddenly "waking up." The supposed "Victims" are now all adults. Those underage "supposed" victims whose "assailants" have not yet been convicted will be adults soon. I think there's only one anyway, and it may be proved she was not a victim.

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Merril Jessop moves for Mistrial - UPDATED

It won't work. (UPDATE, it didn't.) Not because it shouldn't work, but because it's Barbara Walther on the bench.

This is part of the basic plea of the prosecution that the FLDS is a dangerous murderous entity and we are dealing with "King Willie, the Thug."

The San Angelo Standard-Times - "Willie Jessop, the sole representative of Merril Leroy Jessop’s family and church, was denied entry to a crowded courtroom (yesterday).

Willie Jessop said the motion, although prepared and signed Monday, was submitted (today)."

No it won't work now, but this continues to be the sort of foundation you build for an appeal. It sounds as if the FLDS was ready for this prosecution piece of theater that is purely designed to make various FLDS men "boogie men" and therefore increase chances of conviction.

Apparently in ruling on the motion (which she denied), our lovable warm fuzzy "Thug" got a word in edgewise:

"(Eric) Nichols, arguing against the motion, put Willie Jessop on the witness stand and made the case that Willie Jessop hadn’t made an attempt to enter after the general questioning of potential jurors.

'At what point would it have been appropriate to enter again?' Willie Jessop shot at Nichols.

Walther intervened, telling Willie Jessop — who she said may not be fully aware of the court’s procedures — that the witness is not allowed to ask questions."

Raymond Jessop (as is being reported elsewhere) has already filed for appeal, but your Modern Pharisee told you it was done, when it was done (January 28th, 2010).

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John T. Floyd weighs in on the Motion to Suppress, and just about the whole case.

I really don't know where to begin. The article does not deserve comment, it deserves to be read. Here's just a tiny taste:

"Factual misrepresentations and misinformation are the thread that now bounds the FLDS case."

John ranges through the whole case in summary form and touches on the entire injustice of it, in all areas including the appearance of the FLDS before the Texas legislature. He hits on the cost, the comparative statistical frequency of child abuse and the duplicity of Ranger Brooks Long. Just go read it.

By the way, now that the arguments are in, and a Criminal Attorney has weighed in on the topic, I call all the "ANTI FLDS" bloggers who imply or claim they are legal eagles and lawyers and experts to be refuted. Simply put, until they tell us who they are, they're just loud cowards.

I no longer recognize "TxBluesMan" or "FLDSTexas" or "Ron in Houston" as having any standing or any valid opinion. John T. Floyd is a criminal law attorney, he's made this judgment armed with all the facts available on the record. He's qualified. I'll listen to qualified opinions thank you.

Own up, or go home, trolls.

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That's gonna leave a mark, Bill Medvecky Scoops 'em again.

Merrianne Jessop is going home leaving foster care going to be with family. Bill is right again.

The Salt Lake Tribune - "Texas Judge Barbara Walther approved a plan that allows the 14-year-old girl to live with Naomi Carlisle, an FLDS member and a distant relative who moved to San Antonio from Utah last year to help families affected by the raid.

'We're absolutely elated, and we feel like this has been an answer to prayers,' said Willie Jessop, a spokesman for the polygamous sect."

Losers.

"The Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, opposed the relative placement and asked Walther to keep the girl in foster care.

"Our largest concern was [Carlisle] has a 15- and a 17-year -old son in Utah and she has left them there and come out here to raise someone else's daughter," said Debra Brown, executive director. "CASA thought that was a little weird. And it just felt like with the track record and problems we've had on visitation we would have felt she was safer in foster care."

A CASA volunteer had been visiting with the girl about once a month but Walther asked them to meet with her more regularly, Brown said."

Balderdash.

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No one reports Drew Darby's threat.

During the hearing yesterday, Rep. Drew Darby (San Angelo) "got tired" of hearing Willie Jessop characterize the San Angelo Colosseum as a "Hay Barn/Stable." Willie apologized and stated that he really meant Fort Concho. Be that as it may, Drew Darby's threat, that elicited Willie's apology was that he and Willie would "Come to Blows" if Willie kept saying that.

Ok, it's all a little jostling by a couple of big country boys, right? Not really. I had a couple of email exchanges by email with one of those few people who is fair enough to act as a lens to both sides of the issue and ended up saying this:

"But (Drew) did mean something by it. It was a dominance gesture, and a successful one. He said 'I can threaten you with violence allegorically and get away with it.' If Willie had said the same thing in the same tone, he would have been arrested. It's like one dog walking up and peeing on the other dog. All Willie can do is lie down and whimper, because if he doesn't, they'll literally tear him apart."

And the effect indeed was immediate, because Willie went right to an apology. Again, going back to the dog illustration, I'm sure you've seen one growl and the other roll over and expose themselves in a gesture of submission and this in fact is precisely what happened.

I'm not impugning Willie's manliness or courage by observing this. I am pointing out that this was a form of public abuse that Willie had little choice but to accept if he wanted to remain a free man. Drew Darby knows this, he's both a lawyer, and a politician. In the WHOLE WORLD of media with access to the event, only your Modern Pharisee reported on this aspect of the hearings. I know of no other video or story reflecting this shameless exercise of pure power.

This should make you think about EVERY aspect of packaged news that you hear or read. It's not what your reporter tells you, it's just as much what they won't tell you.

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UPDATED Willie is testifying. Physically THREATENED by Texas representative.

It is getting ugly, one representative (Hildebran, I think) Drew Darby suggested they would "Come to blows." Willie has made the interesting assertion that he has doubtless researched, that the youngest age allowable for marriage with judicial consent in Texas is THREE. The next witness, Judge Scott McCowan confirmed this is so. That seemed to shut things down, as no one on the panel knew that. The chairman is apparently declaring that he doesn't believe that Willie doesn't know certain facts, but they're asking him for hearsay. They have decided to swear Willie in. Willie is being confronted with the well known pictures of Warren Jeffs with Merrianne Jessop. Here's the link.

Texas. Stream 7. Willie was asked if he knows of underage marriage and he said he doesn't live there.

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Texas is the Nascent Dictatorship, learning to walk.

Grits for Breakfast has an excellent post. We are on the verge of utter chattel slavery that I don't think even Scott sees. The solution to the abuses of CPS, as proposed by Harvey Hildebran, is simply to make the abuses of CPS, not abuses. I told you, you must be a friend of the FLDS in this matter, because to oppose them establishes a precedent that you cannot live with as parents.

"The bill also eliminates a requirement that CPS - when seizing children without a court order - make 'reasonable efforts ... with respect to preventing or eliminating the need to remove a child from the child's home or to make it possible to return a child to the child's home.' Under Hildebran's proposed language, 'the court may find that based on the circumstances no reasonable efforts would prevent or eliminate the need to remove a child and that the department satisfied the requirements ... even though the department made no efforts to prevent or eliminate the need to remove a child.' That essentially guts the requirement that CPS make a good faith effort to keep families together."

This is a stunning display of legislative arrogance and budding totalitarianism. If they can take your child, and keep your child on a rumor, they own you. Outright. You are no more than slaves.

It's not right for me to analyze the entire article. I will stop at this quote and the above observation. Go read the rest.

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Texas-FLDS legislative hearing set for next week.

April the 14th, that's Tuesday.

The Deseret News:

"The Texas State Legislature's Human Services Committee will hear testimony on the state's response to allegations of abuse at the YFZ Ranch, setting the stage for a highly anticipated inquiry into how the custody case involving the Utah-based polygamous sect was handled.

'We will be there,' FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop said of the hearing."

If I were the FLDS I'd take pictures of everyone there. One is bound to be a secret enemy. Find out who they are.

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Fisking Fabulous Teresa Steed's Latest Escapade

(Fisk?) Regardless of what you may think of the FLDS, you can't call the women or girls immature or childish. This is first rate bait and switch.

The Dallas Morning News/AP - "Texas child welfare authorities have asked a judge to order (17 year old Teresa Steed) to submit to a psychological evaluation after she showed up to an appointment for genetic testing with someone else's baby."

What, did they want to know how she could be such a formidable opponent at such a young age? First she stonewalled them back in November, now they can't seem to find out which baby she brought with her, until they DNA test the child, and find out, they've been fooled again.

"(Teresa) had previously refused to disclose the whereabouts of the infant born in June, when she was 16 and shortly after she and the other 437 children taken from the Yearning For Zion Ranch in Eldorado were returned to their parents from foster care."

Aw, did a hopeless mind controlled 16 year old blow you off? Too smart for you?

"(Teresa) teen produced a baby purported to be her biological child for genetic testing in January, but tests revealed she is not the infant's biological mother, said Child Protective Services attorney John Dolezal in a court filing on Thursday."

I think what this means is that back when we thought she had caved to pressure, Teresa not only fooled them, she fooled us all. I seriously like this woman (Yes, a 17 year old CAN be a woman). Dang, why does she have to be married already? I was so disappointed, now I'm so pumped she pulled the wool over my eyes, and theirs too.

"State officials believe (Teresa Steed) was married to a man in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when she was 14. In Texas, someone younger than 17 generally cannot consent to sex with an adult, and The Associated Press is withholding her name because it generally does not name possible victims of sex crimes."

That's ok, I'm not. She'll be 18 in 6 months anyway.

" 'It appears that (the girl) has been separated from her child,' (CPS lead attorney d'jour John R.) Dolezal said in the filing."

It appears that you have no idea who the child is, where the child is, and Teresa has been pulling of a job of acting that makes her the overlooked real winner of the Oscar for Best Actress this year.

"The agency is also concerned the girl is 'being improperly influenced, against her best interest, into making choices to not produce her child and to produce another individual's child,' he wrote."

No, this is an intelligent adult in all ways except age alone. She's protecting her child cunningly from people she doesn't trust who have lied to her family. She's doing it for good reason. She knows that if she can pull it off for another 6 months, she can tell CPS to take a hike. She doesn't believe the state when they say they aren't trying to get custody of her child and she figures that if they don't see see the child before she turns 18, she'll have a lot better chance. Hows that for a rational reason? A mom thinks enhancing her baby's chances to remain with her mother, is a good thing and acts to preserve that.

"CPS officials have said they want to ensure the infant is safe and are not seeking custody."

Yeah. Right. Sure. Mom knows that the infant is safe and that CPS can't seek custody if they can't find the child.

"The girl's attorney, Kelly Ellis, is on maternity leave and couldn't immediately be reached for comment on Monday."

What's this? Did they try to get at Teresa Steed while her lawyer was otherwise occupied? That's what it looks like to me.

Willie Jessop weighed in on the fascinating situation;

"The department has reaffirmed that they're not trustworthy. She was concerned that they would take the baby."

Jessop said.

"A hearing in the teen's case is scheduled for Friday."

Oh, I think this is shaping up to be a fun week.

"Her case is one of just two remaining cases in what was initially one of the largest custody cases in U.S. history."

And now we have the first official PRESS acknowledgment that I know of, that Bill Medvecky told us the truth back on February 17th. There are only two children left. Merrianne Jessop, and Teresa Steed's child. This has become though, the proverbial riddle, wrapped up in an enigma. The problem is it all might be wrapped up in a misdirection and layered under a mystery. No one including me knows what's up, except those at the heart of the matter. Teresa intends to keep her child away from CPS, and I don't blame her at all.

If I got any of this wrong, I hope I got someone at CPS to believe me. It doesn't look like that because of the way the San Angelo Standard-Times is reporting the story.

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And then there were three.....and one of them is not Teresa Jeffs

Trying to see a plan in what Texas does (other than the making of splashy headlines) would drive anyone mad. After all that posturing and pleading the 5th in a deposition over Teresa Jeffs, Texas "nonsuits" Teresa Jeffs. My brain is breaking.

The Deseret News - "One of the most hotly fought custody cases is closer to ending. In a filing in a San Angelo, Texas, court on Monday, Texas Child Protective Services asked a judge to 'nonsuit' 17-year-old Teresa Jeffs, the daughter of FLDS leader Warren Jeffs."

To be honest, I don't honestly know what is going on. Did Malonis mess up that bad? Was this the plan all along? Is this an attempt to divert attention from something else we should be paying attention to? Does your chewing gum lose it's flavor on the bed post every night? Is there actually a method to the madness? Because wait, there's more.

"A CPS spokesman declined to speak about the dismissal, saying the agency does not talk about specific cases. Jeffs' court-appointed attorney, Natalie Malonis, said the case was not over, however."

Has some sort of strange curse been placed on our Wacky Natalie, where all she can say is "it's not over?"

"Malonis said she was served Monday with a new filing by Jeffs' mother, Annette, seeking to replace Malonis and accusing her of not doing what is in Teresa Jeffs' best interest."

Dare I say it? It looks as if Barbara Walther is hanging Natalie out to dry because this action looks coordinated. Perhaps someone with considerable legal acumen cleared their throats in Barbara's chambers Friday. Maybe the case is collapsing. I truly do not know but there are few formulations that make this look good for Texas. There are few formulations that make Ms. Malonis look sane. If I didn't think I knew them better, I'd say I heard the Ship of Fools that is Texas breaking up below decks. I feel a final plunge coming on.

Who's left now? Merrianne Jessop? Teresa Steed? Teresa Steed's Child? This shouldn't be that hard to find out. Maybe they'll nonsuit two more and we'll know it's just Merrianne Jessop.

It really looks like Barbara Walther had no idea that Natalie was that "out there" and is cutting her losses.

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Natalie Malonis as Circus Clown, the Truth IS stranger than fiction.

Satire can never live up to real life. Willie Jessop, under oath: "Ma'am, if anybody needs meds, it's you."

When asked by Natalie Malonis if he was on meds (which she wasted an incredible amount of time on), Willie says no, but can you blame him if he wants to know if she is? I'm just going to post the transcript found at the San Angelo Standard-Times. I seriously had to verify this before posting it. I thought it was a joke when I first read it. Satire.

An excerpt from the Monday deposition of FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop by attorney Natalie Malonis.

Jessop is represented by Houston attorney Kent Schaffer. Malonis confirmed the details of this conversation, taken from a rough draft of the transcript obtained by the Standard-Times.

Natalie Malonis: OK. Do you recognize the woman in the blue dress at this table?

Kent Schaffer: I will confer with my client regarding (whether) he should exercise his privilege in regard to that question.

(Discussion off the record.)

[...]

Willie Jessop: Yes, I do.

NM: OK. And how do you recognize her?

WJ: By her blue dress.

NM: How is it that your recognize her? Where do you know her from? Or is it your testimony that you recognize the blue dress?

WJ: What was your question, ma'am?

NM: How do you recognize the woman in the blue dress?

WJ: Same way I would recognize anyone.

[...]

NM: Can you answer the question, please?

WJ: I recognize the individual.

NM: Objection: nonresponsive. Are you refusing to answer the question?

WJ: I answered your question.

NM: OK. How do you know the woman in the blue dress?

WJ: The question is vague. I don't know what individual you're looking at. I recognize you in a black dress. I recognize -

[...]

NM: The woman in the blue dress - there is only one woman in a blue dress at this table - how do you know her?

WJ: Are you asking if I know her name or what?

NM: Objection: nonresponsive. Can you answer the question, please?

WJ: I asked for clarification.

NM: Mr. Jessop, how do you know the woman in the blue dress? There is no way to clarify that question. It's clear.

WJ: You asking if I know her name?

NM: Objection: nonresponsive. Are you refusing to answer the question?

WJ: No.

NM: Then?

WJ: I've answered your question. You won't give me clarification.

[...]

NM: Objection: nonresponsive. Mr. Jessop, do you have a problem understanding conversant English?

WJ: Well, maybe you could give me some clarification. How do you know Mr. Schaffer?

NM: Objection: nonresponsive. Mr. Jessop, are you impaired mentally in any way today?

KS: I'm going to object to harassment of the witness.

NM: Can you answer the question? I can clarify that further. Have you taken any medications today?

WJ. No, I haven't taken medications.

NM: Okay. Is there a reason there was such a long pause to answer that question?

WJ: Just because of the harassment fact from yourself.

NM: Objection: nonresponsive. Did you have trouble recalling whether or not you took medication today?

WJ. Ma'am, if anybody needs meds, it's you.

[...]

NM: OK. Have you had any other mind-altering substances either ingested or imbibed in any way that would affect your cognitive abilities?

WJ: This is harassment.

KS: Answer the question.

WJ: No, I'm not on any meds.

NM: OK. Do you have a problem with your memory?

WJ: Just harassment.

KS: Just answer the question.

WJ: No, I don't.

NM: OK. I'm going to ask you again: How do you know the woman in the blue dress?

WJ: Are you asking her name? What are you wanting to know about her? I recognize her because of the person, (the) same way I would recognize you.

NM: Objection: nonresponsive. OK. I'm going to take the nonresponsiveness as a refusal to answer and ask another question.

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Malonis elbows her way back into FLDS spotlight.

What do you do, if you're Barbara Walther's puppet Natalie Malonis and your client is about to "age out?"

Schedule a Deposition while you can still pretend you're acting in your client's interest!

The San Angelo Standard-Times - Lawyer Natalie Malonis, the lightning-rod attorney for imprisoned sect leader Warren Jeffs' now-17-year-old daughter, has subpoenaed:

* Merril Jessop, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints elder believed to have run the ranch since Jeffs was imprisoned

* Willie Jessop, a sect member who has served as its spokesman since a state raid in April

The depositions - scheduled for Friday and Monday - were confirmed by the Tom Green County District Clerk's Office. Copies of the subpoenas and subsequent motions to quash them, rejected Wednesday by 51st District Judge Barbara Walther, were not immediately available."

Never mind that Teresa Jeffs is almost 18. Certainly it wouldn't be revenge for deposing Texas Law Enforcement figures and Walther Buddies David Doran, John Connor, and Brooks Long. Nah. Get them on record and ask 'em questions while you still have the legal authority to depose them.

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Willie Rousted Again

(Photo by Leah Hogsten/ The Salt Lake Tribune)

Either he's becoming genuinely amused or a little cranky

about it. His myth precedes him I guess. He does have that Darth Willie thing goin' on with all that black.

The Salt Lake Tribune - "(Willie) Jessop and two companions were stopped at noon and allowed to enter the country at about 4:15 p.m. MDT. During the wait, Canada Border Service Agency officials searched their laptops and a camera. They earlier had searched the men's Lincoln Navigator and their personal bags, Jessop said."

This happened down in Texas as well, he was pulled over going to the courthouse. It's called a shakedown.

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Does Malonis give it up to Walther?

I have come to the conclusion that Barbara Walther's rejection of Laura Shockley as an attorney gives us more insight into the relationship of Malonis and Walther.

They talk.

Malonis is ratting out her client to Barbara Walther or some other entity that would be seen as the opposition by the FLDS. That is why Walther won't let Shockley be the attorney. She expects, just as she had done, that Shockley will serve as a conduit between the various parties Walther does not wish to communicate with one another. More →

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The FLDS Conflict of Interest, um, conflict...

What was mud becomes a bit clearer. With attorneys representing attorneys that want to be someone else's attorney, it looks like a tangle that even Alexander could not solve with a sword.

The Deseret News - "(Laura) Shockley, who represented some of the 'disputed minors' that turned out to be adults, also represented some children early on in the FLDS custody battle — including a 5-year-old boy whose mother is one of Annette Jeffs' sister-wives, and CPS alleged, a sister-wife to Barbara Jessop's 14-year-old daughter.

'Every individual, as Americans, are free to choose who they want to represent them,' countered Kirby Roberts, a lawyer hired to represent Shockley, a Dallas-area attorney.

Appearing in court together, Annette Jeffs and Barbara Jessop both said they were willing to waive any conflicts to have Shockley represent them. But under questioning, both women refused to answer questions that underscored the perceived problem.

'As a mother of a child, do you see a problem with an attorney representing you, the mother of an alleged victim, and a parent of an alleged perpetrator?' CPS attorney Jeff Schmidt asked Annette Jeffs.

'I'm going to stand on the Fifth,' she replied.

She invoked her right against self-incrimination to nearly every question about her daughter's alleged marriage at age 15 to Raymond Jessop. In civil court those non-answers can be used against her."

CPS doesn't want an attorney opening up an avenue of communcation between those it has barred from contact. In short, CPS doesn't want Willie Jessop talking to Teresa Jeffs in a closed communication channel that they cannot monitor.

This whole "victim-perpetrator" forumulation is only important to the CPS, the FLDS simply don't see those people in those roles. This also explains a bit the extension of Barbara Walther's restraining order and Natalie Malonis' recent shrill stage protests.

Barbara Jessop also is not calling her daughter, it would seem, despite the colorations of reports made by CPS that she is misbehaving;

"A CPS caseworker testified they put a halt to notes being passed to the girl, but allowed siblings to visit alongside her mother. When CPS had documentation of dozens of phone calls between the two, Jessop explained that it was her daughter who would call her."

It would seem that CPS doesn't want us to know that Merrianne Jessop is as distressed as she really is, in CPS custody.

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Shocking Ruling from Walther

Ok, not a surprise;

The San Angelo Standard Times - "District Judge Barbara Walther today extended a restraining order designed to keep FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop from communicating with the now 17-year-old daughter of sect leader Warren Jeffs."

Again, Walther is never wrong, all her rulings are perfect and so much so they need to be renewed. OF COURSE a 17 year old can't have the attorney she wants. Of course she can't talk to the people she wants to talk to. What were we thinking? More →

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More information on the FLDS indictments trickles out.

Hmmm, this is about the first thing that Willie Jessop has said that I have a hard time believing. If it's true, Willie, you better wise up. OF COURSE there were going to be indictments. Harry Reid had been promised indictments. He would have scheduled no hearings otherwise. It's POLITICAL Willie, there were going to be indictments, yet there is something that is not exactly shocking, but eyebrow raising in this story from the Austin American-Stateman.

"'We're actually quite shocked. As soon as we know who they're looking for, we'll try to face it,' Jessop said. 'We believe in our innocence.'

He said he didn't know who was indicted and that no law enforcement officials had tried to enter the ranch Tuesday evening."

What's up with that last part? Texas hasn't tried to look for the offenders at YFZ? Isn't that a logical place to look? Are they afraid they will reveal WHO the people they look for ARE? Why is it that Texas is nervous about identifying them? Is it that the revelation of their identities would tell us too much? Like how weak or how unrelated to the raid the charges are? Another thought is that they know where these suspects are, and they are out of state and Texas is quietly seeking cooperation from other states to arrest them.

What we do know is that one indictment is for failing to report child abuse. That leaves four indictments for other crimes. One HAS to be for Raymond Jessop, the "spiritual husband" of Teresa Jeffs. The other has to be for the father of Veda Keate's child. It is possible that they don't have names for some of the indictments. I don't know enough about the law at this point to say. They may be combining DNA evidence to identify a DNA profile for the indictments, but as yet do not have a name to go with the indictment. That seems a little far fetched. We seem to know two of the four men indicted.

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Several FLDS questions answered in this article.

The Salt Lake Tribune;

"One activist who has campaigned for government officials to crack down on underage marriages in the sect hailed Tuesday's indictments.

'I think it's a great start,' said Flora Jessop, a child victim advocate and ex-member of the sect. 'I'm proud of Texas for following through on the abuse they found.'"

Well DER, Flora is going to talk a good game, like abuse was found. What was found was a set of circumstances that INDICATE the POSSIBILITY of abuse, not abuse itself. But on with the show, Flora is always truthful on part these next several points;

"Jessop said she hopes the state also holds parents and other adults who were aware of the abuses accountable for sexual assaults on the community's children.

'That's the only way to send a strong message it has got to stop,' Jessop said. 'This has nothing to do with polygamy. It has to do with systemic rape, molestation and abuse of these children.'"

Right, it has NOTHING to do with polygamy. And until proven, since there are a set of circumstances that suggest, but do not prove rape abuse and molestation have occurred, it could hardly be called systemic. What Flora is always right about is that this is not about polygamy. Then she goes off the deep end and starts promoting her agenda. Even if EVERYTHING Flora says about her personal experience is true, it does not prove present day ongoing systemic rape, molestation and abuse. If anything the length of time before and the small number of indictments, tend to prove the opposite. I continue to point out that in comparing YFZ to society at large, YFZ was squeaky clean.

"Willie Jessop, an FLDS spokesman, said late Tuesday that the sect will address the allegations 'head on.'

'As soon as we know who they are looking for we will make contact with the sheriff's office and make arrangements for those people to appear on the charges,' he said."

So far the FLDS have not balked a bit at confronting charges so I'm confident Willie means this. It is also hard for the innocent to respond to sealed indictments, since they are innocent, and short of EVERYONE turning themselves in, no one knows who should turn who in. By saying that FLDS members will APPEAR on the charges, Willie makes a specific promise, that the five indicted persons subject to the warrants will show up in Texas and submit to arrest. That's quite a promise. Personally I'd have fled the jurisdiction by now with no plans of coming back. I have no trust for Texas Justice.

"Jessop was at the courthouse all day after being handed a subpoena Tuesday morning after a traffic stop. He was accompanied by Las Vegas attorney Richard Wright, who has assisted in Jeffs' defense, and several Texas attorneys. Jessop was not called before the jury, however."

Willies was rousted. The subpoena and traffic stop was intimidation and physical control of Willie. Funny how those who have no moral compass accuse others of that which they engage in themselves.

"Six FLDS women did appear before the panel, which met in the Memorial Building adjacent to the Schleicher County Courthouse.

During the afternoon proceedings, 51st District Judge Barbara Walther was in the courthouse as at least four of the women were questioned again."

Yes, one of them was Teresa Jeffs, contrary to how I interpreted the facts yesterday;

"Jeffs' 16-year-old daughter, whose marriage at age 15 to a much older man was revealed in court documents filed last week (testified.)"

I'll have to research who the "dismissed" witness was in between the June and July hearing. They have no leverage over Teresa since she has no child, though Natalie Malonis alleges that she does. I'm guessing her and the other minor, Veda Keate were not summoned back to the Grand Jury later in the day.
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A funny thing happened on the way to the FLDS Grand Jury

From the Deseret News: If you can keep your wits about you, while all others around you are losing theirs;

"(Willie) Jessop was en route to the grand jury this when he was pulled over in a traffic stop. Asked why he was stopped, Jessop chuckled to reporters.

'I think it's obvious,' he said, promising to explain more after the hearing."

Who's the thug again?

UPDATE: The confusion get's more confusing. Was Teresa Jeffs there to testify or not? As suspected, and confirmed now by Brooke Adams, Willie Jessop was stopped so that he would be served a Subpoena. Willie has to stay away from Teresa, so......

Now, if he was served, and he testified. That means he's not indicted? If he was indicted, they could have arrested him on the spot or shortly thereafter. More →

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