Marshals accused of working with polygamists

PHOENIX -- Arizona authorities are investigating whether marshals in a town dominated by one of the nation's largest polygamous sects prevent women from leaving the church run by imprisoned leader Warren Jeffs, an allegation the local agency denies.

Attorney General Tom Horne announced the probe Tuesday involving the town of Colorado City, Ariz., near the Utah border, the home base of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. "Women who wanted to escape have been forcibly held by the marshals against their will," he said.

Horne declined to provide details of the criminal probe of the FLDS and the marshal's office, which serves as a small police force in the twin polygamous towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City.

Attorneys for the two towns and the marshal's office adamantly denied the charges, calling Horne's words "inflammatory." "I can't speak for the FLDS but the bottom line is the marshal's office absolutely does not hold people against their will," said lawyer Blake Hamilton.

The church does not have a spokesman to speak on its behalf, and Jeffs, who is said to still rule the sect, is imprisoned for life in Texas after convictions on child sex and bigamy charges.

The criminal probe announced Tuesday mirrors the one that landed Jeffs in prison.

After receiving a complaint of child abuse, Texas authorities raided the FLDS' Yearning for Zion Ranch in 2008, resulting in a chaotic roundup of 400 children from the secretive location in what became one of the largest custody cases in U.S. history.

The children were eventually returned. But 11 men, including Jeffs and other high-ranking FLDS lieutenants, were arrested and convicted later of sexual assault or bigamy. -- AP