Kris Baker
2008-05-02 02:56:20 UTC
The LeBarons are a separate clan; however, they're not
the only ones trying to "purify" the human race through
incest.
If you've never heard of the LeBarons, you need to
Google them. Interesting history, including a day of
murders throughout the US.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3208732
John Hollenhorst reporting
Accusations of incest in the family of an alleged polygamist have prompted
calls for law enforcement action and for a change in the incest law.
Ross LeBaron's grown sons had DNA tests performed to shore up their claims
of incest in the family.
Eyewitness News broke the story last night, and today there are new
developments. There's already new incest legislation in the works. A state
senator wants to change a law because some believe the current law would be
difficult to use in the LeBaron situation. But some say authorities should
have moved on the family a long time ago.
Three grown sons of Ross LeBaron, Jr. believe he, and perhaps their older
brother, fathered five children with their two sisters. They say LeBaron
believes incest protects his pure seed and will lead to the reincarnation of
Jesus Christ. Elend LeBaron said, "And my dad is clearly trying to argue
that these children are the result of artificial insemination. First of all,
I don't believe that's true. And secondly, even if it were, it doesn't
change the fact that half the children statistically are going to have birth
defects."
The problem is Utah's criminal incest law specifically requires proof of
sexual relations, not just a baby of dubious parentage. "My guess is that
the statutes dealing with incest were written so long ago that artificial
insemination wasn't an approach that was used to have children," said
University of Utah Law professor Linda Smith.
"We feel the laws, the statutes, have not been properly defined to protect
the innocent children being born under these circumstances, said David Uri
LeBaron, another son of Ross LeBaron Jr.
A state senator is already working on legislation to change the law to
prohibit non-sexual incest. Sen. Dennis Stowell said, "It's just not fair to
the children that are born. If it's by artificial insemination or a
test-tube baby, we need to address all of those in the law."
The prosecutor investigating LeBaron is supportive. Iron County Attorney
Scott Garrett said, "I have had some contact with individuals about the
incest statute and whether or not it needs to be looked at and changed by
the legislature." When asked if it should be, Garrett replied, "I think it
needs some work, yeah."
But anti-polygamy activist Laurie Allen said she reported LeBaron to law
enforcement long ago and believes there's plenty of evidence under existing
law. Allen said, "I want to know why Mark Shurtleff and these law
enforcement in Utah aren't moving in on Ross LeBaron . My whole work these
last five years is to bring Ross LeBaron down because what he's doing to
those girls is an outrage."
We should point out that LeBaron is not associated with Warren Jeffs and the
FLDS group. His family has a long, complex and violent history intertwined
with other polygamy groups. But Ross LeBaron is considered an independent in
the fundamentalist world.
the only ones trying to "purify" the human race through
incest.
If you've never heard of the LeBarons, you need to
Google them. Interesting history, including a day of
murders throughout the US.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3208732
John Hollenhorst reporting
Accusations of incest in the family of an alleged polygamist have prompted
calls for law enforcement action and for a change in the incest law.
Ross LeBaron's grown sons had DNA tests performed to shore up their claims
of incest in the family.
Eyewitness News broke the story last night, and today there are new
developments. There's already new incest legislation in the works. A state
senator wants to change a law because some believe the current law would be
difficult to use in the LeBaron situation. But some say authorities should
have moved on the family a long time ago.
Three grown sons of Ross LeBaron, Jr. believe he, and perhaps their older
brother, fathered five children with their two sisters. They say LeBaron
believes incest protects his pure seed and will lead to the reincarnation of
Jesus Christ. Elend LeBaron said, "And my dad is clearly trying to argue
that these children are the result of artificial insemination. First of all,
I don't believe that's true. And secondly, even if it were, it doesn't
change the fact that half the children statistically are going to have birth
defects."
The problem is Utah's criminal incest law specifically requires proof of
sexual relations, not just a baby of dubious parentage. "My guess is that
the statutes dealing with incest were written so long ago that artificial
insemination wasn't an approach that was used to have children," said
University of Utah Law professor Linda Smith.
"We feel the laws, the statutes, have not been properly defined to protect
the innocent children being born under these circumstances, said David Uri
LeBaron, another son of Ross LeBaron Jr.
A state senator is already working on legislation to change the law to
prohibit non-sexual incest. Sen. Dennis Stowell said, "It's just not fair to
the children that are born. If it's by artificial insemination or a
test-tube baby, we need to address all of those in the law."
The prosecutor investigating LeBaron is supportive. Iron County Attorney
Scott Garrett said, "I have had some contact with individuals about the
incest statute and whether or not it needs to be looked at and changed by
the legislature." When asked if it should be, Garrett replied, "I think it
needs some work, yeah."
But anti-polygamy activist Laurie Allen said she reported LeBaron to law
enforcement long ago and believes there's plenty of evidence under existing
law. Allen said, "I want to know why Mark Shurtleff and these law
enforcement in Utah aren't moving in on Ross LeBaron . My whole work these
last five years is to bring Ross LeBaron down because what he's doing to
those girls is an outrage."
We should point out that LeBaron is not associated with Warren Jeffs and the
FLDS group. His family has a long, complex and violent history intertwined
with other polygamy groups. But Ross LeBaron is considered an independent in
the fundamentalist world.