Texas authorities are actively trying to extradite FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs from Utah so he may stand trial in the Lone Star State. That doesn’t mean, however, that his case has become their only concern.
A pretrial hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 24, 2010, for YFZ Ranch defendant Wendell Loy Nielsen in Judge Barbara Walther’s courtroom in San Angelo.
A Schleicher County grand jury is scheduled to meet again Thursday, August 26th as the investigation into alleged wrongdoing at the YFZ Ranch continues.
The grand jurors last met on July 7th at which time Texas Ranger Lt. Brooks Long testified. YFZ Ranch residents Richard Barlow and Alan Dockstader were also called into the grand jury room during the three-hour session. No indictments were issued following that particular session and Assistant Attorney General Eric Nichols would only say that the investigation was, “ongoing.”
Wendell Nielsen, the 70-year-old president of the FLDS Church, pled not guilty Tuesday to three counts of bigamy before District Judge Barbara Walther in her San Angelo courtroom.
An October, 25, 2010, trial date was set for Nielsen, in Schleicher County. A pool of 500 potential jurors will be called.
FLDS Prophet Warren Jeffs was served in his jail cell with fugitive warrants after a Utah Judge began the process of acting on the State of Texas’ request to extradite Jeffs.
A hearing on those warrants is slated for Tuesday, September 7, 2010 before Utah District Judge Terry Christiansen.
Schleicher County grand jurors spent most of the day Thursday, August 26, 2010, behind closed doors in the makeshift courtroom inside the Schleicher County Memorial Building. The jurors and prosecutor Eric Nichols emerged without any public announcement of action taken by the jury.
A number of individuals from Schleicher and Tom Green Counties, many of whom are known to have had business dealings with the YFZ Ranch, were called to testify.
The grand jury session ended at 2:15 p.m.
Assistant Attorney General Eric Nichols declined to comment on the proceedings or how the investigation is going.
Jeffs fights extradition to Texas
Wednesday, 08 September 2010 16:42
Warren Jeffs appeared briefly Tuesday before Utah District Judge Terry Christiansen and declined to waive his right to contest a Texas extradition warrant. The judge scheduled hearing for Monday, November 15, 2010 at which time the court will set about determining if Jeffs is indeed the same man wanted in Texas.
Jeffs was indicted in 2008 by a Schleicher County grand jury on charges of Sexual Assault of a Child, Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child (younger than 14), and Bigamy.
Jeffs was represented at Tuesday’s hearing by attorneys Walter Bugden and Tara Issacson of Salt Lake City.
Texas authorities are actively trying to extradite FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs from Utah so he may stand trial in the Lone Star State. That doesn’t mean, however, that his case has become their only concern.
A Schleicher County grand jury is scheduled to meet again Thursday, August 26th as the investigation into alleged wrongdoing at the YFZ Ranch continues.
Wendell Nielsen, the 70-year-old president of the FLDS Church, pled not guilty Tuesday to three counts of bigamy before District Judge Barbara Walther in her San Angelo courtroom.
FLDS Prophet Warren Jeffs was served in his jail cell with fugitive warrants after a Utah Judge began the process of acting on the State of Texas’ request to extradite Jeffs.
Warren Jeffs appeared briefly Tuesday before Utah District Judge Terry Christiansen and declined to waive his right to contest a Texas extradition warrant. The judge scheduled hearing for Monday, November 15, 2010 at which time the court will set about determining if Jeffs is indeed the same man wanted in Texas.