The Voice of Eldorado and Schleicher County Since 1901

The frame of yet another large building goes up on the YFZ Ranch near the area where a number of mobile homes are located. The concrete pad for the building was completed only last week.

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Salt Lake City law firm wants out of FLDS lawsuit

Lawyer cites fundamental disagreement with client

DECEMBER. 23, 2004
The Salt Lake City, Utah law firm of Snow, Christensen & Martineau is asking to withdraw as counsel for the Prophet Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, according to a petition filed in Judge Stephen L. Henroid's 3rd District Court. The lawyers, specifically Rod Parker, who for years has represented the FLDS and its charitable trust, the United Effort Plan claims that they must withdraw because their clients "insist upon a course of action with which their lawyers have a fundamental disagreement."

The firm has recently represented Jeffs, the FLDS and the UEP in two lawsuits, one brought by Jeffs' nephew, Brent Jeffs in which he alleges he was sexually abused by his uncle when he was a young boy, and another brought by a group of young men known as the "Lost Boys," in which they allege that the Jeffs and other leaders in the FLDS church routinely banished young men from the group in order to guarantee the availability of young brides. The FLDS Church views polygamy as bedrock principal of its faith.

Parker also noted in his motion that his law firm's withdrawal from the case is mandatory because the lawyers have been discharged from representation of the defendants in the case, according to court documents.

That appears to mean that Parker's firm was fired by its clients, but no one is sure and neither Parker nor anyone affiliated with his law firm is willing to comment. Parker, who has been very open with the media in the past, did not return phone calls this week.

In an unusual move, Rod Parker also asked Judge Henroid to take steps in case Jeffs, the FLDS Church and the UEP Trust fail to hire other lawyers and a default judgement is entered. In a third motion Parker asked the court to require the plaintiffs to give notice of the action to anyone who would potentially be adversely affected by the judgment.

That would include notice to "all persons residing upon land owned by the (UEP)" so that they might have an opportunity to seek legal counsel of their own and protect any interests they may have in the property.

All of this has FLDS observers scratching their heads and wondering if Warren Jeffs has decided to move to his new compound on the YFZ Ranch near Eldorado, Texas and turn his back on the church faithful who still remain in Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah.

One sources in C-City, AZ speculated that Jeffs, the FLDS and the UEP Trust, have run up a sizeable legal bill with the Salt Lake City law firm, a bill his lawyers are hoping to cap before it grows any larger.

Interestingly, Gregory Hoole, and attorney for the plaintiffs in the two law suits are asking Judge Henroid to prevent Parker and his firm from leaving the case, at least until he can take the deposition of a key witness on December 27. Legal representation is required for both sides at a deposition and the witness, reported to be in the military, is scheduled to deploy to the Middle East shortly after the deposition, Hoole said.

San Angelo has taken notice
News that the YFZ Ranch is proposing to build a wastewater treatment plant that will discharge treated water into Milligan Draw, a tributary of the South Concho River, has drawn the attention of the Upper Colorado River Authority and State Representative Scott Campbell who announced this week that he will hold hearings into the matter.

The tax man cometh
Chief Appraiser Scott Sutton of the Schleicher County Appraisal District told the Success this week that he hopes to gain access to the YFZ Ranch by the end of the year so in order to appraise the buildings on the property for the 2005 tax year. Sutton noted that if he isn't allowed to go on the property he will be forced to estimated the value of the buildings, based primarily on aerial photos.

YFZ Land L.L.C. currently owes $3,973.00 in taxes for 2004. Sutton noted that the 2004 assessment was based on the value of the land and the 2,000 sq. ft. home that was originally on the property when it was sold to YFZ. None of the new buildings were on the 2004 tax roll. They will be included in the 2005 assessment, which is why Sutton wants to visit the property.

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Large earth-moving machines are dwarfed by the size of the rock quarry at the YFZ Ranch where workers are removing limestone blocks. Many of the blocks are being hauled to a stone cutting area where a series of rock saws stand ready to shape them into smooth building stones.

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