B.C. polygamists claim persecution

BOUNTIFUL, British Columbia, May 17 (UPI) -- Polygamists in Bountiful, British Columbia, say they are being persecuted by Canadian immigration officials and Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints invited media to their community Tuesday to press the persecution claims, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Winston Blackmore, 49, who has more than 20 wives and 100 children, said he expects to face polygamy or other charges in an investigation that the British Columbia attorney general says will conclude within weeks.

Blackmore, with five wives at his side, said he doubts any such charges would stand up under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

"A million and a half dollars, (a) five-year run to the Supreme Court of Canada -- all when every single person knows, including the RCMP, that it would be a waste of time," Blackmore said.

Blackmore and others said police seized birth and other records in recent searches.

They said three of Blackmore's U.S.-born wives -- Edith Barlow, Martha Chatwin and Zelpha Chatwin -- were ordered to leave Canada.