tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14162253.post6975856071785229856..comments2024-03-28T18:57:15.124-06:00Comments on Wash Park Prophet: Colorado Springs Earns ReputationAndrew Oh-Willekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537151821869153861noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14162253.post-41046775063447823532008-04-28T13:47:00.000-06:002008-04-28T13:47:00.000-06:00The FLDS raid was conducted based upon a valid war...The FLDS raid was conducted based upon a valid warrant based upon a false tip. Giving a false tip is a crime and probably a tort as well, but it does not make the matters learned in the process fruit of the poisonous tree (a doctrine that often does not apply in civil proceedings like termination of parental rights cases in any case).<BR/><BR/>The raid disclosed widespread evidence of serial child rape. The ages of the girls, of the fathers, and of their children speak for themselves on the statutory rape counts. It is simply a matter of using DNA evidence to figure out who begat whom in a matter which proves the case beyond question. The ages and relationships involved make it highly likely that many of those rapes are felony statutory rapes. The group's leader's conviction for forcible rape suggests that in some cases those felony statutory rapes are matters of proof rather than consentual events.<BR/><BR/>The fact that the parents knew of and encouraged these child-sex relationships amounts to child abuse that is grounds for terminating parental rights, and that is even before we account for the boys whom, it will come out, have been dumped into society without support making them neglected for parental rights purposes.<BR/><BR/>Has Texas CPS done everything right in the largest CPS raid in U.S. history? No. The separation of the youngest children (incapable of offering helpful testimony) from their mothers was inappropriate. And the Texas foster care system is no national model. But, the baseline rate for child death is extremely low, and the case for taking action in this situation is compelling. We have good grounds to believe that this cult has killed one girl for resisting its authority, and their rejections of modernity test 1st Amendment limits on what one can do to children. <BR/><BR/>Inaction would be inexcusible betrayal of the children, and would tolerate disregard of serious criminal laws. I would have hoped for better, but this is unlikely to be a recurring trend. There aren't a lot of child rape cults to bust in this country after the FLDS is shut down (and indeed, it isn't clear that the FLDS was always as bad as it is now under new leadership).Andrew Oh-Willekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02537151821869153861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14162253.post-46031882589811805722008-04-28T12:52:00.000-06:002008-04-28T12:52:00.000-06:00The FLDS raid was trigger by a crank caller in Col...The FLDS raid was trigger by a <A HREF="http://origin.denverpost.com/crime/ci_9027726" REL="nofollow">crank caller</A> in Colorado Springs. Texas CPS has already <A HREF="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695274226,00.html" REL="nofollow">lost two of the children</A>. Nine more <A HREF="http://www.sltrib.com/ci_9079761" REL="nofollow">are in the hospital</A>, include a two-year-old for shock and weight loss. In general, children in the Texas foster care system are <A HREF="http://www.window.state.tx.us/news/60623statement.html" REL="nofollow">four times</A> as likely to die as the general population.<BR/><BR/>The raid was triggered from false evidence, the children are suffering, and nearly a month on there are still no specific allegations of statutory rape.<BR/><BR/>If the government is willing to knock down the FLDS doors and kidnap children based on a crank call, then it's just a matter of time before they do it to our doors.Michael Malakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10007582156392845677noreply@blogger.com