Judge Orders DNA Testing of 416 Kids; Sect Reconsiders Sex With Minors

Family Law

Judge Orders DNA Testing of 416 Kids; Sect Reconsiders Sex With Minors

Posted Apr 21, 2008, 10:26 am CDT
By Molly McDonough

More than 400 children removed from a polygamous sect on suspicions that they are being subjected to abuse or are at risk will undergo DNA testing this week so their complicated family connections can be sorted out.

Judge Barbara Walther, who is presiding over what is considered the largest, most complicated child custody case in U.S. history, ordered the tests after state authorities complained that members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have changed names, possibly lied about ages and appeared to have difficulty naming relatives, the Associated Press reports.

Members of the sect told CBS this morning that they will cooperate with the testing if it means they can get their children back.

"Whatever we need to do to get them back in their peaceful homes," a man identified as "Rulan" is quoted saying. This is the first time male members of the sect have spoken publicly since the children were removed during raids earlier this month.

Prosecutors have justified removing 416 children from the sect's compound by arguing that the FLDS encourages underage marriages and births, subjecting children to sexual abuse.

"Rulan" told CBS that sect members are reconsidering whether girls younger than 18 should have sex with adult men.

"Many of us perhaps were not even aware of such a law," he says. "And we do reconsider, yes. We teach our children to abide the law."

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Posted by Bruce - 4 months, 1 week, 1 day, 9 hours, 4 minutes ago

There is no law against men over 18 having sex with women under 18 as long as they are married with the consent of the parents.

Molly McDonough is the type of lawyer that makes people hate lawyers.
Posted by bella - 4 months, 1 week, 1 day, 6 hours, 24 minutes ago

it depends on the state, each state has it’s own marriage age limits. and whether or not, underage applicants need parental consent…
Posted by Mike P - 4 months, 1 week, 1 day, 6 hours, 4 minutes ago

There are many laws against 50 year old men having sex with 14 year old girls, with or without parental consent.

There are laws against locking children in the dark in a closet without food as punishment.

There are laws against collecting welfare by fraudulently claiming that fathers are absent and children are unsupported.

Just a start.
Posted by Mike P. - 4 months, 1 week, 1 day, 6 hours, 3 minutes ago

Oops, forgot. If these folks have nothing to hide, why won’t they give last names?

Because they have few last names, and that would prove they are illegally practicing polygamy.
Posted by lrm - 4 months, 1 week, 1 day, 5 hours, 33 minutes ago

Bruce, you’re an imbecile. Every state has “age of consent” laws, specifically to present adults from using minors for sex. In Texas, the age of consent to marry is 16. Even while a man might want to marry a girl of 16, law states the 16 yr old must also have the consent of her parents in order to do so. Otherwise the adult male will be charged with statuatory rape. The more you know, ok Bruce.
Posted by Alec - 4 months, 1 week, 1 day, 4 hours, 49 minutes ago

Is this the best ABA can do? I’m not impressed.

Where is the coverage of the egregious violation of the 1st, 4th, and 14th Amendments by the State of Texas?

It is a sad day when our nation’s attorney’s cannot identify the key legal issue when publishing in a law journal.

I hope FLDS take the state of Texas into Federal court for egregious violations of the Constitution. They ought to put the judge in jail for what signing that warrant.
Posted by herbie - 4 months, 1 week, 15 hours, 8 minutes ago

Let the kids go!!! This is so sad. It has been over 3 weeks now. Why can’t they just keep the at risk group and let the other children go home? I agree with Alec’s comments. They can’t even count how many kids they have in custudy!!!!!!!!
Posted by Kate - 4 months, 1 week, 12 hours, 4 minutes ago

This isn’t even the entire story how can anyone make or form an opinion on a part of a story.

Who says these kids are locked in closets? In the dark? Or even abused??

And if they are, then time will tell.

This story to me says nothing about their way of life other then they believe in having more then one partner, and they do it with teenagers.

Even still Stat. Rape in a consented “rape” these girls weren’t forced, they consented. However, if they felt like they didn’t have a choice that would be the matter.

Does anyone know these details? I feel like this is only the “STATE’s” side of the story. The OMG how can you sleep with more then one person side of the story.

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