Profits of Polygamy

Arizona launches a probe into alleged improper spending by the Colorado City school district

Comments (0) By John Dougherty Thursday, Jul 10 2003

The state Auditor General's Office has begun a preliminary investigation into the finances of a polygamist-controlled school district in northern Arizona in the wake of New Times' reports of extravagant and improper spending by the tiny, one-school Colorado City Unified School District.

Colorado City school district Superintendent Alvin Barlow.
John Dougherty
Colorado City school district Superintendent Alvin Barlow.

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The auditor general's "special review" could lead to a major investigation of the finances of the school district controlled by members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Polygamy is a tenet of the FLDS, which split more than 70 years ago from the Salt Lake City-based Mormon Church.

The Auditor General's Office did not return a phone call seeking comment on the investigation, which began after New Times provided auditor general's investigators access to thousands of pages of school district financial records obtained under the state public records law.

The school district discussed the investigation at its June 24 board meeting, according to the meeting agenda. Colorado City officials did not return a phone call seeking comment.

The auditor general's investigation could widen to also include the state Department of Education, which will soon determine whether to launch a separate inquiry into the district's prolific travel expenses, including the purchase of a $220,000 aircraft and the use of district credit cards for personal expenses ("The Wages of Sin," April 10).

"We are having internal discussions on how to proceed on allegations of misuse of funds," says Amy Rezzonico, a spokeswoman for the education department.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne met Monday, July 7, with Mohave County Superintendent of Schools Mike File in Kingman and discussed operations at the Colorado City school district.

File says he told Horne that based on information obtained by New Times, he believes the Colorado City school district is improperly spending state funds.

"I'm in charge in overseeing that their funds are expended properly and they are not doing that," File says he told Horne, who also couldn't be reached for comment before press time for this article.

The increasing scrutiny on the school district finances comes at the same time legal pressure is mounting on the polygamist community where scores of underage girls have been coerced into "spiritual marriages" with older men who already have multiple "wives" ("Bound by Fear," March 13).

Utah prosecutors are preparing to try Colorado City police officer Rodney Holm on charges of sexual misconduct with a minor stemming from his cohabitation with his third wife, Ruth Stubbs, who bore him two children before turning 18. If prosecutors win a conviction, it could clear the way for additional arrests of high-ranking FLDS leaders, including the current prophet, Warren Jeffs.

Utah birth certificates obtained by New Times reveal that Jeffs is the father of children from at least two mothers who appear to have been impregnated prior to their 18th birthdays ("Fornicating for God," March 20; and "Polygamists Probed," May 1).

The auditor general's investigation could provide state law enforcement officials with an insider look at the complicated and secret finances of the closed society controlled by FLDS leaders. The investigation comes 50 years after former governor Howard Pyle ordered state police to raid the community, then known as Short Creek, and remove more than 220 women and children from polygamous homes.

The raid failed to end polygamy, and Pyle lost in his reelection bid. Since then, political leaders have left the FLDS alone, despite the fact that polygamy violates Arizona's constitution.

The Colorado City school district's $5 million-a-year budget is crucial economically in the community of about 7,000 people along the remote Arizona Strip towns of Colorado City and Hildale, Utah. The school district has more than 100 employees for 300 students, a 3-to-1 student to employee ratio far out of line with Mohave County's average of 25 students per employee.

The school district made international news in July 2000 when the FLDS' religious leader demanded that parents pull their children from the public schools. More than 800 kids were withdrawn, yet the number of employees at the school district remained inordinately high.

File says there is little the county can do to force the district to reduce its payroll. The school district's hiring practices are controlled by the school board, whose members all belong to the FLDS.

The Colorado City school district is also benefiting from a provision in state law designed to protect school districts in the event of a sudden decline in enrollment, typically caused by the closure of a major employer. Colorado City has received more than $3 million since July 2000 in state funds for phantom students who were withdrawn from the school by religious decree.

The state Legislature deleted $5 million for rapid-decline subsidies for school districts statewide for the upcoming school year, of which $1.7 million was earmarked for Colorado City. Governor Janet Napolitano, however, used a line item veto to restore the rapid-decline funds.

Napolitano, who as attorney general initiated an investigation into Colorado City that found substantial evidence of underage girls being coerced into polygamy, did not return calls from New Times seeking comment.

The school district has long played a central role in the allocation of resources and jobs in the community. School board president F. Lee Bistline has been a board member since the early 1960s. Superintendent Alvin Barlow is the state's longest tenured school superintendent dating back to the 1970s.

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Warren Jeffs Confession part 1 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Part 2 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Part 3 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Treat Girls as SNAKES Polygamous Sermon by Rulon Jeffs

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Polygamist Prophet Warren Jeffs Explains POLYGAMY

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Eldorado Texas YFZ Ranch Warren Jeffs on Polygamy Plural Marriage #1

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Warren Jeffs Damns his Defense Celestial Trianing to Girls 2

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Warren Jeffs Explains Celestial Marriage #3 to Teen Girls

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Warren Jeffs on Marriage #4 Treat Boys as Dogs or Snakes

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Warren Jeffs #5 Explains Celestial Marriage to Girls

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Warren Jeffs on Polygamy to Young Girls #6 Alta Academy

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Warren Jeffs GIRLS WANTED Child Brides needed! #7 Marriage Law Chapter 5

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Warren Jeffs Instructing Child Brides on Marriage!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

KEEP SWEET Warren Jeffs 2 Explaining Polygamy & Text!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

KEEPING SWEET Warren Jeffs (3) Explaining The Celestrial Law

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Washinton Cty. Sheriff, Ruby Jessop, Warren Jeffs & Polygamy

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Where's Ruby Jessop? Polygamy, Warren Jeffs, the FLDS!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Warren Jeffs Married Off Ruby Jessop at age 14 Utah DFS

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Polygamy & Warren Jeffs! What Agencies Knew & When they Knew

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

The Warren Jeffs Trial in St. George Utah

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

The Underground Railroad Escaping Polygamy

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Former Warren Jeffs, Have Apostate Potluck Dinner 12/2000

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Colorado City, Warren Jeffs, Extorsion, Daughter/Eviction

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Warren Jeffs Teen Flees FLDS raw footage

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

The Polygamous Underground Rail Road Exposed

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Warren Jeffs & Underage Marriages 15 Year Old Girl Runs

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Cont. Warren Jeffs FLDS Teen Flee's Polygamy 4/2001

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

The Wives of Warren & Rulon Jeffs Polygamy PROPHETS

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Veiled Threat After FLDS Girl Flees Polygamous Sect

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RCMP 1 Polygamy & Childbrides Reported in Canada 9-2000

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RCMP #2 Canada Police Polygamy Issues Reported 9/2000

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RCMP 3 Canada Police Reporting Child Abuse & Childbrides!

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RCMP Canada Polgyamy Child Abuse Childbrides #4

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

RCMP #5 Reporting Child Abuse polygamy to Canada Government

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Warren Jeffs 1 General Meeting 5-3-98 Song/Prayer

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FLDS Geneograms Tracking the Polygamous Family Trees

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Geneograms of Warren Jeffs Polygamous Unions part 2

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Underground Polygamy Railroad Fawn & Fawn Run!

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Warren Jeffs on the Negro Race #1 Cain Doctrine

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Warren Jeffs Doctrine on the Negro Race #2 polygamy prophet

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Polygamous Prophet WARREN JEFFS on the Negro Race #3

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Cain Doctrine NEGRO Race by Warren Jeffs polygamy prophet #4

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Warren Jeffs #5 polygamist prophet on the NEGRO RACE

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Warren Jeffs #6 polygamous prophet on the NEGRO RACE

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Warren Jeffs polygamy prophet on the NEGRO RACE #7

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Interview With Canadian Media over Polygamy & Jeffs 9/2000

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Warren Jeffs Transporting Girls to Canada / Canada INS 1

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Canada INS 2 Reporting polygamy & Teen Brides to INS & FBI

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Interview With Canada's INS #3 over Warren Jeffs & Polygamy

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INS #4 Canada Imigration on Warren Jeffs & Polygamy

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LDS Church Contacted 10-21-02 Requesting Help For Childbride

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LDS Church 2 Reporting Child Abuse & Concern over LDS Lawyer

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Warren Jeffs Devotional 12-29-97 Evil Swept From the Earth

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Continued AN THE EVIL WILL BE SWEPT FROM THE EARTH!

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Warren Jeffs, Winston Blackmore, Creston Canada & Polygamy

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Jeffs on Polygamy "Purpose of Celestial Plural Marriage"

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"The Marriage Covenant" by Polygamous Prophet R. Jeffs

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Rulon Jeffs polygamy on "Entering Into Marriage Properly"

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By Rulon Jeffs "Importance of the Celestial Law" polygamy

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Eldorado Texas YFZ Celestial Law/Obey the Prophet

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Eldorado Texas YFZ Ranch Warren Jeffs on Polygamy/Marriage Instruction

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6' 5" & 145 pounds, Gods Gift to Women, he has 70 + Wives!/Warren Jeffs on Marriage Instruc to girls

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Pimping Teen Girls For GOD Polygamous Prophet/Warren on Bride Selection

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WACO Burning/Warren Lecture on the United States

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50+ Organized Fundamentalist or Polygamous Groups

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RCMP FLDS Polygamous Coverup, Like Eldorado Texas

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Polygamous Family Tree

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U.S Senator John McCain Ignored Request for Help 1/2001/John McCain

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Democrats, Senator McCain, Polygamy, Incest, Rape = What? (They all ignore it, but texas)

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Senator Orrin Hatch on Polygamy (Children Graves)

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Ex Child Bride Turned Advocate Flora Jessop on YFZ Raid

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Polygamist with Relatives in the YFZ Texas Polygamy Raid

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Ross Chatwin ex FLDS Polygamist Talks of Secrets

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Polygamist Addressing How Media Portrays Them

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Intrusions to those who Practise Polygamy

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Terry Goddard Abused Polygamist

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UT AG Mark Shurtleff on Polygamy & Child Abuse

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Interviewing the Children of Polygamy

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Arizona Attorney General Goddard on YFZ Texas Polygamy Raid

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Ann Wilder Old Testament Polygamy Defense

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An Independent Polygamist Explains Her Lifestyle

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Warren Jeffs Transcript Unsealed Confession & Phone Conv.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Legislator David Lujan Crusades Arizona Child Bigamy Bill

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Polygamist Concerned About Child Bigamy Bill

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Polygamist Question Scrutny vs Hispanic Domestic Violence

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Polygamist Complain Polygamy Laws are Unfair

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Polygamy is A Crime

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Polygamist Fear Utah will follow the Texas Example

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Utah/Arizona AG Polygamy Is against the Law!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

FLDS Polygamous Women Sent to Mental Hospital in Flagstaff

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Is there a LDS bias Against FLDS Polygamy per Enforcement

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Mark Shurtleff Utah Attorney General Intro on POLYGAMY

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Mohave County Sheriff Arizona on Enforcing Polygamy Abuses

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Utah Cooperation With Texas Eldorado Raid Willie Jessop Plea

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

H.O.P.E. Organization Intro @ 5-8-08 Polygamy Summit Utah

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Defenders of Children at 5-8-08 Town Hall Meeting UTAH

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Polygamy ?? Natural Ratio of Men to Women Shortage

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

AUB or Apostolic United Brethren on Polygamy

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Kingston's Heidi Foster on Polygamy Life in Utah

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

?? Would Legalizing Polygamy Open Door on Prostitution ??

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Attorney Generals Use Reverse Math, Determine Age, Polygamy

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Utah Rules Polygamous have Custody Rights

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

LDS Member View of FLDS & Polygamy

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Polygamy a kin to Genocide Challenged (2)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

On the Question of Genocide Flora Challenges LDS Man!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Where Rumors Become Truths, Texas YFZ Polygamy Raid

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Denial of the Victims Plight, Polygamy Abuse Stories

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Sensationalism by the Media when doing Polygamy Stories

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Defenders of Children Duscuss the TV Media

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Mark Shurtleff Utah AG on his Bigamy & Polygamy Legislation

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

A Crusader of Child Protection in Polygamy MIKE WATKISS

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Utah AG Waiting on FLDS Polygamist to Cooperate

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

2nd Degree Bigamy with a Child Bride

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Child Bigamy Thomas Green's 13 Year Old Wife!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Polygamy, Consenting Adults vs Incest & Sex with Minors

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Polygamy, Utah, CPS & What is an Unsafe Environment?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Under Age Sex, Not Targeting Polygamist ONLY!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Senator Harry Reed Calls for Federal Investigation, Polygamy

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Foster Parent Confidentiality Related to Polygamy Cases

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Eldorado Texas Polygamy Raid, Do Process Needs DNA

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Asking Children Questions About Sexual Abuse???

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Child Bigamy, Polygamy, Incest & Rape!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

El Capitain High School Sports Coach, Colorado City AZ

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Investigative TV Journalist MIKE WATKISS on Polygamy

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Arizona's Child Bigamy Legislation

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Polygamy Summit 5-8-08 Utah Panelist Don Timpson

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Paul Murphy Utah AG's Office Intro @ Polygamy Summit 5-8-08

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Ben Winslow Deseret News Intro @ 5-8-08 Polygamy Summit

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Brent Hunsaker abc News SLC Utah @ Polygamy Summit

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Brent Hunsaker abc News SLC Utah Covering POLYGAMY

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

Warren Jeffs Banned Books, but A New Day Dawns

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=...

 
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