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More sect 'children' are adults
One woman in CPS custody is nearly 28; hearings continue
More State As status hearings continue for child members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the number of children in state custody continues to drop.
Child Protective Services filed nonsuits in three cases Tuesday in Court D of the Tom Green County Courthouse, and two more in Court A. Once the judges signed off on the nonsuits, the cases were dismissed.
The nonsuits were filed because CPS determined that some of people taken as children from the YFZ Ranch near Eldorado in a weeklong April raid are actually adults by law -- age 18 or older.
In a passionate speech, Andrea Sloan, an attorney for a mother, said authorities obtained her client's birth certificate in the raid but continued classifying her as a minor, even though she will be 28 in less than two weeks. The woman, Leona Allred, even had a copy of her birth certificate, but her status as a minor was not changed until Tuesday's hearing.
"I have objected all along that my client cannot be here in person," Sloan said.
The attorney said she was informed Monday night that the only way Allred could be in court Tuesday was if Sloan drove to a children's shelter in Fort Worth to pick her up.
As Sloan continued with her speech, CPS attorney Gary Banks passed nonsuit documents to Judge John Specia, a district judge from San Antonio filling in for Judge Ben Woodward, who was in Austin speaking to the Senate Finance Committee about the cost of the YFZ case.
Specia signed the documents to dismiss Allred's case as a minor. However, that created new problems because the facility where Allred is staying -- and nursing her 15-month-old daughter -- is not licensed to house women older than 22.
"I have no idea if 10 minutes from now Ms. Allred will be kicked out of the shelter without a ride," Sloan said.
Everyone said that finding a suitable alternative shelter for Allred, her daughter and her 7-year-old son would be a problem.
"Creativity is of the utmost importance in these cases," Specia said. "This is a little more difficult than some of the other cases."
Elsewhere in the courthouse, attorneys for the sect parents continued to hammer CPS' family service plans as a vague, broad document that doesn't offer clear guidelines parents should follow to get their children back. CPS case workers testified that the global plan is a work in progress and will be individualized to fit individual families' needs.
A vast majority of the plans were approved by judges as the status hearings continue to grind through the system.
The younger brother of Warren Jeffs, the sect's spiritual leader and a convicted sex offender serving time in Arizona, was in Courtroom C and said he would do everything he can do to get his children back. Seth Steed Jeffs and his wife, Kathyrn Jeffs, had seven children on the court list in Judge Barbara Walther's courtroom.
Carl Kolb, a lawyer from San Antonio representing Seth Jeffs, and Nancy DeLong, a lawyer from Corpus Christi representing Kathyrn Jeffs, both argued against the service plans. They contended there is no indication any of the children have been physically, mentally or sexually abused. Kolb said the only connection between the Jeffs and other families where abuse is suspected is their religious beliefs, drawing a connection to religious persecution. "They took my clients' kids away," Kolb said. "What's the common denominator?"
Attorneys for CPS said hearings' purpose is securing the children's safety, not discussing religious beliefs.
Kolb argued that the service plan should not interfere with the group's religion beliefs. He also said he didn't know all the specifics about the FLDS religion but said abusing or neglecting children is not a part of the group.
"There is no conflict then," Walther said. "Everyone agrees sexual, emotional and physical abuse is inappropriate."
Kolb also said CPS keeps his clients from mentioning Warren Jeffs when they see their children, even though he is a family member and religious leader.
"What's the state's argument, that to mention him by name, who's locked away in prison, is equivalent of child abuse?" he said after the hearing. "That's a pretty big stretch."
If Warren Jeffs, who is a convicted sex offender, is used as an example of how men should be, then discussing him could be harmful, an attorney for the CPS said.
Posted by wbarloww on May 21, 2008 at 6:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets see, first the girl the CPS claimed existed to start the raid did not exist. Strike ONE! Last week they claimed a woman who gave birth was under 18 but come to find out she wasn't. Strike TWO!! Now they have been holding another woman the CPS claims was under 18 (even though she had paperwork to show she wasn't) and now we find she is almost 28!!! Can you say Strike THREE!!! How many of the CPS stories show we continue to believe? Should these clowns be left in charge of this case? I can say this because my kids are grown and they can't threaten me like some that might want to speak out about this purjury by the CPS.
Posted by michaelp23 on May 21, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Out of 400 plus cases, some will end up being dismissed. That's to be expected. But it doesn't change the fact that something sick, twisted, and down right abusive is going on out there at that compound and it was time for someone to step up and protect those children that were being abused. I think in time we will see that the vast majority of the children taken from the compund were taken for legitimate reasons. CPS is doing the best it can given the unprecidented number of children they've had to take care of at once. The old saying "better safe than sorry" comes to mind. To me it was worth taking anyone suspected of suffering abuse out of that situation in order to sort through the cases one by one.
Posted by wbarloww on May 21, 2008 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
michaelp23,
Are you making claims based on personal knowledge, by guessing, or by what the CPS workers are saying? If you are using their statements remember thay raided on a false claim, they held adults that they claimed were children even though CPS had the documents that showed them to be adults, and so far they have not produced any evidence other than their claims.
Posted by texmade2 on May 21, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It`````````````s a witch hunt and CPS CAN NOT
PUT THEIR PRIDE ASIDE, yesterday three were let go because they were adults , and this stupidity
is going to cost taxpayers a lot of money, in
TEXAS every thing is bigger even STUPIDITY.
Posted by wbarloww on May 21, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is it pride so much texmade2, or something else. There was talk prior to the raid that there were going to be cutback at the CPS office in San Angelo due to a low case load. Suddennly a large caseload appears. Maybe that is what the reporter news or someone in the media should investigate.
Posted by texmade2 on May 21, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
it may have been due to a low case load at first
but pride is a big part now.
Posted by martind on May 21, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Its better to be cautious. Plain and simple. I would rather see this, than the headline "Abused Children Now Missing due to dismissal of all cases!" There is no telling WHAT went on at that compound! Are we supposed to believe people who misled authorities with differing information on purpose? Lets not forget that CPS's job is to INVESTIGATE. They have to deal with people who are less than truthful all the time. They have a real daunting task to sort through the half-stories, missing information, etc. I don't blame them for not wanting to throw abused kids back into the fire once they have rescued them. There is no telling what those kooks will do once they get those kids back!
Posted by bckhme on May 21, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a recurring pattern with CPS. Lying, Inefficiency, shoddy investigative (or even NO investigative work). This government agency has been out of control way too long. Children who really do need protection are overlooked and then you have a case like this...........Fire em all !!!
Posted by wbarloww on May 21, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
martind,
The investigate, but why do they ignore evidence. They ignored the birth certificates that the CPS had, and now they are getting burned. They raided a place under false claims. They claimed that adults (one being almost 27) were children even with the evidence (birth certificates) in the CPS possession. The have not proven a single claim in court, they have just made claims. So I have to ask you a question:
How many more mistakes in this case will it take before you start to doubt the CPS's word?
Posted by martind on May 21, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I refuse to villify the hardworking, understaffed, underpaid state employees whose daunting task it is to protect our children (who were already overtaxed before this), and ignore the ABUSERS who use the thin veil of religion and thick veil of secrecy and half-truths to hide who they really are and what they really do!
Posted by TexasHistorian on May 21, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here is the real problem as I see it. Because CPS acted on a false claim, ignored state issued documents (Birth Certificate), gave their agents prejudical resource material (the flip cards to guide them through their interactions with the FLDS women), placed infants in foster care to protect them "imminent danger of sexual abuse" such as being forced into marriage 14 or more years later and keep repeating the same worn-out line about "we had to protect the children from abuse!" every possible criminal charge will be dismissed. Either that or a jury will find all defendants not guilty due to a reasonable doubt because they cannot believe a thing CPS says.
Posted by wbarloww on May 21, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No need to villify them, just answer the question?
As for them being abusers, do you have personal knowledge? Or are you basing you opinion on the statements of the CPS? The same CPS that used false information to obtain a warrent, claimed adults were children even though the birth certificates in CPS's possession show different. Or by your own prejudging? I would like to see evidence, not statements.
Posted by michaelp23 on May 21, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So wbarloww:
How long have you been a member of that cult? I know you'll say you aren't. But I'd bet anything you are some sort of Spin Specialist that has been put in charge of trying to discredit the CPS in order to make people feel sorry for your little sick cult. I have no doubt that abuse-sexual, emotional, and physical-goes on out there. They have interviewed people that are ex-members. And the blank, brain wahsed look on the faces of the current "wives" they have interviewed also speak volumes. I won't be satisfied until that sick, evil cult is fully exposed for what they are. You all moved to the wrong place when you came here from Arizona. We don't put up with that crap in Texas!
Posted by martind on May 21, 2008 at 5:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets take a look at your statement wbarloww, You say CPS used false information. CPS got a call for help. They INVESTIGATED, as they are supposed to do. They did not know the report was, or still if it has been PROVEN, false. Like you say, lets see the evidence that it is false. The only thing false that I can tell happened was the information provided by the person who represented FLDS when they bought the property. A 'hunting' ranch was it supposed to be? At least that is the information from the local businessman who helped arrange the paperwork. While we are at looking at potential false information, let's look at birth certificates. Birth certificates can be, and in the past have been 'manufactured'. If I printed from my laser printer, a copy of birth certificate that said that I was Warren Jeffs, would you believe it? By your logic, you would have to believe it, even though I wasn't. That is the kind of blind faith logic that permeates these cults. That is what makes them dangerous.
Posted by texmade2 on May 21, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
it would appear that CPS are the ones using half-truths to hide who they really are and what they really do! Texas has been shamed by CPS
and we are the laughing stock of the country .
Posted by texmade2 on May 21, 2008 at 6:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The development came after proceedings in which more "girls" taken into custody by Texas Child Protective Services convinced the agency they are really adults, for a total of 10.
Posted by texmade2 on May 21, 2008 at 6:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
they believe CPS deliberately classified them as children so that their own investigators, together with Texas Department of Public Safety officers, could interview them without their attorney present.
Posted by texmade2 on May 21, 2008 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metr...
Posted by aintmyfault on May 22, 2008 at 12:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CPS is KNOWN FELONS - THEY ARE TRULY CRIMINALS and the courts and the attorney's encourage it ... you know how much these attorneys get paid to bicker over issues that do not even matter?
I paid 1,500.00 for a retainer fee which my attorney before quitting me - wrote a two page ANSWER to the CITATION issued against me and my wife ... they wanted to steal our children and throw my wife and myself into prison ...
I slammed them hard here in Abilene, Texas - they were coming against the House of Yahweh FIRST - they were run off and proved to have used the court as a criminal tool or instrument against me - USING FRAUD, AGGRAVATED PERJURIES, OMISSIONS, DECEPTIONS AND/OR ETC. TO GET THE JUDGE TO RUBBER STAMP THE CITATION ...
Then - I filed a Criminal Complaint with the District Attorney of Callahan County - SHANE DEAL ... WHOM IS PROSECUTING OTHERS - THE BIGGEST WITCH HUNT IN THE WORLD'S HISTORY IS JUST BEGINNING - SHANE DEAL WILL NOT TOUCH THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST CPS ... IT APPEARS TO ME THAT HE IS IN THIS FRAUD WITH THEM; OR, IT WILL BE HARMFUL TO HIS PROSECUTING OF OTHERS THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE A STITCH OF EVIDENCE TO HELP HIM ... BUT; LIKE CPS - SHANE DEAL APPEARS TO BE TRYING TO CREATE IT BEFORE THE COURT DATES.
CPS even sent findings of their investigation that ALL ALLEGATIONS WERE "RULED OUT" - but ... they keep the threats going, the courts and all corruption cheers them on.
To file a NONSUIT - THEY CANNOT HAVE ISSUED A CITATION - AND ESPECIALLY IF THE CITATION WAS "ANSWERED" - THEY CANNOT LAWFULLY EVEN ASK FOR A NONSUIT - DON'T BELIEVE IT? GO TO THIS SITE AND LOOK UNDER RULES 162 AND 164:
http://www.stcl.edu/library/TexasRule...
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