Arizona seeks more evidence

KINGMAN, Ariz. -- Authorities prosecuting polygamous church prophet Warren Jeffs in Arizona are eager to learn more about evidence seized by Texas authorities that could expose Jeffs to criminal prosecution in the Longhorn State.

A search warrant filed Thursday in Mohave County Superior Court in Kingman reveals that Texas authorities are investigating possible sex crimes involving the sect leader and four child brides.

Jeffs, 51, was "married" or spiritually united with two 12-year-old girls and two 14-year-old girls since 2004, according to the search warrant.

The warrant indicates the Jeffs-child bride unions are detailed in marital logs, and supported by photographs, seized during the April raid at the Yearning For Zion ranch in Texas.

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints church, which is based in Arizona and Utah and headed by Jeffs, founded the ranch several years ago.

Mohave County attorney Matt Smith wants to know whether the marital logs and other evidence gathered in Texas might serve as evidence for prosecuting Jeffs or others in Arizona.

"We would love to see what Texas has," Smith said Friday.

Smith and Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheahan said they are anxious to review evidence confiscated at the Yearning for Zion ranch when permitted by their Texas counterparts.

"Any records that can be released, we certainly have an interest in," Sheahan said. "And if they show that any crimes would have been committed here in Mohave County, any underage marriages, anything that would be considered a crime, any type of abuse, we will certainly pursue it and attempt to investigate and find out who the suspects or perpetrators are."

Smith, however, noted that lawyers representing Jeffs have already indicated they'll challenge any attempt to use the seized evidence in Arizona.

"We are cognizant that the defense team in Arizona is going to litigate and challenge any of that evidence and claim that it is part of an unlawful search and seizure," Smith said.

Appellate and Supreme Court rulings in Texas have concluded that authorities overstepped their bounds by rounding up more than 400 children during the raid.

The plan to reunite the children with their parents fell apart Friday after a district judge and attorneys sparred over the details of the court mandate.

Jeffs is jailed in Kingman awaiting prosecution on allegations that he assigned two underage females to spiritual unions with male adult relatives.

Law enforcement authorities from Texas and Arizona visited Jeffs in his jail cell Thursday to collect a DNA sample as Texas authorities try to determine whether Jeffs is the father of a baby born to one of his alleged child brides.

"He was very cooperative, very polite," Kingman police Sgt. Rusty Cooper said of Jeffs.

Cooper said instruments much like Q-tips were used to swab saliva from inside Jeffs' mouth.

Sheahan said Jeffs has caused no problems while awaiting trial in Kingman.

He said he prays frequently in his cell and walks during his exercise opportunities.

The sheriff said Jeffs has greeted followers from Texas and Arizona during visitation and spends some of his free time making telephone calls.