Dale Barlow, the man at the heart of the raid on the FLDS compound in Texas was in Arizona and Utah on Friday and contended he did not know the woman who accused him, according to his probation officer.
State of Arizona probation officer, Bill Loader, said Barlow came to his office Friday morning to say he was under investigation. Barlow had received a call from Schleicher County, Texas, informing him of the inquiry, Loader said.
“He said the authorities had called him (in Colorado City, Ariz.,) and some girl had accused him of assaulting her and he didn’t even know who she was,” Loader said.
Barlow, 50, then returned to his home in Colorado City and later in the day got a visit from the Mohave County, Ariz., Sheriff’s Office and someone from Arizona’s child services, Loader said. Barlow allowed them to search his home, Loader said. He did not know what they found.
“He cooperated with everybody and there was no problem,” Loader said.
The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to calls for comment Saturday. No one returned telephone message’s left at Barlow’s published number.
Barlow was named in a search and arrest warrant served Thursday night on the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints compound in Eldorado, Texas. The warrant accuses Barlow of marrying and impregnating a 16-year-old girl and allows police to seize records related to the alleged marriage and birth of a daughter believed to be 8 months old.
Texas child service workers on Friday began removing children from the compound.
Barlow is a son of former Colorado City Mayor Dan Barlow; he also is one of eight Colorado City men accused by Arizona prosecutors in 2005 of marrying underage girls and committing sex crimes.
He pleaded no contest in April 2007 to conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor, and a second charge was dropped. The victim was a 16-year-old girl with whom he had a son.
Barlow was later sentenced to 45 days in jail and three years of probation.
Loader said Barlow has complied with his probation, which includes regular checks with Loader and informing Loader of his movements.
“He’s done everything by the book,” Loader said.
Barlow cannot leave Arizona without permission except to report to Loader’s office in St. George. Loader said Barlow has not applied to travel to Texas since he entered probation.
“If it happened down there (in Texas) he must have slipped under the radar,” Loader said.
Barlow also has submitted a sample of his DNA and supplied a list of people said to be living at his house, Loader said. Loader said the teenager listed in the Texas warrant is not on that list.