ariz. ag: marshals working with polygamous sect

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_POLYGAMIST_SECT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-01-23-10-04-47


Flora Jessop, left, embraces her sister Ruby Jessop as they listen to Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne speak at a news conference, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, in Phoenix. Horne discussed how his agency and others, including Flora helped Ruby and her six children leave a polygamist sect along the Utah-Arizona border. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

PHOENIX (AP) -- Arizona authorities are investigating whether marshals in a town dominated by one of the nation's largest polygamous sects prevent women from leaving the church run by imprisoned leader Warren Jeffs, an allegation the local agency denies.

Attorney General Tom Horne announced the probe Tuesday in Phoenix involving the town of Colorado City, Ariz., near the Utah border, the home base of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

"Women who wanted to escape have been forcibly held by the marshals against their will," he said.

Horne declined to provide details of the criminal probe of the FLDS and the Marshal's Office, which serves as a small police force in the twin polygamous towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City.

[get the red out]

1. Nice guaranteed rights they have

But they're just females, right? Born into the wrong religion, NO RIGHTS FOR YOU. That's what the US views as "freedom".

[joeybee12]

2. My first thought was Sherrif Joe Scum Arapaio at work...

Sounds like a different part of the state, though.

[barbtries]

3. maybe some people will be freed.

i hope so. women and children live dread lives in these sects.