by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright May 12, 2006
All Rights Reserved.

estled in the hinterlands of Colorado City, Ariz. and Hildale, Utah, wedged between northwestern Arizona and southwestern Utah, a 10,000-member polygamous cult called the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints manages to escape the U.S. Constitution and state child abuse laws. Despite the Mormon Church banning polygamy in 1890, the FLDS sect uses polygamy as a smokescreen for pedophilia and polymorphous sexual perversity. Like other modern religious and secular cults, the tightly knit band of perverts resembles the Branch Davidians, where charismatic leader David Koresh led a band of 76 sycophants to a fiery grave April 19, 1993, also accused of sex crimes. For over 50 years, the FLDS cult hid behind the Fourth Amendment, escaped the modern world and practiced the most egregious forms of mind control and child sexual abuse.

      Hiding behind freedom of religion allows religious cults to skirt federal, state and local laws. Arbitrary and capricious fetishes replace all biblical scripture, where historic accounts of polygamy are used to justify atrocious acts of abuse. In the FLDS cult, children are routinely molested and sodomized, coerced into marriages and forced into dangerous labor camps. Teenage boys are commonly purged from the cult and abandoned to preserve the monopoly on underage females to satisfy the urges of mature pedophiles. “The fact that this has been going on all these years, and the fact that justice has been there to protect women and children . . . from amazing civil rights violations—it is an embarrassment,” said Utah Atty. Gen Mark Shurtieff, expressing disbelief that polygamous cults thrive in his state. It's even more astonishing that federal authorities look the other way.

      U.S. Sen. Orin G. Hatch (R-Utah) claims he lacks “proof” to warrant federal action, despite the pleadings, testimony and lawsuits from former cult members. FLDS's self-declared prophet and cult master Warren Jeffs, now a fugitive, was placed May 6 on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list, accused by federal and state authorities of rape, sexual conduct with a minor, conspiracy and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Jeffs, a six-feet-four-inch, ectomorphic third-generation polygamist, reportedly ordered marriages, commanded divorces and instructed cults members where and when to have sex. Underage girls are routinely married off to church elders, prompting former cult member Carolyn Jessop to flee with her 13-year-old daughter to prevent Jeffs from taking her as his next wife. “I would have gone the ends of the earth to prevent that,” said Carolyn, now a cult fugitive.

      When 23-year-old Brent Jeffs, nephew of now fugitive cult leader Warren Jeffs, filed suit in Utah state court 2004 alleging sexual abuse, “the prophet” went on the lam. Since age five, Brent alleges he was repeatedly sodomized by his uncle, then head master of the FSDS School. Brent alleged that FLDS church leaders knew Warren was a pedophile when they placed him in charge of the school. Despite these allegations, Sen. Hatch, who has played the organ at the FLDS church, finds nothing wrong with polygamous sects. “All I can say is I know people in Hildale who are polygamists who are very fine people. You come and show me the evidence of children being abused there, and I'll get involved,” said Hatch, revealing a bizarre disconnect. Perhaps Hatch finds nothing wrong with preteen or teen marriages and pedophilia as long as it's practiced under church guidelines.

      Local law enforcement and court officials are part of the FLDS cult, making prosecution virtually impossible. Sex crimes are routinely referred back to the church for resolution. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Richard Weiss showed more sympathy for the perpetrators, giving light sentences to convicted pedophiles. “Ultimately, the blame lies on the prosecution side,” said Weiss, justifying soft sentences, sometimes only days for convicted pedophiles. “If the local prosecutor or local police don't give you the whole story, you can only do what you can do,” finding no stomach for strict sentences. While the Mormon Church officially condemns polygamy, they do little to stop renegade cults. “The Church cannot assume the role of government or law enforcement. It is not charged with doing the job of elected officials,” said Mormon Church spokesman Michael Otterson.

      Hiding behind the Fourth Amendment or organized religion doesn't entitle sex cults from violating federal and state laws protecting children. Pedophiles, like Jeffs, shouldn't find safe haven in polygamist sects, essentially exempted from the U.S. Constitution. It's shocking that a U.S. senator requires more proof than the testimony of former cult members whose lives have been destroyed by egregious acts of sexual abuse. Calling sex abuse allegations “a matter for local and federal prosecution,” Hatch spokesman Peter Carr signaled the senator plans no action. “The apathy is driven by the fact that many in Utah and Arizona are descendants of polygamists,” said Ron Barton, an investigator with the Utah Atty. General's office. As long as elected officials like Hatch refuse to intervene, it's difficult for the feds to crack down. Polygamy still remains the area's dirty little secret.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColulmnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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