Brothers of polygamist leader dropped from sex-abuse lawsuit

Associated Press/April 14, 2006

Salt Lake City -- Two brothers of fugitive polygamist leader Warren Jeffs have been dropped from a sexual-abuse lawsuit because they have gone through bankruptcy proceedings.

Third District Judge Stephen Roth on Monday dismissed Leslie B. Jeffs and Blaine B. Jeffs from the lawsuit, which also names Warren Jeffs, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the church's property arm, the United Effort Plan Trust.

Brent Jeffs, now 23, a nephew of the three men, filed suit in July 2004 alleging that in the late 1980s, Warren Jeffs sodomized him and the other two men watched and participated in the abuse. He said they told him the actions were a way to make him a man.

Brent Jeffs, who was around 5 or 6 at the time, alleged he was abused at a Salt Lake Valley compound where an FLDS school, meetinghouse and homes were located.

Leslie Jeffs and his wife Carole J. Jeffs filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in July 2003. The case was closed later that year. Blaine Jeffs and Julie D. Jeffs filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in April 2003. Their case was closed last September.

Federal law automatically stays many types of court or enforcement actions against those filing for bankruptcy.

The UEP trust, which holds nearly all land and buildings in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., is under court management.

Warren Jeffs is wanted on Utah and Arizona charges that he arranged plural marriages between underage girls and older men.