Nephew of polygamist leader says that boys are sexually abused, too.

[pnwmom]

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=4679825&page=1

As the nephew of Warren Jeffs, the self-proclaimed prophet of the polygamist compound in El Dorado, Texas, Brent Jeffs says that he knows all too well the misery and heartache of sexual abuse inside the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Brent Jeffs was a victim of rape and molestation at the hands, he says, of his uncle, Warren, who is currently imprisoned. In fact, it was Brent Jeffs who first filed charges of sexual assault against Warren Jeffs.

"The entire cult, as I would put it, is run by complete fear. Everything they do is run by fear. They control the women and the children all by fear," Brent told ABC's John Quinones.

SNIP

He says it happened to many other young boys, including Brent's two brothers, who were either students of Warren Jeffs or who lived inside his compound. That's why Brent Jeffs has come from his home in Salt Lake City to Texas to testify against the leaders of the El Dorado compound.

He believes the compound's residents are in danger.

"The wives and the women in here may not show you that they know it, but they are. They're in great danger. Because all they're doing in here is they're abusing all these children and you, they're abusing the women, too. It needs to stop."

SNIP

[medeak]

1. where was this guy during Jeff's trial? n/t

[fed_up_mother]

2. Well, the article does say,

it was Jeffs who first filed charges.

Maybe there wasn't enough proof for his case to make it to trial.

[pnwmom]

4. Another article I read said that Brent's brother committed suicide as a result

of the trauma.

The boys' father blames Jeffs.

[pnwmom]

3. He filed his own civil suit against Jeffs and Jeffs brothers,

which was partially settled last April.

http://www.rickross.com/reference/polygamy/polygamy626.html

Seven young men have partially settled lawsuits that led to the state’s takeover of a property trust once overseen by polygamous sect leader Warren S. Jeffs.

The agreement resolves claims against the United Effort Plan Trust, which has been under court oversight since May 2005, in a deal that includes land, an assistance fund and attorney fees.

The settlements, which still need court approval, give each plaintiff title to a 3-acre, undeveloped lot near a community park in Maxwell Canyon. The canyon is located in Hildale, which along with Colorado City, Ariz., is home to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

SNIP


The settlement leaves intact claims against Jeffs, the FLDS church and other individuals associated with it.

SNIP

[Donnachaidh]

8. jeez -- WHy would they even want acreage near that group?

If I won a court case against them, I'd SELL the land to someone thoroughly obnoxious and ANTI-FLDS, take the money and beat feet as far as I could go. Settle for land that is in their area? No fraking way!

[pnwmom]

14. They said they wanted to be near their brothers and sisters

and other relatives.

And that was just a partial settlement, against the UEP. At the time of that article, they still had ongoing suits against Jeffs and others personally.

[Donnachaidh]

15. I *hope*, and I mean this sincerely, that someone is TALKING to these kids

And trying to help them understand that what they have been through is NOT normal, and is NOT their fault. Part of me understands them wanting to be near their brothers and sisters, but another part wants to take them FAR away from that *lifestyle*, and try to show them that there is a world out there that doesn't have all those rules, and brutality.

Jeez -- every time I read more about what they've been through I have to go hug my kid. He's going to be running from me by Sunday. :hug: :rofl:

[pnwmom]

16. In her book "Escape" Carolyn Jessop has written about the difficulties

in adjusting to life outside the community. Even with support (she had a brother who had already left, and who helped her escape), it is quite a challenge to adapt, a challenge that often takes years. Carolyn left with her 8 children, when her oldest, a 14 year old daughter, was about to be put into a forced marriage. Unfortunately, her daughter never mentally made the leap. As soon as she turned 18 she went back to the sect and married within it.

Too bad your parents aren't nearby -- when your kid got sick of too many hugs, you could throw a few at your parents. Whatever their flaws, most of us had parents who gave us a better emotional environment than these kids have had.

[Donnachaidh]

17. yup, but parents are deceased. Hubbie and critters will have to

suffer the extra hugs.

I'm still reading Under the Banner of Heaven, and I cannot just sit down and read straight through, because I just get so g-damned ANGRY at this. I was dragged up Catholic, and survived that because my mother protected me from the nuns and their violence, because she'd been through it. Her mother didn't dare protest the beatings - it was just *the way they taught* in Catholic school.

I cannot even begin to think about the horrors these young girls go through daily. It's mindboggling. :wow:

Gotta go chase something down to hug. I've reached my limit.

[pnwmom]

19. I'd heard the same stories about mean nuns from my parents,

who also kept us out of parochial schools.

Later, though, I talked to other people in the same age group who had attended public schools. Turns out there were plenty of violent teachers there, too.

So I'm thinking it was part of the era. It just looked worse when nuns did it, because nuns were supposed to be loving, right? But nobody ever expected a man with a paddle in the public school to be nice.

[Donnachaidh]

21. it might have been the era

She attended 12 years if Catholic school in the 40's and 50's. They didn't have lay teachers at her school. But we did at mine, and I NEVER saw or heard of those wonderful women even raising their voices. If anything THEY protected kids from the nuns. We had one nun someone said looked like a shaved rottweiler wearing a veil - and the thought of her still makes my blood run cold. The boys had it far worse in high school - the Jesuit brothers were ferocious too. :shrug:

[kestrel91316]

5. Jeffs and his cohorts are a nest of vipers. I hope ALL the children

are removed. Permanently.

[XemaSab]

6. Not just in Texas either

In Arizona, Utah, British Columbia, and everywhere else they have towns.

[kestrel91316]

7. Yep. And while they are at it, seize all their assets, auction them off,

and distribute the proceeds among the victims (in trust funds).

[pnwmom]

13. I just read that some of the kids at the compound were Canadian citizens.

I wonder if their parents are here, too, or if they just sent their kids.

[SoCalDem]

10. Actually, banishing the MEN would be an easier start.. Transfer the property to the WOMEN

turn that abomination of a building into a school, so they can start learning how to take care of themselves.. Then hire people to run the "ranch" and let them have the money..

They don;t need more kids.. they need a LIFE..and if the men are allowed to be there, they will never be free..

Those men are disguising sex-slavery & pedophilia as "religion"

[SoCalDem]

9. Of course they are.. The boys who stay,must be submissive

and unsure of their own sexuality, or they might start hitting on the young girls..and that would never do.. the old farts want all that young stuff for themselves :puke:

[old mark]

11. Further advancing Religion in America.

Between the Mormons,the Catholics, and certain Evangelical preachers, it's hard to see any of the so-called "religion" in any of this.
The believers are so involved in their world of illusion, they don't see tha harm they are doing to other humans.

mark
Veteran of Catholicism

[Javaman]

12. Everything they do is run by fear.

a microcosms of the US?

[varelse]

18. This is terribly sad

but not surprising, at least not to me. :(

I hope that most of those mothers can be reunited with their kids under careful supervision from CPS and with support from the surrounding community. They'll need some help and training to learn how to survive in or even on the fringes of "mainstream" society, so I hope they'll get that too.

[pnwmom]

20. They will need lots of support.

But that is cheaper than the alternative, in every way.