COLORADO CITY — A member of the Fundamentalist LDS Church who showed up at a town meeting over the United Effort Plan (UEP) Trust found himself evicted from his own home by church leaders.
It took lawyers for the court-appointed special fiduciary to end the housing feud with police in this polygamous border town.
Patrick Pipkin arrived at his home early Thursday morning only to be told by family members that he was no longer welcome there. He received a call from Lyle Jeffs, who is presumed to be the acting bishop of the FLDS Church in the polygamous border towns of Hildale and Colorado City.
"He asked me, 'Are you with Warren?' " Pipkin said Thursday, referring to fugitive FLDS Church leader Warren Jeffs, Lyle's older brother. "I said no."
Pipkin said he believes church leaders got word of his attendance at Wednesday night's UEP Trust meeting and moved to punish him. After being evicted, Pipkin returned hours later to find Colorado City town marshals outside his home — with some of his belongings. Marshal Helaman Barlow refused to answer questions about the role police played in the standoff.
"I will say this, I'm here to keep the peace," he said.
The standoff ended when Jeffrey L. Shields, a lawyer representing court-appointed special fiduciary Bruce Wisan, arrived and had Pipkin sign papers and pay the property tax. Shields had to explain to police and Pipkin's relatives that the FLDS Church no longer had any control over the UEP.
Last year, the courts in Utah took control of the United Effort Plan Trust, which controls homes, businesses and property in the twin border towns. Assets are estimated at $110 million.
In response to the takeover, FLDS leaders have ordered followers to not pay the property taxes and not listen to Wisan's instructions. On Wednesday, Wisan urged people to pay property taxes to avoid eviction by the UEP.
Mysteriously, Lyle Jeffs' property tax was paid by someone just days after he received a demand letter from Wisan.
"They want to preserve some of their precious land and keep themselves safe, but they're not too worried about the general public or they'd pay it all," said Margaret Cooke, a member of the UEP advisory board. "They have the money to pay it all."
Police in Hildale and Colorado City have been questioned about their loyalties and selective enforcement of court orders concerning the UEP. On Wednesday, Helaman Barlow was brought in to give a deposition to Wisan's lawyers about a grain elevator system that vanished. He refused to answer questions about his religion or Warren Jeffs, the lawyers said.
"It's getting better than it was before," said Sam Brower, a private investigator representing former FLDS members suing the UEP. "Six to eight months ago there's no way those cops would let Patrick in his house."
Brower credited Wisan and his lawyers for getting control of the situation quickly.
"Basically, they admitted defeat and took off," he said of the police.
Pipkin shares the home with his mother and five siblings. His uncle and his family also live in the home, but it's unclear if they'll stay.
The occupancy order doesn't force out anybody, Shields said. But church leaders could, Pipkin said.
Pipkin said his mother won't likely be back. Taped to one of the boxes of his possessions were two letters that express her disappointment with his decision to stand against Warren Jeffs and stated her belief that he will no longer have a place in heaven.
Warren Jeffs has been charged in Utah and Arizona with crimes related to arranging child bride marriages. He is on the FBI's Most Wanted List. A $60,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
E-MAIL: bwinslow@desnews.com