Three men from polygamist sect surrender to authorities

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Three men from polygamist sect surrender to authorities

Abbie Carter

Story Created: Sep 30, 2008 at 7:53 AM CST

Story Updated: Sep 30, 2008 at 7:53 AM CST

(AP) AUSTIN — Three men from a West Texas polygamist sect surrendered to authorities today, six days after they were indicted on charges related to the “spiritual” marriage of underage girls.

Lehi Barlow Jeffs, Abram Harker Jeffs and Keith William Dutson Jr. were all charged with felony sexual assault of a child; both Lehi Jeffs and Abram Jeffs were also charged with felony bigamy.

The men were released from the Schleicher County Jail — just a few miles from their Yearning For Zion ranch — after posting a combined $320,000 bond.

Six other men, including jailed sect prophet Warren Jeffs, were indicted on similar charges this summer.

Sect leaders could not immediately be reached for comment.

The surrender came nearly six months after state authorities seized 440 children from the ranch over allegations that young girls were being forced into marriages with older men.

Two months later, when Texas courts ruled that the state overstepped its authority, most of the children returned to their families — though under strict oversight. Since then, about half of the state’s child custody cases regarding the sect have been dropped, meaning the state has determined that the children can live safely with a parent or relative.

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