ST. GEORGE — An anti-polygamy activist believes a large ranch compound in rural Schleicher County, Texas, has been purchased by those with links to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, led by Warren Jeffs.
On the other hand, those who recently sold the ranch and other parcels say they have been told the land is to be used as a "corporate hunting retreat."
Former members and close observers also have been predicting that Jeffs has plans to order his followers to move to Mexico.
Activist Flora Jessop says the ranch's new owners are polygamists and said she fears the property could be used for child trafficking, moving underage children, including potential brides, from region to region.
Her comments — which she plans to reiterate publicly today from the steps of the sheriff's office in the small town of Eldorado — are outlined in a press release delivered to the news media on Wednesday.
Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran will be on hand at today's press conference to keep an eye on things and provide a statement to reporters that urges "cooler heads to prevail."
Jessop alleges the owners of a 1,371-acre parcel of hunting ground in the county are members of the FLDS Church, the nation's largest polygamist congregation, based in Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Washington County.
Recent internal disputes, dissent and news of young family members fleeing the polygamous community have prompted intense scrutiny in recent months by law enforcement, politicians and the media.
The FLDS Church, according to Jessop, could easily transport young girls from the twin cities to the new Texas site, where several large buildings have been constructed. Aerial photos of the site, obtained by KSL-TV, show three large buildings under construction.
After that, Jessop says in her press release, "This new encampment is going to make it easier for them (the FLDS Church) to traffic girls to Mexico, the same as they have been doing to Canada."
The property, which was sold in November 2003 to a company called "YFZ Land, LLC," which lists a post office box in Washington city near St. George. David Allred, who owns a truss company in Hildale, is mentioned by Jessop as the man to watch.
"Allred is known to be closely associated with Warren Jeffs," according to the press release. Jeffs, 48, is president of the FLDS Church, which boasts nearly 10,000 members in several states and Canada.
Texas resident John L. Isaacs said he sold his 1,371 acres to YFZ Land with the help of real estate broker, Dan Gandy.
"I got the price I was asking for," said Isaacs. "I didn't ask him what religion he was."
Gandy said he finds it disturbing that Jessop would come into Eldorado and make accusations about his clients without knowing whether they are true or not. Gandy would not reveal names, saying it would be unprofessional to do so without his client's approval.
"The person that I met, that I spent time with and talked to many times, is respectable in every aspect of the word," Gandy said. "The young man I worked with said they basically wanted to have a retreat with wildlife, where they could build a corporate retreat. The people that I dealt with are very polite, outstanding people. Hopefully, people will give them a chance."
Schleicher County Commissioner Kirk Griffin sold another 320 acres that provides access to the first parcel later that year to the same buyer, according to a county official.
"Even if it is this group that Flora is talking about, they still have the same rights as anybody else," said Doran, adding he first learned about Jessop and her crusade against polygamy last week. "I've been told the property will be used for a corporate hunting retreat. This county is very well known for its white-tailed deer. Hunting retreats are not unusual here."
Contributing: John Hollenhorst, KSL-TV
E-mail: nperkins@infowest.com