Three Fugitives of the FLDS surrender to Authorities

The group's spokesman called the entire matter another example of the State's baseless pursuit of the members of the FLDS.

AUSTIN, TX (Catholic Online) - The Fundamentalist Church of the Latter day Saints condones polygamy and broke from the Mormon Church which renounced the practice last century.In June of this year, Texas District Judge Barbara Walther issued an order which allowed the parents of more than 400 children who were taken from the FLDS ranch to and take their children home.

The children had been taken from the "Yearning For Zion Ranch" in April. The Texas Child Protective Services came to the Ranch and removed the children alleging child abuse and an unsafe environment.The Parents of the children denied the allegations.

The case had high public notoriety and raised serious legal issues. The Judge followed the directions of the Texas Supreme Court which ruled that the action of the State Agency was not constitutionally or legally justified.

Now, one of the leaders and two of the members of that community who have been sought by Law Enforcement have surrendered to Texas authorities. They were indicted for their participation in underage marriages.

Frederick "Merril" Jessop left the ranch after the raid last April. He denied to the Press that he has been in hiding. He had been charged with conducting an unlawful marriage, a third-degree felony.

Leroy Johnson Steed and Wendell Loy Nielson were charged with crimes related to the polygamous lifestyle embraced by the group. The group's spokesman called the entire matter another example of the State's baseless pursuit of the members of the FLDS.

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