31 out of 53 teen girls from FLDS ranch are pregnant or are underage mothers

[pnwmom]

That makes almost 60% -- and every one is a case of statutory, and possibly criminal, rape.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5736597.html

SAN ANTONIO — More than half the teen girls taken from a polygamist compound in west Texas either are pregnant or have children, state officials said Monday.

A total of 53 girls between the ages of 14 and 17 are in state custody after a raid 3 1/2 weeks ago at the Yearning For Zion Ranch in Eldorado. Of those girls, 31 have children or are pregnant, said Child Protective Services spokesman Darrell Azar.

"It shows you a pretty distinct pattern, that it was pretty pervasive," he said.

State officials took custody of all 463 children at the ranch controlled by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, saying a pattern of teen girls forced into underage "spiritual" marriages and sex with much older men created an unsafe environment for the sect's children.

Under Texas law, children under the age of 17 cannot generally consent to sex with an adult. A girl can get married with her parent's permission at 16, but none of these girls are believed to have legal marriages under state law.

SNIP

[Marrah_G]

1. K and R

Here is the law, by the way:

Texas

The age of consent in Texas is 17 {Texas Penal Code Section 21.11}. However , "...It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the actor...was not more than three years older than the victim and of the opposite sex...(and) did not use duress, force, or a threat against the victim at the time of the offence" and is not a registered sex offender {Section 21.11(b)}.

Section 21.12 further prohibits all sexual contact between an employee of a school (including educators)and a student enrolled at the primary or secondary school where said employee works. No age is specified by the statute (thus, even if the student has reached consent age of 17, it is still a violation), and violations are a second degree felony.

[Richard Steele]

2. K&R

[Disturbed]

4. When will the other FLDS communities be investigated?

It is obvious that all of them practice "The Principle". Child abuse is not protected under the
umbrella of "Religious Freedom".

[Richard Steele]

5. Not soon enough, IMHO. Not soon enough. nm

[L. Coyote]

3. "none of these girls are believed to have legal marriages...." n/t

[pnwmom]

6. Not a big surprise, but I'm glad to finally see that in print.

Since I have actually seen people arguing that maybe they were.

[dkofos]

7. And this has been going on for at least thirty years at that compound.

[pnwmom]

8. Not at the compound, because the compound was just built a few years

ago. But it has been going on much longer than that in the FLDS communities which fed into the ranch -- since about 1930, when the FLDS broke off from the LDS. (And really, since the beginning of the Mormon church, though the regular Mormon church has strongly disavowed those practices since.)

[dkofos]

9. I lived in San Angelo, Tx from 73-76 and there was a fLDS compound

in El Dorado then.

[pnwmom]

11. It wasn't the same compound, because the ranch was a wildlife game park

until it was purchased a few years ago.

[dkofos]

13. They still had a compound somewhere in the El Dorado area

even if it wasn't the same freaking piece of land.

They have abused their women there for over 30 years.

[Yael]

10. Grown men using 'religion' to have sex with young girls

Disgusting.

I hope they throw the lot of 'em in jail.

[pnwmom]

12. "Spiritual marriage" is just another name for "ritual sex abuse."

And it IS disgusting.

[Breeze54]

14. Gheesh... I heard it was half but that's more than half!

The other night, one of the 'defenders' kept claiming only one girl was pregnant.
Claimed the lawyer 'saw' papers of a CPS worker that had that as a fact. Where are
the 'apologists' and 'defenders' of this group now? Why haven't they jumped all over
this thread yet? I wonder what the hold up is. Usually they're here within minutes. :sarcasm:

K&R

[Bunny]

15. Oh, just hang on. They'll be here soon enough.

Coming up with all sorts of spin and justifications for this sick shit. I'm waiting to hear that those 12-13 year old girls seduced the old filthy pigs. :eyes:

[Breeze54]

17. Now that's an angle they haven't tried yet !

Don't give them any idea's! :P

[uppityperson]

19. They're over in LBN. Or maybe now out to dinner.

[girl gone mad]

16. self-delete. n/t

[uppityperson]

18. k&r. There is no way to justify this.

[Postman]

20. Earth to Texas: it's no longer 1878.

n/t