With FLDS families reunited, Texas officials shift investigation to criminal phase

SAN ANGELO, Texas — All of the FLDS children are back with their families. Most of the media have gone home, too.

The conversations heard around this city, which has been at the center of controversy for more than two months, seem to have steered away from the raid at the YFZ Ranch and the many allegations of activities there.

"We're just enjoying the quiet lull until the next phase begins, which is the criminal cases," a court clerk here declared.

Investigators have been working behind the scenes, continuing to pore over an estimated 1,000 boxes of evidence and other items taken from the Fundamentalist LDS Church's 1,700-acre ranch in early April.

Most courtroom observers, including attorneys, seem confident some sort of criminal charges will be filed within the next few weeks. For weeks, Child Protective Services has talked about underage brides, sexual abuse and physical abuse. There's even been talk about potential bigamy charges.

The Texas Attorney General's Office has taken over the criminal investigations. But it's hard to get much out of them but vague comments.

"We'll continue to work with both local and state law enforcement in any alleged crimes that may have occurred," Jerry Strickland, the communications director for the Texas Attorney General, told the Deseret News Friday.

"The evidence will dictate the direction of the investigation."

CPS is also continuing to investigate, even though the children are no longer in state custody.

"We'll continue to conduct interviews and gather information to determine if abuse or neglect has occurred," spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner said. "If there is no abuse, we'll close the case."

DNA test results from the parents of the children taken from the ranch are being reviewed by CPS as part of that investigation. If the results are going to be used as part of a criminal investigation, a court will have to approve that request.

Strickland declined to say whether investigators will make such a request.

CPS caseworkers will visit each of the homes where the children are living, Meisner said. When the children were returned, Judge Barbara Walther set conditions, including allowing CPS access for unannounced home visits. During such visits, parents agreed to allow child welfare workers to interview and examine the children in the home or at "any other reasonable location."

How often those visits occur will be determined by the individual needs of the family, Meisner said.

The parents are also required to take "standard parenting classes," according to the order.

"They're basic parenting classes we use to teach parents the best way to keep their children safe," she said. "If we find particular issues going on in a family's life, there will be some focus on their individual needs. That will be assessed later on as we work with the families."

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