Three more indicted in West Texas polygamist sect case
AUSTIN — Three more people from a West Texas polygamist sect have been indicted on charges related to the “spiritual” marriages of underage girls, nearly six months after state authorities seized hundreds of children from the religious ranch.
The suspects, whom authorities declined to name Tuesday because they haven’t been located, are each charged with felony sexual assault of a child.
Two also face felony bigamy charges.
Six others — including jailed sect prophet Warren Jeffs — were indicted on similar charges this summer.
5 more sect indictments issued
ELDORADO – A grand jury in Schleicher County issued five indictments on Tuesday against three people in criminal cases involving members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
All the charges are felonies, said Schleicher County District Clerk Peggy Williams, but she declined to elaborate further.
[…]Williams said she could not comment on whether the indictments involved people who had not previously been charged.
Willie Jessop, a sect elder and spokesman for the FLDS, said the grand jury proceedings were the state’s way of justifying the weeklong raid on the sect’s YFZ Ranch near Eldorado in April, when more than 400 children were taken into state custody.
[…]It is not clear whether the defendants are ranch residents.