Grand jury convenes in polygamist case

ELDORADO, Texas, June 25 (UPI) -- A Texas grand jury has been convened to investigate possible child abuse charges against members of a polygamist Mormon sect.

Officially secret, the proceedings have become known in part due to court filings and a legal dispute between one 16-year-old girl and her court-appointed attorney. Teresa Jeffs, 16, is one of four Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints members expected to testify, the Deseret Morning News, a Salt Lake City newspaper, reported Wednesday.

Her attorney, Natalie Malonis, has sought a restraining order against FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop, accusing him of coercing Jeffs not to testify as well as interfering with the relationship between herself and her client. Jeffs has asked the judge for a new lawyer.

The grand jury investigation stems from an April 3 raid on the polygamous sect's YFZ Ranch after Texas child welfare workers received an anonymous call from someone claiming to be a 16-year-old girl. Authorities said they saw other signs of abuse prompting a judge to order all 440 of the children removed from the property. They have since been returned to their families.