A letter from a purported member of Arvin Shreeve's "Zion Society" polygamist cult indicates the group may not be disbanded even though its leader is serving a 20-year-to-life prison term for child sex crimes.
The letter, dated March 5 and signed "Helen," said "preparations are going forward" at the group's Northwood subdivision headquarters in northern Ogden and asks another purported member to continue sending money.The contents of the letter were outlined in a story in Sunday's Standard Examiner. The article does not indicate how the newspaper obtained the letter.
There was no indication in the letter of what the "preparations" involved. But it did suggest financial contributions to the group be sent by money order because "it might be less conspicuous."
The group was the focus of an intense police investigation that culminated last year with 11 members, including the 61-year-old Shreeve, being charged with a variety of sex crimes involving youngsters in the cult.
Former group members, who the newspaper did not identify, believe the cult continues to be guided by Shreeve from prison.
The letter referred to recent legal strategies by three group members who withdrew guilty pleas to sexual abuse charges and intimates the plan was to divert prosecutors' attention.
"With the turn of events and three people changing their pleas," the letter said, "maybe they will leave us alone for awhile. They (prosecutors) will have five that will be fighting . . . so that should keep them quite busy."
The letter also apparently referred to Jennifer Shreeve, Arvin's daughter, who was sentenced to jail for sexual child abuse and was awaiting assignment to a minimum-security residential facility last March.
In addition to a six-month jail sentence, Shreeve was told by a judge she was to avoid future contact with the group.
"We heard today that Jennifer is being moved to a halfway house in Salt Lake City," the letter said.
"We hope that her stay in Salt Lake City will be short, even though they (authorities) said it could be up to two years with no contact with her old friends after she serves her time," the letter said. "Little do they know!"
The letter also said the group needed money.
"Tithing from heads of houses have not been forthcoming," it said. "So every little bit that we can `beg, borrow or steal' is put to good use."
Weber County Attorney Reed Richards also questions claims that the Shreeve cult has disbanded. Several members still live in the subdivision, he said.
"It seems bizarre to me that they would still live out there if the group is broken up," he said. "That part is troubling to me."