Eight Polygamists Arrested on Child Sex Charges

(Flagstaff, Arizona) The eight men in custody are part of the multiple-marriage sect called the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The group's members are accused of sexual misconduct with children and they have lived for years in Colorado City, along the Utah-Arizona border, where a cat-and-mouse game with law enforcement has been ongoing. Thanks to additional resources, authorities are making strides to shut down the operation.

From The Arizona Republic:

In another blow to Colorado City's frontier polygamist society, eight men on Monday surrendered themselves to Mohave County authorities in Kingman after being indicted during the past month on sexual misconduct charges with their underage brides.

Among those arrested were a former police officer, Rodney Holm of neighboring Hildale, Utah, who received national attention two years ago after being convicted of marrying his third wife, who was 16 at the time. Holm, 38, who served a year in county jail in Utah, also is married to the girl's older sister.

Others arrested include: Donald Robert Barlow, David Romaine Bateman, and Terry Darger Barlow, Vergel Bryce Jessop, Randolph Joseph Barlow, Dale Evans Barlow, and Kelly Fischer.

The leader of the sick pedophile sect, Warren Jeffs, is on the lam. He's wanted on sex charges and illegal flight. Jeffs may be in Colorado, Texas, or British Columbia, holed up with other sect members.