By MICHELLE ROBERTS, Associated Press WriterWed Jun 4, 11:21 PM ET
The polygamist sect raided by authorities two months ago has its children back. But with a criminal investigation under way into allegations of sexual abuse, the splinter group's troubles are not over.
Child-welfare officials have alleged that members of the sect pushed underage girls into marriages with older men, and while the last of 440 children seized from the ranch were returned to their parents Wednesday, prosecutors could still bring criminal charges.
"There have been criminal problems located out there," said Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran, who was with state troopers and child welfare authorities when they raided Yearning For Zion Ranch in west Texas on April 3.
James, do you believe any future criminal cases have been tainted by the state? And do you know if the Texas Rangers were involved before CPS/local law enfrocement raided the ranch?
__________________
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
James, do you believe any future criminal cases have been tainted by the state? And do you know if the Texas Rangers were involved before CPS/local law enfrocement raided the ranch?
You always ask interesting questions. You sure you don't want to go to law school? :-)
Barring some unforeseen fact or act, no they had probable cause and exigent circumstances based on the facts presented. So I cannot see where any evidence would be "tainted" in a criminal proceeding.
The only thing the courts have done is said they did not have reason at the time they did it to take PHYSICAL custody of the children. The children are still very much under the jurisdiction of the CPS.
As far as the Texas Rangers, its possible but I highly doubt it. Not the type of case they are normally involved in.
You always ask interesting questions. You sure you don't want to go to law school? :-)
Barring some unforeseen fact or act, no they had probable cause and exigent circumstances based on the facts presented. So I cannot see where any evidence would be "tainted" in a criminal proceeding.
The only thing the courts have done is said they did not have reason at the time they did it to take PHYSICAL custody of the children. The children are still very much under the jurisdiction of the CPS.
As far as the Texas Rangers, its possible but I highly doubt it. Not the type of case they are normally involved in.
Um, no I don't think so thanks.
I was hoping that was the case, was just a little unsure.
I have done some volunteer work with Dept. of Human Services here in our county. You know as well as I, that there are many forms of abuse. Some more subtle, but just as much damaging as what they are saying has happened to some of these kids.
I was just wondering since I think the Texas Rangers are a part of DPS. I just thought since this just seems to be such a big case (numbers wise) and with their great investigative skills they might help out some.
__________________
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
This should have been the direction of the case from the beginning. child welfare made a terrible mistake.
they over stepped and did what they do best. take kids from the wrong families.
the criminal case should be pursued and if it is found that a young girl was molested, they need to toss the sucker under the jail.
but even though I was for what happened in the beginning, it is obvious that Newman was more right than I! (someone PM her and let her know I said that)
I suspect at the end of the day, it is possible that maybe one or two girls between 14 and 17 married that didnt want to. out of hundreds....
that means 4 or 5 people need to go to jail. it doesnt mean that 440 children need to be removed from their families in what smaks as religous persecution.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
I was hoping that was the case, was just a little unsure.
I have done some volunteer work with Dept. of Human Services here in our county. You know as well as I, that there are many forms of abuse. Some more subtle, but just as much damaging as what they are saying has happened to some of these kids.
I was just wondering since I think the Texas Rangers are a part of DPS. I just thought since this just seems to be such a big case (numbers wise) and with their great investigative skills they might help out some.
The Rangers are a the best of the best no doubt. But they are a limited resource. :-)
The Rangers are a the best of the best no doubt. But they are a limited resource. :-)
Okay, they do seem to still have that mythical quality in our minds I guess sometimes. I know they are used in other parts of the country as well.
__________________
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
I was hoping that was the case, was just a little unsure.
I have done some volunteer work with Dept. of Human Services here in our county. You know as well as I, that there are many forms of abuse. Some more subtle, but just as much damaging as what they are saying has happened to some of these kids.
I was just wondering since I think the Texas Rangers are a part of DPS. I just thought since this just seems to be such a big case (numbers wise) and with their great investigative skills they might help out some.
Cindy, you are awesome!!! I have always wanted to do this, but never seem to have the time. I am going to try harder to make the time, you have inspired me!!
any evidence found during that unlawful raid... will not be admissible in court whatsoever... the Supreme Court of Texas has already ruled that the raid was unlawful.
Mark my words.. there will never be ONE CONVICTION of any crime commited on that ranch, not one..... there are some things you just dont mess with in this country and that situation is one of them.. it has backfired in every governement agencies face for hundreds of years......read their history how they have been delivered by Providence it seems out of every attack on them by the government.....trust me folks they are the beginning if they can successfully penetrate through that religious wall there are no more sacred walls anywhere....
My mother married at 14... just a few generations ago marriage at that age was considered completely normal... it is believed that God himself impregnated Mary at 14 years old.. the customary age of childbearing and marriage at that time....
any evidence found during that unlawful raid... will not be admissible in court whatsoever... the Supreme Court of Texas has already ruled that the raid was unlawful.
Mark my words.. there will never be ONE CONVICTION of any crime commited on that ranch, not one..... there are some things you just dont mess with in this country and that situation is one of them.. it has backfired in every governement agencies face for hundreds of years......read their history how they have been delivered by Providence it seems out of every attack on them by the government.....trust me folks they are the beginning if they can successfully penetrate through that religious wall there are no more sacred walls anywhere....
My mother married at 14... just a few generations ago marriage at that age was considered completely normal... it is believed that God himself impregnated Mary at 14 years old.. the customary age of childbearing and marriage at that time....
I am not a lawyer by any means and you can ask the other 2 here on the forum but I am pretty sure you are wrong. Look at the case being formed against Jeffs. It is getting bigger and bigger by the day and there are constant chance of more and more of the kids being removed permenantly because of the new evidence that indeed one of his children was sexually abused and so now they are in process of locating all of his children in the ranch and taking further action. I think its too soon to say never my friend!