Enclave Of Polygamist Sect Is Found In S. Dakota
 
The Associated Press
KUTV Channel 2
 
PRINGLE, South Dakota Another outpost of the polygamist sect headed by fugitive Warren Jeffs has been found in South Dakota, a Texas newspaper reported.

The discovery of the 100-acre site at Pringle, S.D. was reported Wednesday by The Eldorado Success in its Web edition.

The Success received anonymous e-mail and phone tips about the property and the people who bought, and discovered its connection to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which is headquartered in the twin towns of Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah. The sect also has long had an enclave in British Columbia and in recent years has established outposts in Texas, Colorado and Nevada.

Jeffs, considered a prophet by his followers, is wanted on a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution on an Arizona charge that he arranged a plural marriage between a 16-year-old girl and an older man.

It has been thought that he has traveled among the church's various properties, hiding out.

The Success said the $135,000 purchase of the South Dakota property in 2003 was fronted by David Allred, president of Details Unlimited, based in Washington County, Utah. Allred also fronted the purchase of the YFZ Ranch in Texas.

The Success said Z-Trans trucks were seen coming and going from the South Dakota property. Z-Trans is registered in St. George, Utah, and its director Robert Dockstader Allred is a Jeffs' follower. Z-Trans trucks are routinely seen entering and leaving the YFZ Ranch.

The Success said it contacted Jon Krakauer, author of "Under The Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith," about polygamist sects, who has been tracking Jeffs, and private detective Sam Brower, who works for several groups involved in lawsuits against the FLDS church and also has worked for an attorney representing a court-appointed special fiduciary overseeing church assets. He documents activity involving church trust property.

They scouted the South Dakota site and found several large buildings had been erected, some almost identical to residences at the Texas ranch. They said there also was a warehouse-type building onto which a large two-story office or residential section was being added.

They saw trucks, construction, farm and other equipment, generators and feed-storage silos.

Most of the property in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., is owned by the United Effort Plan, a trust arm of the FLDS church.

Jeffs and other controlling trustees of the UEP were removed at the request of the Utah attorney general, who contended it was being misused by the leaders. Since then, there have been numerous reports of buildings and equipment being secretly and illegally taken away, possibly for use at the other enclaves.
 
KUTV.com
Originally published March 9, 2006
 
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