New twist in sect kids drama

2008-05-31 18:16

San Angelo, Texas - Parents' hopes of quick reunions with more than 400 children removed from a polygamist sect's ranch were dashed after their attorneys and a judge clashed over proposed restrictions.

A decision by Texas District Judge Barbara Walther means that to regain custody, the 38 mothers who filed the complaint that led the Texas Supreme Court to reject the state's massive seizure must personally sign an agreement their attorneys and state child-welfare officials have proposed.

That could add days to the process, attorneys for some of the other mothers likely affected by the decision said Friday, because the women are scattered across the state to be close to their children in foster care.

"It's not as simple as going across the street and setting up a booth," said attorney Andrea Sloan, who represents several young FLDS women and minors who contend they should be reclassified as adults.

Walther had wanted to add restrictions to the agreement worked out by the parents' attorneys and Texas Child Protective Services, but the parents' attorneys argued that she didn't have the authority.

Cycle of sexual abuse

The judge then said she would sign the initial document, but only after all 38 mothers involved in the case the high court ruled on signed it first.

Cynthia Martinez, a spokesperson for legal aid attorneys representing those mothers, said the requirement was unexpected but attorneys would meet over the weekend and decide what the next step is.

"We're still working to get the children back," she said. "We're going to keep going through the process. We're going to keep working with CPS and the courts to get these families back together."

State officials had said earlier that children could start being returned Monday, but attorneys for the parents said the new requirement made timing for the reunions uncertain.

The high court on Thursday affirmed an appeals court ruling ordering Walther to reverse her decision last month putting all children from the Yearning For Zion Ranch into foster case. The Supreme Court and the appeals court rejected the state's argument that all the children were in immediate danger from what it said was a cycle of sexual abuse of teenage girls at the ranch.

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which runs the west Texas ranch, denies any abuse of the children, who were seized in a raid nearly two months ago. Church officials say they are being persecuted for their religious beliefs.

A draft agreement released by CPS attorney Gary Banks earlier on Friday said the parents could get their children back beginning on Monday after showing identification and pledging to take parenting classes and remain in Texas.

State officials had reached the tentative agreement with the 38 mothers, who have 124 children in custody, and had agreed that the order would be extended to all but a few specific children.

The last-minute snag was a blow to parents who had thought hundreds of happy reunions were imminent.

Associated Press writer Jim Vertuno in Austin contributed to this report.

- AP