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Neighbors in the scenic southern Colorado town of Westcliffe are fretting about property purchased there by a man connected to the leadership of the polygamous sect that was raided last month in Texas.
Custer County Assessor J.D. Henrich confirmed Thursday that Lee A. Steed, a senior official in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, bought a 5,800- square-foot house on 35 acres of land for $350,000 in 2006. He also bought another 85 acres last December for $428,900.
Steed last year also bought two homes in neighboring Fremont County, about 100 miles south of Denver.
Steed is a top aide to convicted FLDS leader Warren Jeffs, according to HateWatch, a nonprofit that bills itself as the organization "Keeping an Eye on the Radical Right."
The Southern Poverty Law Center put the FLDS on its hate group list in 2005 for beliefs that black people have been cursed by the devil and are an inferior race. FLDS has been practicing polygamy openly since 1930, 40 years after Mormon leaders renounced polygamy, a step required for Utah to be granted statehood. The Mormon church has no ties to the FLDS.
Last month, federal authorities raided an FLDS ranch in Eldorado, Texas, taking custody of 462 children to see how many may have been abused or forced to marry. The FLDS already has a presence in Colorado. In 2005, sect members purchased land outside Mancos, west of Durango, to build a retreat for Jeffs.
Squeezed between the Sangre de Cristo mountains to the west and the Wet Mountains to the east, Custer County has a population of about 3,900.
Kathleen Kerr, owner of the home next door to the house bought by Steed in Westcliffe, the Custer County seat, told HateWatch that ATVs patrol the property and that she hears occasional gunfire.
scanlon@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2897
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May 16, 2008
5:57 a.m.
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CP writes:
The raping of underage girls that this perv set up in Texas obviously has the same set up here in Colorado. So the big question is, What is the FBI going to do about it?
May 16, 2008
7:56 a.m.
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Scott writes:
CP,
I don't think the FBI can do anything about it unless there is probable cause to suspect that these perverts transported the girls across State lines. I'm sure that these perverts do it, but unless you have "probable cause" the pervert's prostitutes (lawyers) can get the charges thrown out of court.
Just think, there are prostitutes out there that relish the idea of getting these perverts off so that they (the prostitutes) can make a name for themselves. Sick, really sick.
Scott
May 16, 2008
8:06 a.m.
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dclark02 writes:
Don't they also own land between Bennett and Watkins?
May 16, 2008
8:41 a.m.
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MarcoPolo writes:
"ATVs patrol the property and that she hears occasional gunfire."
Let's send in Chuck Norris to kick some @$$!
May 16, 2008
9:47 a.m.
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SeaBass writes:
"Custer County has a population of about 3,900."
Expect that to increase dramatically and also expect social and welfare service hand outs to skyrocket from these pedo-parasites as well.
May 16, 2008
10:12 a.m.
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Jimminy writes:
The California Supreme Court just OK'd gay marriage.What's the big deal with polygamy? Don't you guys dig diversity in who slips what to whom where?
May 16, 2008
10:36 a.m.
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MarineGrunt writes:
If you could find two, non FLDS woman, to live together... good on you and best of luck!!! I cannot imagine the hell that would bring to all involved.
Like putting to pissed off cats in a phone booth!!!
May 16, 2008
11:53 a.m.
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CP writes:
Their "probable cause" is what happened in Texas. And if mass rape of teenagers isn't a federal crime I don't know what is!
I agree, send in Chuck Norris is the pussy police/FBI won't do anything. What a sad situation to just let these pervs do what they want to kids!
May 16, 2008
7:45 p.m.
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prk166 writes:
CP--> Do you realize the irony of someone how posts at a newspaper website yet hasn't paid attention to the news?
May 16, 2008
9:37 p.m.
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CP writes:
prk166 --> Do you realize your post makes no sense?